By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League is set to launch the 2023-24 Regular Season, the eighth installment of the competition.
Eurohoops previews the new Regular Season, scanning the rosters of the 32 participating teams from 14 countries. Get ready to follow the action tipping off this week, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Five teams represent Turkiye. France, Greece, and Spain carry four teams apiece. Germany has three teams. Israel and Italy have two teams each. Belgium, Bosnia-Herzogovina, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Portugal all have one single team in the Regular Season. Basketball all around Europe is on the menu.
The experience
The Champions League has built a reputation for presenting promising youngsters to a high-level continental competition, providing the platform for them to shine. However, experienced players with impressive careers are on hand as well. This season is no exception with numerous stars ready to set the pace.
Errick McCollum
A second BCL campaign for the 35-year-old combo guard. Packing numerous stops all around Europe for more than a decade, McCollum running it back with Pinar Karsiyaka is a confirmation of plans to contend for the title, following the premature ending to the 2022-23 campaign.
Marcelo Huertas
A veteran of four BCL seasons, including the 2022 Final Four MVP award directly connected to the championship. Slowing down is far from the intentions of the 40-year-old combo guard, nor will Lenovo Tenerife shy away from the group of contenders.
Sam Van Rossom
At 37, he returned to Filou Oostende and will debut in the BCL. The lasting original of the competition, guided by Dario Gjergja, looks more than capable of reaching the later stages, especially with Van Rossom back in town.
And more
Dairis Bertans, Toney Douglas, Melvin Ejim, Dylan Ennis, Johnny Hamilton, Zach Hankins, David Holston, Vojtech Hruban, Paul Lacombe, Ben McLemore, Jonah Radebaugh, Joe Ragland, and Giorgi Shermadini along with head coach Vassilis Spanoulis will be around as well. So, don’t miss out.
Youngsters to shine
Flying under the radar must be the most important requirement for a promising upstart to log a breakout campaign but not necessary.
Mouhamet Diouf
After representing Italy in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the 22-year-old forward makes his way back to the BCL. Switching from UnaHotels Reggio Emilia to Rio Breogan can boost his production.
David Mutaf
Also changing teams over the summer, David Mutaf joined the project of Bursaspor Info Yatirim projects yet another possible breakout campaign. The 21-year-old forward will debut in the BCL.
Omiros Netzipoglou
His path led from Aris to AEK Betsson. The 21-year-old guard playing under experienced tactician Joan Plaza can work wonders.
Along with Sadik Emir Kabaca
Following in the footsteps of the 2022-23 Best Young Player Sadik Emir Kabaca can bring up a direct collision with the 22-year-old forward of Galatasaray Ekmas as the youngster is running it back with the Lions. The list of potential contenders for the award extends to Gerald Ayayi, Ege Demir, Ousmane Diop, Furkan Haltali, Benedek Kovacs, Mario Nakic, Xander Pintelon, Mario Saint-Supery, Len Schoormann, and more looking for the opportunity to up their games.
Lasting originals, returnees, and debuts
SIG Strasbourg was set up for an eighth consecutive appearance in the Regular Season through the Qualification Rounds held in Turkiye, joining fellow lasting original of the BCL Oostende in Group E, arguably the most balanced four-team field with Karsiyaka and EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the mix as well. Former champions Tenerife and AEK complete the pack of teams stretching from the inaugural to the eighth edition.
Other returning teams include Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, Hapoel Holon, and PAOK mateco on a seventh mission in the Regular Season. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, Igokea m:tel, Karsiyaka, and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg are all set for a sixth appearance. Making it five are defending champion Telekom Baskets Bonn along with Falco Vulcano Szombathely, JDA Dijon, Peristeri bwin, and VEF Riga.
Turkish teams Darussafaka Lassa, Galatasaray Ekmas, and Tofas will all compete in the Regular Season for the fourth time. Rytas and UCAM Murcia as well. Unicaja is up for a third campaign. Advancing through the Qualifiers for a second year in a row, Benfica is also back for more.
Cholet, Oldenburg, Le Mans, Opava, and Promitheas all resurfaced in the BCL. Debuting teams are Bertram Derthona Tortona, Bursaspor, King Szczecin, and Rio Breogan with the latter carrying previous experience in the Qualification Rounds.
The path
In the Regular Season, the 32 clubs were separated into eight equal groups. The top seed advances directly to the Round of 16, while the second and third seeds instead move to the Play-In stage and a best-of-three series for the remaining eight spots in the next round.
Competing in the Round of 16 and the second six-game round-robin schedule of the season, the top two teams of all four groups will qualify for the Quarterfinals. The four teams winning the ensuing best-of-three series will progress to the championship-crowning Final Four. The season is scheduled to conclude on May 5.
Regular Season
Group A
Falco Vulcano Szombathely (Hungary)
Le Mans (France)
Peristeri bwin (Greece)
Unicaja (Spain)
Group B
Opava (Czechia)
JDA Dijon (France)
Promitheas (Greece)
Rytas (Lithuania)
Group C
Darussafaka Lassa (Turkiye)
Lenovo Tenerife (Spain)
VEF Riga (Latvia)
Cholet (France)
Group D
AEK Betsson (Greece)
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari (Italy)
King Wilki Morskie Szczecin (Poland)
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (Germany)
Group E
EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Germany)
Filou Oostende (Belgium)
Pinar Karsiyaka (Turkiye)
SIG Strasbourg (France)
Group F
Bursaspor Info Yatirim (Turkiye)
Hapoel Holon (Israel)
Rio Breogan (Spain)
Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany)
Group G
Galatasaray Ekmas (Turkiye)
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (Israel)
PAOK mateco (Greece)
Benfica (Portugal)
Group H
Bertram Derthona Tortona (Italy)
Igokea m:tel (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Tofas (Turkiye)
UCAM Murcia (Spain)
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League