By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The 2023-24 season is here with a fresh format that lets just 12 teams out of 20 make it to the knockout stage, making the BKT EuroCup more competitive already by definition.
This time around, 40% of the teams will not make it past the group stage and that makes each game even more interesting.
Thankfully with just three newcomers – Besiktas, Aris and Wolves – it’s easy to get a solid picture of the competition from day one, thanks to a solid sample of teams from last year.
So, are we going to have back-to-back champions? Or is there a contender ready to challenge GranCa? Here’s how things are before the tip-off.
BKT EuroCup Power Rankings Vol. 1
20. Slask Wroclaw
The Polish representatives need to do much better in order to be competitive, as last season’s 1-17 record indicates.
19. Dolomiti Energia Trento
In theory, Trento has the experience and the know-how to do better. But in general, the EuroCup has not been Trento’s cup of tea, as evidenced by just four wins last season.
18. U-BT Cluj-Napoca
The Romanian club, in its second season in the competition, will need to fight more and get more things going than just having an admirable home-court support. That’s their challenge this year.