By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
With a trophy and two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague tickets on the line, the 7DAYS EuroCup teams went to work this summer. Some of the most impressive moves around Europe, the signings of Sam Dekker and Milos Teodosic, were made by EuroCup teams. The stakes are higher than ever and merely having a good team might not be enough.
While the EuroCup remains more unpredictable than the EuroLeague, it goes without saying that some of the clubs already have the talent for the top European competitions and you should expect them to fire at all cylinders right away. That’s why creating this version of the Power Rankings was a real pleasure and also a realization that the level of competition has risen impressively.
1. Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
They created a buzz with the signing of Sam Dekker, and they also added Italian coach Lucca Banchi and players like Johnny O’Bryant, Mantas Kalnietis, and Will Cummings. Lokomotiv wants to run the tracks to the title, and the question is: Can anyone block their way?
2. Unicaja Malaga
They failed last season against ALBA Berlin, but they remain one of the best EuroCup teams and the trophy winners of the 2016-17 season. That’s why once more they are title contenders. They have a mix of great local talent and Euro-veterans like Melvin Ejim, Frank Elegar and Deon Thompson who can get the job done.
3. UNICS Kazan
UNICS continued to build on last season’s foundation with the additions of Alex Tyus and Vangelis Mantzaris. Having two guys with vast EuroLeague experience on a EuroCup roster is a big plus, and UNICS has waited almost a decade since winning the EuroCup title in 2011. Yes, they are aiming as high as possible.
4. Segafredo Virtus Bologna
This is a team to watch, and the reason has a name: Milos Teodosic. Mind you, he will not be alone. Coach Sasa Djordjevic has created an excellent roster that also includes Stefan Markovic, Vince Hunter, Frank Gaines, Kyle Weems, and Julian Gamble. This is a team destined to make big things and return to past glories.
5. Partizan NIS Belgrade
The jump of Partizan compared to last season’s power rankings, when their initial spot was 21st, has a simple justification. The club has financial stability again, and that is evident from the roster. Coach Andrea Trinchieri was added mid-season, the roster was boosted, and everything changed after that. Add also veteran big man Art Parakhouski to the equation, and you have the best Partizan since the EuroLeague days of the club.
6. AS Monaco
Coach Sasa Obradovic has a contender on his hands with additions like Dylan Ennis and Kim Tillie. This is a team that can go far in the competition and can even make a run for the title, even if in theory it doesn’t have the experience of other contenders yet.
7. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
After last season’s EuroLeague experience, which had a lot of ups and downs, Buducnost put coach Slobodan Subotic on its bench. A fantastic sharpshooter back in the day, Subotic has previously coached Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, among others. Expect a solid unit that can do something memorable if the duo of Scott Bamforth and Justin Cobbs delivers.
8. MoraBanc Andorra
After a great run last season, Andorra lost two-thirds of its roster. They do have strong pieces like David Jelinek and newly added Clevin Hannah who can do damage. Still, on paper at least, they have to build chemistry to try to reach the semifinals, as they did last year. The goal, for now, is clear, and it’s the playoffs.
9. Umana Reyer Venice
It’s good to see familiar faces return, like Austin Daye and Mike Bramos. Plus they are the defending Italian champions. On the other hand, it’s evident that even compared to fellow Italians of Virtus, they will not have it easy with the level of the EuroCup competition. However, as they say, never underestimate the heart of a champion.
10. Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul
Darussafaka has made a conscious choice to invest in Turkish talent, and that means they are going to be patient and let the players grow. That might take some time, which is why coach Selcuk Ernak has also signed respected veterans Sinan Gular and Joe Ragland while adding Doron Lamb and Jarrod Jones to the mix. They will be an exciting experiment.
11. Promitheas Patras
The emerging power from Greece that competed in the domestic league finals last season is an ambitious club. They are also EuroCup rookies, but you will see some well-known names in coach Makis Giatras roster. Those are Dimitris Agravanis and Giorgos Bogris from Olympiacos, Ukrainian forward Oleksandr Lypovyy, and also keep an eye for Langston Hall, who can emerge as one of the best import players of the competition.
12- Joventut Badalona
Look who’s back! After a decade, Joventut Badalona, the 2008 EuroCup winner returns, having on its roster the trio of Nikos Zisis, Alen Omic, and Klemec Prepelic. Of course, a team that is known for producing exciting young talent will also showcase exactly that with Latvian Arturs Zagars leading the class. And last but not least, Kerem Kanter, the younger brother of Ener Kanter, will make his EuroCup debut with the Spanish team.
13. Galatasaray Doga Sigorta Istanbul
Galatasaray should be ranked higher, but after their underwhelming last season, we have to be careful. Meanwhile, the dynamic duo of Tai Webster and Aaron Harrison are a pleasure to watch, Zach Auguste is getting better and better, the Turkish core of players is not bad at all, and coach Ertugrul Erdogan can create something memorable.
14. EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Can Ricky Paulding and Rasid Mahalbasic make a difference? They did it again last year in the German League, and now they will be tested in the EuroCup. They return to the competition for the first time since 2015-16, and they will be a strong opponent no matter whom they meet on the court.
15. Rytas Vilnius
Last season they were initially ranked in the 19th spot in our power rankings, and that created some stir. They performed better than we expected and they should do the same this year to justify the 15th spot, despite having arguably a more modest roster. Still, Mexican sensation Pako Cruz and rising star Deividas Sirvydis are expected to be a joy to watch.
16. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Cedevita and Olimpija merged to create a new powerhouse in the Balkans, and that’s very hard to rank before the start of the season. Coach Slaven Rimac can create an intriguing team with players like Marko Simonovic, Jaka Blazic, Codi Miller-McIntyre, Mike Zirbes and Ryan Boatright. Are they Top 16 material? Without a doubt.
17. Tofas Bursa
A team that includes Matt Lojeski and Sammy Mejia should be able to make it to the Top16 BUT… Last year we ranked them seventh and Tofas, as happened during the 2017-18 season, couldn’t make it past the first phase. While coach Orhun Ene has all the tools, something was missing, and the challenge will be to take at least one more step forward.
18. ratiopharm Ulm
Coached by Jaka Lakovic, led by Zoran Dragic, and having a prospect like Killian Hayes available, this is a group that has potential. And they also have a pretty hard task, as members of Group A, where Monaco, Andorra, and Virtus Bologna are expected to be much stronger and Promitheas will challenge everyone. So making it past the regular season is not easy at all.
19. Limoges CSP
They were ranked 18th last season, they made it to the Top 16, but only two players are back from that roster. Spanish coach Alfred Julbe is also a newcomer, and they will have to face Lokomotiv Kuban, Partizan, Venezia, Rytas, and Tofas. It will be an uphill battle, no matter how you measure it.
20. Nanterre 92
Coach Pascal Donnadieu, who is synonymous with the club, always finds the way to present solid teams. This year is going to be a challenge with many new faces and Dallas Moore, who averaged 25 points in his only two EuroCup games – last year with Turin – must continue like this for Nanterre to have a real chance.