MIES (Switzerland) - We're ready for another week of action in the Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL. Everything starts on Tuesday, with three unmissable matchups.
Two participants from last season's BCL Final Four are featured, joining four other contenders, including a team that have already made history in their first season in the competition. Stay with us to find out 18 must-know facts.
Tofas Bursa vs. AEK BC - Group J, 18:00 CET
Tofas Bursa and AEK BC faced each other twice before in the BCL; it happened in the Play-Ins in 2022-23 with AEK winning both games by a margin of exactly three points after trailing at halftime.
Tofas have lost their last two home games in the BCL Round of 16 after winning the previous six; AEK have won seven of their last eight games in the Round of 16 after losing the previous seven.
Tofas have scored 47.6 percent of their total points in the paint, the highest ratio of any team in the BCL this season; they are making 22.1 shots per game from inside the arc, also more than any other side.
Hugo Besson (Tofas) is the only player born in the 21st century to have scored 300+ points in the BCL (378) – he has scored 20+ points in two different BCL games this season, both coming off the bench, including in his most recent appearance. Besson is yet to miss a free-throw in the competition in 2026 (12-of-12).
Frank Bartley (AEK) has scored 20+ points in four of his last six BCL games, for an average of 20.0 points per game in that span; he has made 3+ three-pointers in five of his last six BCL games and made 100 percent of his 12 free throws in the Round of 16.
Tofas lost 95-78 against Turk Telekom Ankara away from Bursa despite Alex Perez's 20 points and 5 assists; it was another good weekend in the Greek League for AEK, which beat Kolossos 96-83 at home in Athens, also thanks to Greg Brown III's double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets vs. Joventut Badalona - Group K, 19:00 CET
Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets have lost their last six games in the BCL Round of 16, conceding 80+ points in the most recent five. Each of their three home games in that round ended with a margin of six or fewer points.
Joventut Badalona have become the first team to win their first eight games in the BCL. They have won the first quarter in each of their eight games, and they allowed, on average, the fewest points in the first 10 minutes this season (15.0ppg).
Joventut are averaging 21.5 assists per 100 possessions, the highest assist ratio of any team in the BCL this season - they are also the only team averaging 2+ assists per turnover (2.02 ast/to); they are yet to make more than 10 turnovers in a road game in the BCL.
Marcus Carr (Wurzburg) has averaged 17.1 points and 6.7 assists in the BCL, only the 3rd player to average more than 17 points and more than 6 assists per game after making 10 appearances, after TJ Shorts II and Chris Wright.
Ricky Rubio (Joventut) has scored 13+ points in each of his last six BCL games (15.7ppg); he has made 97.0 percent of his free throws (32-of-33), and only Johnny Berhanemeskel (100% - 21-of-21) has a better accuracy among all players with more than 15 attempts from the foul line.
Wurzburg couldn't celebrate a home victory on Sunday, losing 97-80 in front of their fans against Bamberg; Joventut lost during the weekend too, suffering an 80-76 road defeat in Bilbao.
Unicaja vs. Elan Chalon - Group K, 20:30 CET
Unicaja have won their last 18 home games in the BCL, trailing at halftime in only one of those games (vs. Galatasaray, March 2025); they have won their six games played against French opponents in the BCL Round of 16, by an average margin of 15.5 points.
Elan Chalon have won nine of their last 11 games in the BCL but suffered their heaviest defeat in the competition during their most recent road game, in Spain against Joventut in this Round of 16 (75-107).
Chalon have had (78.8) and have allowed (78.8) the most possessions per game of any team in the BCL this season; however, Unicaja are the team scoring the most points per possession (1.28) in the league this season.
Nihad Dedovic (Unicaja) has scored 10+ points in each of his last three home games in the BCL, his best such run in the competition. He has made multiple three-pointers in each of his last four games at home in the BCL.
Grant Golden (Chalon) has averaged 15.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in his last six games in the BCL Round of 16. He has already faced Unicaja in the Semi-Finals of the 2024-25 season with AEK, where he had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, with an efficiency rating of 23.
Kendrick Perry's stellar afternoon of 17 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds led Unicaja to the 98-92 win over BAXI Manresa away from home; playing on the road in Nanterre, Chalon lost 88-82 despite Nate Darling's 20-point effort.