MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL continued last week. The 32 teams are spread through eight groups, but there is one place where they are all in it together.
The Ameresco Power Rankings mix them all together to figure out which teams are in the best form at the moment.
That is why the domestic results are also taken into account when ranking these 32 teams - you'll feel better about a team that's on a five-game winning run in all competitions, than about a team that's potentially at 2-0 in the BCL, but 0-3 in their national championship.
#32 SL Benfica (0)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 3-0
We really tried hard to look past the two defeats in the BCL and get the Portuguese champions out of the 32nd spot here, but this 0-2 start happened at home, at -53, so there's not much to say.
#31 BC Sabah (-1)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 3-0
Know your geography, kids. It's important. Then you may learn that we had the lowest ever basketball game played in BCL history, as Sabah played host to ALBA BERLIN at 28 meters below sea level.
Baku is the lowest lying national capital in the world, and the largest city in the world below sea level. So, technically they went -28 vs. Nymburk (93-65), and -28m vs. ALBA.
Know your geography, kids. It's important.
#30 VEF Riga (-4)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 3-1
We believed in you, VEF. We even mentioned you being potentially in the 10-20 range of the Power Rankings. Instead, you lost at home to Patrioti Levice and we have to push you back to 30s here, because that's where you end up when you lose two home games by 35 points.
#29 Bnei Penlink Herzliya (-1)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 0-0
Said we would know more about Herzliya when they start playing the Israeli League, too. It has not happened yet, so the jury is still out, waiting for more evidence to be presented in the case of Bnei Penlink Herzliya being a legit Round of 16 contender.
Or not.
#28 Legia Warszawa (-5)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 3-0
This is pain. Legia are clearly a good team, you don't go 3-0 in the Polish League just like that, especially not when you're playing an international competition in between, and they lost both BCL games by a total of 12 points. Trust us, they are a better team than that 0-2 up there suggests.
#27 Bursaspor Basketbol (-6)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 2-2
A week ago Bursaspor let a 12-point lead slip out of their hands at Holon. Last week, they went back and forth with Cholet Basket in Türkiye, only to go ice cold in the fourth and find themselves at 0-2 here. Some positives? Back-to-back wins in the Basketbol Super Ligi, so at least this is not an 0-4 hole. But it's still an 0-2 hole, and they lose six spots.
Berk Akin watch: the 20-year-old knocked down three threes, finished with 13 points, second BSL game in double digits this season.
#26 Filou Oostende (-8)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 4-0
Lot better in the BNXT League than in the BCL. Which is good news if you're Oostende and want another domestic championship, but not good news if you're Oostende and want to see a smaller number next to you in the Power Rankings.
Noam Yaacov watch: the youngster is celebrating his 21st birthday on Monday, so happy bday, big guy! 18 points against Charleroi over the weekend, he scored in double digits in all but one game this season. Big guy.
#25 Pallacanestro Trieste (-1)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 1-2
Over the course of BCL history, rarely has there been a team with so many good sides to their game and still without a win. Everything about this team looks beautiful, their sets, their jerseys, their court, their fans, their social media channels - EVERYTHING!
But the record is not as good as the Mic'd Moments with JTA, so they are down at #25 here.
#24 Igokea m:tel (-2)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 2-0
The curious case of Igokea keeps happening, year in, year out. The BIH champions are easily picking up Adriatic League wins, sharing the top of their group with Dubai and Partizan, and yet they can't seem to translate that kind of form to the BCL.
Once they do, the -2 next to their name will quickly become +5 or so.
#23 Trapani Shark (-4)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 3-0
Years from now, you'll ask us how Trapani lost their two home games to start the BCL campaign, and we'll still offer no valid explanations. These guys are solid, they are 3-0 in the Italian League, the only two other unbeaten teams as we're writing this were Brescia and Virtus Bologna in a 16-team competition.
Monster double-double by Paul Eboua over the weekend, 18 points, 16 rebounds; he's the leading rebounder of the Italian League through three rounds.
#22 Le Mans Sarthe Basket (-5)
BCL record: 0-2 Domestic league record: 3-1
But whyyyyyyyyyy!? Why do we have to keep repeating "Le Mans are the best 0-something team" every week!? Last week they were clearly the best 0-1 team, this week they are clearly the best 0-2 team.
Domestic League record suggests they are bound to be a Top 10 team here. Just that one little, minor, minimalistic detail of winning the games they play well in the BCL. Shouldn't be at 0-2 and they know it.
#21 Patrioti Levice (+10)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 3-0
This is what we meant when we said they could be one of the feel-good stories in the Power Rankings last week! The Patriots bounced back from that -30 defeat that we'll not mention - ahh, okay we'll not mention it after this sentence anymore - by scoring 92 against VEF Riga in Riga, and 94 against Handlova in Handlova.
They are off this week, but next week, we'll witness the first ever BCL game played in Slovakia, as they play host to AEK BC. How big of a game will that be? Well, keep scrolling to see where AEK are right now.
#20 Mersin Sports Club (+7)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 2-2
Season started with three straight defeats, so it's fitting that we reward Mersin with a seven-place jump this week, as they not only picked up back-to-back wins over Oostende and Tofas, they also set the highest mark for points scored against Oostende in Belgium in the BCL!
Think about that for a moment, as Oostende are one of only three teams that have been with us for the past ten seasons. A lot of games, a lot of big name opponents, and nobody scored more than Mersin against them in Belgium.
Anthony Cowan and Justin Cobbs want a mention in the best backcourt debate: 19+19 against Oostende, 21+18 against Tofas.
#19 NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz (-6)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 4-0
The Hungarian champions lost six spots here after their defeat in Athens last week, but got some good news over the weekend. Arch rivals Falco Szombathely lost their first game of the season in the Hungarian League, meaning Szolnoki are now the only unbeaten team of the 14-club lineup there.
Six men in double digits against Duna Aszfalt over the weekend, these guys are better than #19 and you'll see it soon, just wait.
#18 Karditsa Iaponiki (-8)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 1-1
Greek newcomers lose eight spots, what!? Yeah, the issue is not that they lost two on the bounce, but the fact that they scored 55 (vs. Unicaja) and 62 (vs. AEK) in those games.
Facing Kolossos at home next weekend could be the panacea for the poison, they need to get the offense going as they take on Mersin next week - that one could be gigantic in terms of Play-Ins and home-court advantage.
#17 Rytas Vilnius (-9)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 4-1
Powerhouse such as Rytas shouldn't be judged just for that one single defeat at Heidelberg, but paired up with Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola going 2-0, that's a problematic defeat for the Lithuanian giants.
Because if Promitheas win in Vilnius this week, that puts two games between them with three games to go in the battle for the top of the group and a direct ticket to the Round of 16.
Some good news, please? Here: Jerrick Harding is back after that nasty fall.
#16 MLP Academics Heidelberg (+13)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 0-4
Will that win over Rytas be a start of something special? Because they were winless prior to that one, then DJ Horne decided to go nuts, scored 33 against Rytas, followed it up with 23 against Ludwigsburg in the German Cup and all of a sudden, Heidelberg are starting a winning streak.
Speaking of Horne, last four games, all competitions: 22 points, 22 points, 33 points, 23 points.
#15 ALBA BERLIN (+5)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 1-2
Be positive, this is a sign of better things to come. ALBA registered their first ever BCL win against Sabah, then took down Ulm with ease, 90-68, in the German Cup, with Boogie Ellis continuing his streak of more points than minutes (21 in 20).
No wonder we ranked him so high in the MVP Race:
#14 ERA Nymburk (-4)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 5-0
Just one defeat - double OT, too - and you get bumped down four spots. Power Rankings are cruel...
Sir' Jabari Rice is also in that MVP Race we just mentioned, also in more-points-than-minutes mood (18 in 15 vs. Hradec Kralove over the weekend), so actually, when you think about it, Sir' Jabari Rice and Boogie Ellis are two of the hottest shooters in all of Europe.
Maaaaybe we're all lucky enough to see them go head-to-head on October 28, when ALBA take on Nymburk in Berlin.
#13 Cholet Basket (+12)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 3-1
Truly a unique club in terms of being impossible to predict where they end up. Last week, we had them at #25, because they lost to Joventut and Dijon by double digits, and their schedule didn't look all that promising, either.
Well, the joke's on us. They rushed to a win over Bursaspor in Türkiye, and then destroyed Elan Chalon by 19 over the weekend. They face Holon at home and Bourg on the road this week, it's clearly going to be 2-0, right? Or 1-1, that's possible, too. But maybe even 0-2, right???
Aaron Towo-Nansi watch: the 16-year-old guard had 8 points against Chalon, second time he reached that mark in the French League this season.
#12 Hapoel Netanel Holon (+4)
BCL record: 1-1 Domestic league record: 1-0
Honestly, is there a better feeling than knocking down a game winner in a derby in front of your fans?
Jordan McRae made the biggest shot of the game as Hapoel defeated Hapoel Jerusalem to start their domestic campaign with a gigantic win.
More in terms of confidence than anything else. This will be a morale booster, for sure.
#11 Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola (+3)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 1-2
Μεγαλοπρεπής!
Promitheas are up to 2-0 out of nowhere, and find themselves in a situation where another break point could be set point in a match called "winning the group."
But... To stay in the tennis analogy, these two break points are against prime John Isner's and Ivo Karlovic's serves. Because Promitheas have back-to-back road games against Rytas Vilnius and Panathinaikos...
#10 Dreamland Gran Canaria (+2)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 1-2
That domestic league losing streak was stopped at two games, as Gran Canaria led from start to finish on the road in Manresa on Saturday. Same old, same old - five men in double digits, Isaiah Wong continuing his strong run with 19 points.
Fun fact: Gran Canaria are 3-0 when Wong scores 10+ points this season. They are 0-2 when he's held to single digits.
#9 Spartak Office Shoes (+2)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 2-0
Means more when you got these fans behind you, right?
They will need that kind of support this week, too, facing the mighty Gran Canaria in Serbia on Tuesday. Remember, Spartak are still unbeaten in all competitions this season, and they already made history as the first Serbian team to start their BCL run at 2-0.
Partizan, Mega and FMP all went 1-1 in their first two BCL adventures.
#8 Tofas Bursa (+1)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 2-2
Majestic run of Marek Blazevic scoring 20+ points in each game ended this past weekend, as Tofas lost to Mersin and Blazevic's first game below 20 this season ended up as a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double on 100 percent field goal shooting.
Imagine, just IMAGINE, I M A G I N E the standard you set when we look at a 12+10 100% game as your worst of the season...
Big opportunity coming up as they have a week off, then face Buyukcekmece (0-4) in the Super Ligi, meaning they could be well rested and as confident as possible when Tenerife arrive in Bursa on October 28.
#7 Joventut Badalona (0)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 3-0
Which team set a new record and got their first 3-0 domestic league start since 2009? That's right, this team!
Joventut dished out 30 assists against Bilbao Basket, a new all-time high for them in the Spanish League, and won their first three games for the first time in 16 years.
The lineup from 2009-2010 that went 3-0? Glad you asked: Uros Tripkovic, Kristaps Valters, Luka Bogdanovic, Antonio Bueno, Josep Franch, Edu Hernandez-Sonseca, Henk Norel, Pere Tomas, Alain Koffi, Christian Eyenga, Clay Tucker and Mario Fernandez. Coach: Sito Alonso.
#6 Galatasaray MCT Technic (0)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 2-2
Is this the best you've ever seen Galatasaray play? Our columnist Diccon Lloyd-Smeath praised them a lot in his breakdown of that win in Italy.
Believe it or not, the play that signaled how strong they are is the one when they kept going to... Will Cummings? James Palmer Jr? Errick McCollum? Fabian White Jr? John Meeks? Ridvan Oncel? Christian Bishop? Bugrahan Tuncer? Frederick Gillespie?
Nope.
They kept going to Muhsin Yasar, three possessions in a row.
See? That's how deep that team is, imagine trying to stop Gala and coach Yakup Sekizkok still finds a solution in a man who played 8 and 9 minutes over the first two BCL games, respectively.
Is this the best you've seen them play? It's not far from it.
#5 Elan Chalon (-1)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 2-2
Perfectly messed-up Power Rankings, that's all.
Elan Chalon were blown out by Cholet in the French League, which is why they ended up losing a spot here despite winning two incredibly difficult road games in the BCL to go 2-0.
Perfectly messed-up opportunity to go 6-0 + 3-0 from the BCL Qualifiers, since Chalon won the toughest games of the their schedule so far (at Monaco, at ALBA, at Nymburk) and lost two winnable games (vs. Nanterre, at Cholet).
They finally get a BCL week off, just in time to take on Paris on Sunday. Also, two matchups with Sabah coming up for them, they know that 4-0 record is achievable now.
#4 Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets (+1)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 4-0
Fitting to have four-word team in fourth position here.
Wurzburg are still perfect in the BCL and BBL, but they did lose their first game of the season in the German Cup, a single point thriller vs. Oldenburg.
Biggest game of the season coming up on Tuesday, they are on the road at Galatasaray, only one of those two will be at 3-0 the next time we write about it in the Power Rankings.
Btw, Davion Mintz is a legit MVP candidate here, trust us.
#3 Unicaja (-2)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 2-1
For so long, we kept explaining why some teams improve and some fall down a bit in the Power Rankings. So, even if you're a two-time champion, even if you're at 2-0 to start the new season, you could find yourself losing a couple of spots.
It's more about the others deserving mentions for their perfect records than about Unicaja not being as good as before.
They are good. You know it, we know it, they know it. They'll show us, pretty soon probably.
#2 La Laguna Tenerife (+1)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 3-0
This team is embedded in BCL history books, thanks to their successful seasons and longevity. However, one record sounds extraterrestrial right now.
La Laguna Tenerife won their 30th straight home game in the BCL last week. 30-0 at home since they lost to MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg in December 2021.
Jaime Fernandez watch: double digit streak still active, five games, five times in 10+ territory, that has not happened since December 2023, when he had 13 vs. Obradoiro, 14 vs. VEF Riga, 27 vs. Baskonia, 10 vs. Manresa and 11 vs. Cholet.
#1 AEK BC (+1)
BCL record: 2-0 Domestic league record: 3-0
Queen! No other words needed to describe this perfect AEK BC start to the season in all competitions!
Actually, wait. There are plenty more words to describe it.
Matter of fact, why don't you go back to the top and read just the first bold word of each team's description in the Power Rankings.
That's how we feel about the 2018 champions this season.
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The power rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.
The Basketball Champions League takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.