MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League is back with its eighth season, meaning it's also time for the Power Rankings. Disclaimer: these are not the official rankings in any shape or form, this is just a heat-check, a snapshot of which teams are in form, and which are not.

We are trying to sort these teams by their overall performance, not just their BCL record. That means that their domestic league results are also taken into account, because you'll feel better about a team that won 10 straight games overall, than about a team that won two BCL games, but lost eight games in their domestic championship.

You can revisit Volume 1 by clicking this link.

#32 BK Opava (-4)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 7-3

There's not a lot to be excited about if you're 0-2 and -86, but this is a gigantic learning experience for the Czech champs. They are focusing on their domestic league for another week, chasing the league-leading ERA Nymburk in a close battle over there in Czechia. They'll be back in BCL next week, traveling to Vilnius.

#31 Bursaspor Info Yatirim (-6)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 3-3

Four defeats in the last five games in all competitions. Not ideal, nope.

#30 Igokea m:tel (-6)

BCL record: 0-2
Adriatic League record: 4-1

It's impossible to read this team. They are one of the toughest Adriatic League clubs once again, fighting for the top of the standings over there, but their road game against UCAM Murcia was horrible. Hey, at least we got to see their newest youngster on a big stage last week.

 

#29 Banco di Sardegna Sassari (-6)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 1-5

Five straight defeats in all competitions. Sassari's only win of the season was back on October 14, almost a month ago, when they edged out Treviso by four points. Since then, they've lost to King Szczecin, Segafredo Virtus Bologna, AEK BETSSON BC, Bertram Derthona Tortona and Pallacanestro Varese. The schedule isn't getting any easier, either. MHP RIESEN await in Ludwigsburg, one of the toughest home courts in BCL history.

#28 Filou Oostende (-6)

BCL record: 0-2
BNXT League record: 5-1

In BCL, they are struggling. But domestically, ooh baby, they're hot just like an oven. In BCL, they are close to crying, but domestically, whenever blue teardrops are fallin', and their emotional stability is leaving them, there is something they can do, they get you on the telephone to watch their BNXT highlights and get that feeling. These are (paraphrased) Marvin Gaye's lyrics, that song about that healing, which was actually written and recorded in Oostende, so there you go. They need some BCL healing, hopefully in their back-to-back battles with EWE Baskets Oldenburg later this month.

#27 VEF Riga (-6)

BCL record: 0-2
Latvian-Estonian Basketball League record: 4-3

Let's ignore the 0-2 record and focus on the positive. Roberts Blums turned 18 four days ago, and he celebrated his birthday with a 27-point explosion in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League. He's scored in double digits in four straight games, including an 11-point outing against Cholet Basket in the BCL. However, the Blumses aren't the first father-son combination to score in the BCL, because the Pietruses were faster by a season.

#26 Falco Vulcano Szombathely (-8)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 5-1

Good news? The Hungarian champions have won back-to-back games, while scoring 88 and 91 points, and they are chasing yet another pole position in Hungary, with just a single defeat there and just three defeats all season long. Bad news? Those three defeats came in a row, and two of them were in the BCL.

#25 EWE Baskets Oldenburg (-9)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 5-1

Basketball is cruel. EWE Baskets Oldenburg could've easily been at 2-0, and with a 5-1 domestic record, they would've been a legit candidate to go top five in the Power Rankings. But with a combined points' difference of minus four in two defeats, they are actually closer to the bottom than to the middle of the pack. Cruel.

#24 Rytas Vilnius (-7)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 7-1

Basketball is cruel. EWE Baskets Oldenburg Rytas Vilnius could've easily been at 2-0, and with a 5-1 a 7-1 domestic record, they would've been a legit candidate to go top five in the Power Rankings. But with a combined points' difference of minus four minus six in two defeats, they are actually closer to the bottom than to the middle of the pack. Cruel.

#23 Galatasaray EKMAS (-3)

BCL record: 0-2
Domestic championship record: 3-3

Galatasaray lost five of their last six games across all competitions. So, why are they in the lower 20s? Because three of those five defeats were by one-possession margins, and they sneaked in a 19-point road win over Anadolu Efes in there, so there is a lot of quality and potential on this squad. It's just a matter of turning it into wins before it gets too late.

#22 Cholet Basket (+3)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 6-3

Best young player race seems like Tidjane Salaun's playground. He's up to 11.5 points per game, while shooting 40 percent on five attempts from three per game. He's one of those reasons you would call up a friend on a random Tuesday or Wednesday evening and say, "dude, turn the TV/stream on." Our social media crew would agree.

 

#21 Tofas Bursa (-8)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 2-4

Four straight defeats. That's how you lose eight positions in the Power Rankings. Home defeat to Tortona. That's how you erase the thrilling road win over Igokea. The momentum is going up and down with Tofas, now it's just a matter of where it stops, and with no wins since October 18, the swing is scary, already.

#20 Le Mans Sarthe Basket (-9)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 5-5

Breakeven meaning:
break·​even ˈbrāk-ˈē-vən.
the point at which cost and income are equal and there is neither profit nor loss.
also: a financial result reflecting neither profit nor loss.
also: Le Mans Sarthe Basket's 2023-24 season so far.

#19 King Szczecin (-9)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 4-3

Instead of wasting ink on King Szczecin's recent performances, here - have a click. It's about their rookie Morris Udeze, one of the most impressive youngsters in international basketball. Maybe even the most impressive one. Pure energy, pure numbers, may you hope you get him in BCL's official Fantasy game.

#18 PAOK mateco (-13)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 2-3

They dropped 13 spots because they haven't really been good since that opening day win over Galatasaray. They lost in one of the Greek classics against Olympiacos over the weekend, but they also won one of the classics against Olympiacos, on the football pitch. So at least some good news for the fans of the black-and-white part of Thessaloniki.
(That Giannis Konstantelias kid is special...)

#17 MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (+2)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 3-2

Power Rankings, Volume 1: Give them time.
MHP RIESEN since: Three straight wins, including a come-from-behind triumph against King Szczecin, a 29-point road blowout over the German champs Ulm, and a 19-point smooth sailing victory over Rostock to propel them back into the upper part of the standings in Germany. Expect them in the Top 10 next time around.

#16 Peristeri bwin (+11)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 2-3

Well, this looks much better for Peristeri. They were on a four-game losing streak to start their October, but bounced back with three straight wins, earning themselves an 11-place jump in the Power Rankings. They've got a tough one on the road this week, facing Unicaja. Win in Malaga, you'll get another 11-place jump in the next Power Rankings, for sure.

#15 UCAM Murcia (=)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 5-3

Not only have UCAM Murcia won three of their last four games, but they've done so in impressive fashion, blowing out Gran Canaria by 26, Igokea m:tel by 25 and BAXI Manresa by 13. Simon Birgander's strong start to the season is continuing, at 21.9 per game, he's leading the efficiency numbers in the Liga Endesa, and coach Sito Alonso can even afford to rest him in some BCL games because of how well-oiled this machine called UCAM is. Oh, and Sito has been around, to say the least.

 

#14 Telekom Baskets Bonn

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 3-3

The defending champs were on a five-game winning streak in all competitions, but that single point defeat to Hapoel Holon has pushed the gear box back to reverse and Bonn are still unable to move forward the way they hoped it would happen. It's still a weird part of the season. Because somehow, and that's a SOMEHOW, Bonn lost a game in which they were a +27 team with their star player on the floor. Weird part of the season for the all new champs.

#13 Lenovo Tenerife (-9)

BCL record: 1-1
Domestic championship record: 4-4

Wait, what!? This has to be the lowest Lenovo Tenerife have ever been (power) ranked. Then again, they lost their second game last season, too. Still went on to reach the Final Four as the biggest favorite to win the BCL again. Two men to keep an eye on - Joan Sastre, he went 3-of-3 from beyond the arc over the weekend, and they were a +23 team in his 17 minutes of work, and Aaron Doornekamp, who made Tenerife count to +25 in 30 minutes on the floor. It's not just about Huertas, Salin and Shermadini, see?

#12 Rio Breogan (+2)

BCL record: 1-0
Domestic championship record: 1-7

The 1-0 BCL record is the only reason why they are so high here, because that 1-7 record in Spain is becoming a heavy weight over their shoulders. Sooner or later they will have to focus on saving their Liga Endesa season if this slump carries on, and that's going to hurt their European ambitions for sure. Not an easy road, traveling domestically and internationally.

#11 SIG Strasbourg (-2)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 3-6

Their season is that "doge meme," with the big muscled doge being Strasbourg in the BCL, and the timid tiny doge being Strasbourg in France. Their offense is the key to their success, and if it stalls, the defense is not there to get them out of the hole. To be more precise, Strasbourg are 6-1 when they score 80+ points this season. They are 2-5 when they score fewer than 80.

#10 Hapoel Holon

BCL record: 1-0
Domestic championship record: none

This roster is nowhere near to some past Hapoel Holon teams when it comes to pure talent or the players' CVs. Like, name for name, that 2022 Final Four lineup is on another level compared to this team. But guess what? The names aren't playing. The 2024 edition of Holon plays with a lot of pride and that sharing-is-caring mentality. Just look at their road win over Bonn: four players in double figures, with two other stopping at 9, and one player scoring 7. When you spread the wealth in the boxscore like that, you get a W. And you go to the Top 10 here in your first Power Rankings appearance of the season.

 

#9 Promitheas Patras (+3)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 4-1

Make that 6-1 to start the season, with the lone defeat coming on the road at Peristeri. But wait, why aren't they up higher when they are nearly perfect? That's because their schedule up to date was like playing Sudoku on beginner or medium difficulty. It will get to expert in November, as they face Olympiacos, Dijon, Aris and Rytas - ALL ON THE ROAD - and if they survive that, then they get to the master level in December. We'll talk when we get there. Sudoku is in no rush.

#8 SL Benfica

BCL record: 1-0
Domestic championship record: 4-2

One of the most fun one-two punches or dynamic duos in the BCL: Ivan Almeida and Terrell Carter. They powered SL Benfica to a winning start against PAOK, getting 28 and 26 points, respectively, making them just the seventh BCL pair with 25+ points in a single game. We know Ivan Almeida goes by El Condor. But what is a cooler nickname for Carter? We proposed Thunder Carter, he says he's Big Benfica. Maybe we conduct a poll about it some day...

#7 Bertram Derthona Tortona (+1)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 3-3

We told you about the new team, but experienced guys concept of this Tortona lineup. Well, take a look at Chris Dowe, growing his game at 32 years of age, finding new ways to help his team(s). The electric guard had 10 assists in Bertram Derthona Tortona's win over Tofas Bursa, a BCL career-high for him by some distance. He averaged just 3.4 assists per game in his first 30 appearances in the League. So if he's growing, if Tortona are winning, no wonder Chris made the Team of the Month.

#6 Darussafaka Lassa (+1)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 4-2

Some may feel like David McCormack was the best option for the MVP of October award, but it came down to overall efficiency because it was so close between him and Vernon Carey Jr, and he lost out. Good. Maybe that feeds him with even more motivation to go out there and dominate on the floor. With 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, he's the biggest reason why our Diccon Lloyd-Smeath dedicated a whole column to the big guys.

#5 JDA Bourgogne Dijon (-2)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 4-6

You may be thinking, "wait a minute, that domestic record isn't really good." You're right. Except, you're not entirely right. Because Dijon won four of their last five games, including a pair of wins in the French League to wake them up after a horrible start to the season. However, with so many good teams at 2-0 in the BCL, that domestic record is the reason why they dropped a few places in the Power Rankings compared to Volume 1. By the way, Gregor Hrovat is playing like a man possessed this season, keep an eye on him.

#4 AEK BETSSON BC (+2)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 2-3

Same as Dijon, four wins in their last five games. Back-to-back matchups with the Polish champs King Szczecin offer an opportunity to use all of their BCL experience against a newcomer and climb to 4-0 in a hurry in Group D, which would send them straight to the Round of 16. The Kings will hope they don't see the sign. You know which sign. The "oh Lord, AEK are cookin' from deep" sign:

 

#3 Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

BCL record: 1-0
Domestic championship record: none

They were previously unranked, but come on. They were runners up last season, and the first game against Galatasaray EKMAS showed that they got better over the summer, and are now probably the strongest contender to pick up that spiky trophy in May. The chemistry is so, so good, it's like the players sense if Khadeen Carrington or Levi Randolph or Speedy Smith is getting hot and that confidence becomes contagious on the floor. Busy November awaits, but Jerusalem look ready for big things. Again!

#2 Unicaja (=)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 5-3

No alarms and no surprises. Unicaja are as good as everybody thought they would be, on a six game winning streak, with -- get this -- a different player to lead them in all six of those wins. Kendrick Perry was the best against Badalona, Will Thomas took over against Falco Vulcano Szombathely, Tyson Carter destroyed Baskonia, David Kravish created separation against Le Mans Sarthe Basket, then Nihad Dedovic and Dylan Osetkowski finished off Rio Breogan and Monbus Obradoiro. This team is as good as their photographer, we swear...

#1 Pinar Karsiyaka (=)

BCL record: 2-0
Domestic championship record: 3-3

Here's the deal. Pinar Karsiyaka started the season strong and looked comfortable in their five wins in the BCL and the Turkish League. They found a new international basketball gem in Vernon Carey, BCL's MVP of October, youngest in League history, and until they drop a wild game somewhere, either in Turkey or in Europe, they will remain on top of the Power Rankings. By the way, their last two wins came without the help of Errick McCollum. So yes, they are #1 here, with a lot of room for improvement, and this is why that 2021 Final keeps landing in your head when you're watching the 2024 Karsiyaka lineup. So much talent, so much experience, all with Ufuk Sarica to lead the way. Sounds promising, alright.

*The power rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking systems. All comments are purely those of the author.