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 3-0 in the BCL, but 1-5 in their national championship.
#32 SL Benfica (0)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 4-0
Running out of words. Benfica are perfect in their championship, but cannot seem to translate that kind of form to the BCL.
One good thing: Geno Crandall has been really good this season, 13.7 points, 7.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He'd trade them all for a win, you know it.
#31 BC Sabah (0)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 5-0
Running out of words. Sabah are perfect in their championship, but cannot seem to translate that kind of form to the BCL.
One good thing: Jean-Marc Pansa has been really good this season, 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He'd trade them all for a win, you know it.
#30 Filou Oostende (-4)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 6-0
And another Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde story of the season. Oostende are up to six straight wins to start the BNXT season, they were down by just seven on the road in Malaga heading into the final five minutes, but they are still at zero wins in the BCL.
Noam Yaacov is a strong candidate for the Best Young Player, he's repeating it week in, week out, up to 18.0 points per game.
#29 VEF Riga (+1)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 5-2
Yeah, yeah, we know what you're thinking, "how can an 0-3 team be +1 this week!?"
It's because of their attitude on the road at Szolnoki last week, erasing what was a 15-point deficit in the final 13 minutes, only to miss a potential game-winning two-pointer.
Those were their best minutes of the season, and if they can hit copy-paste and scale it to the next three games, they could extend their European season to 2026, too.
#28 Bursaspor Basketbol (-1)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 2-4
We hoped there were signs of better days as Bursaspor took care of business easily against Manisa in the Turkish League back on October 18.
Since then, they lost three straight games, including a clutch 77-75 defeat to Bahcesehir College, thanks to a dagger Malachi Flynn triple, his 36th point of the day.
Symbolic to lose a game like that, since they are now running out of time.
#27 Bnei Penlink Herzliya (+2)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 0-3
Ehm... Still winless this season!? We're trying to shake things up for them by rewarding them a couple of spots, because they haven't really played 0-6 bad.
In fact, three of those defeats were by four points or less. Could've been 3-3 with a bit more luck.
#26 Pallacanestro Trieste (-1)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 3-2
Yeah, here's another team we believe in:
#25 MLP Academics Heidelberg (-9)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 1-4
You know what happens when you lose an important game at home in the BCL?
You lose nine spots in the Power Rankings, that's what happens when you lose an important game at home. Now you have to figure your own way out of the mess on a road game in Vilnius, one of the toughest places in all of BCL.
Just don't lose important games at home anymore, okay?
Okay.
#24 Karditsa Iaponiki (-6)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 2-2
Just 1-4 in their last five games across all competitions. Let's just not mention the 29-point defeat to Promitheas in the Greek League, okay? Nobody needs to know.
Just complete the sweep over Oostende next week, and nobody will ever know about the 29-point defeat to Promitheas. It's gonna be our little secret.
(Well... Big secret. But nobody needs to know. We'll erase the result from memory.)
#23 Patrioti Levice (-2)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 6-0
This is kinda unfair because over the last six games in all competitions, they are 5-1 and the sole defeat was to AEK BC, lost on a last second buzzer beater attempt that did not drop for them.
This is a really good team. Big game coming up next week, as they play host to Hungarian champions Szolnoki. We already know the arena will be packed to the rafters.
#22 Legia Warszawa (+6)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 5-0
Ah how bitter that defeat to Promitheas was on October 15... You see, they lost that one by four points.
That's their only defeat over the past six games in all competitions, showing you how strong the Polish champions really are. In fact, look at those records up here. The only two defeats of the season were both by single digits, against Promitheas and Rytas Vilnius.
Losing by single digits could end up being big in case of potential ties at the end of the Group Phase in the BCL. Especially in a group as close as this one.
#21 Cholet Basket (-8)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 4-2
Losing eight spots is what happens when you allow 100+ points in your backyard.
It's okay, though. Defeat Holon by 12+ this week and we'll get you back into the Top 15 here.
#20 Igokea m:tel (+4)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 3-1
A three-game winning streak ended over the weekend, as they lost to Cluj in the Adriatic League. But Igokea are now setting sights on winning consecutive BCL games, as that has not happened in some time now.
The last time they won back-to-back games in this competition was in 2022. Since they are taking one of their shortest road trips in BCL, a road win in Trieste could happen.
It would be a double win, too, as a sweep over the Italians would go a long way in the BIH champions' quest to reach the next phase.
#19 Trapani Shark (+4)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 4-1
We told you once, we told you twice - Trapani are better than you think.
They picked up their historic first win in a European competition last week, then they followed it up with something no team had done in Italy this season.
Brescia came to town unbeaten. Brescia left the town beaten, as Trapani won the game 77-75, taking both teams to 4-1 in the Italian League, two of five teams with that record. Better than you think.
#18 ERA Nymburk (-4)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 9-0
Check out that domestic league record, huh!? Not just that they are unbeaten, but also the fact that they already played nine games.
Down at 1-2, they have ALBA BERLIN coming to Czechia next week, we're not gonna say it's a do-or-die game, but it kinda is, because there's a big difference between being 2-2 and 1-3 compared to ALBA's 3-1 and a sweep.
Big game by Vojtech Hruban over the weekend, 22 points and 7 assists in just 17 minutes of action vs. Opava.
#17 Le Mans Sarthe Basket (+5)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 5-1
The BCL is so strong that we've got the French League leaders all the way down at #17 here...
Le Mans have been sensational domestically, and are currently on a four-game winning streak in all competitions, which could be five, since they are on the road at 0-3 Benfica in Portugal on Wednesday.
Then they have SIG Strasbourg and... The only other 5-1 team in France. MSB vs. Monaco, November 16, mark your calendars because that could be the battle for sole possession of #1 in France.
#16 Mersin Sports Club (+4)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 2-4
The win over Karditsa was potentially the game changer for Mersin. Two things are important here, (1) they climbed to 2-1 in Group G, and (2) they avoided a three-game losing streak, since that win was hugged by defeats to Petkimspor and Fenerbahce.
Number 2 is even more important because check out the upcoming schedule for Mersin: (1) at Galatasaray on November 9, and (2) vs. Unicaja on November 12.
A lot of important things in October and November.
#15 Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola (-4)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 2-3
Okay, first things first, the three-game losing streak is over, thanks to a massive +29 win over Karditsa, the one we said we won't mention earlier in the Power Rankings.
However, you can lose four spots even with a 29-point win that we are not mentioning. That's because the three-game streak had happened in the first place, and a 19-point defeat to Rytas Vilnius puts a lot of pressure on Promitheas to find a win over Legia this week.
If they find it, they're okay.
If they don't and lose by up to four, they could be okay.
If they don't and lose by more than four, well, we don't want to mention that just yet, okay? Okay.
#14 NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz (+5)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 6-0
Just here to tell you that Szolnoki have been so impressive this season that they've got one guy in the Top 10 of the MVP Race:
#13 Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets (-9)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 5-1
Probably the craziest result of the season: Wurzburg losing to Heidelberg 85-51.
Definitely the craziest aftermath: Wurzburg are still top of the German League, even after such a defeat!
We care about streaks and momentums around here in the Ameresco Power Rankings Headquarters, so we pushed them nine spots, because that 34-point defeat was a part of a three-game losing streak that had us worried a bit.
#12 Tofas Bursa (-4)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-3
Three defeats in last four games. That's no good.
Bringing in Furkan Korkmaz? That's awesome!
#11 Rytas Vilnius (+6)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 5-2
Okay, things are looking way better now for the Lithuanian giants, as they built a 19-point cushion against a previously unbeaten Promitheas team, and they host Heidelberg this week.
All of a sudden, there's a big chance to claim pole position ahead of the final two games in Group A. Knowing how tough of a group they had in the Round of 16 last season, getting there as group winners this season could make all the difference.
#10 Spartak Office Shoes (-1)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 4-0
They lose a spot because they lost to Gran Canaria at home, but in reality they could've been up a spot or two because they are the only unbeaten of their group in the Adriatic League.
Yep. They defeated Buducnost on the road to start the season, then backed it up with wins over Vienna, Zadar and Crvena Zvezda.
Yep. Spartak are the only unbeaten team in a group with Buducnost, Zvezda, Cedevita Olimpija, Vienna, Mega, Zadar, Bosna and Ilirija.
#9 Hapoel Netanel Holon (+3)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-0
Instead of writing anything here, we'll just send you to our man Diccon Lloyd-Smeath:
#8 ALBA BERLIN (+7)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-2
Show of hands, who expected this after they had lost back-to-back games to Chalon and Wurzburg? And then lost Boogie Ellis, too!?
Probably only their hardcore fans thought this was possible. Because ALBA went 5-0 over their last five games in all competitions, including wins over Bayern, ERA Nymburk and previous BCL champions Bonn.
Sam Griesel has been in fine form recently, three double digits games in last four appearances.
#7 Dreamland Gran Canaria (+3)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 2-3
The only thing preventing us from pushing these guys to the top of the table is their domestic record.
Yeah, yeah, we know, it's the toughest league in the continent, and they had probably the worst possible schedule, but still, you don't see Gran Canaria below .500 that often.
In other news: We kept saying Isaiah Wong is a legit MVP contender, but in reality, Braian Angola is taking over there: 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 62-50-77 shooting splits, and an efficiency rating of 16.3 per game.
We're gonna need a nickname for Isaiah and Braian.
#6 Galatasaray MCT Technic (0)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 3-3
Same as Gran Canaria, domestic record stopping us from moving them to top three spots.
Instead, they got three legit MVP contenders (Palmer, White, Cummings) and two of them were featured in the MVP Race:
#5 Unicaja (-2)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 3-2
What!?
FIVE!?
WHAT!? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?
("It's not you, it's me" explanation: Of the four teams above them, two are from the same national league and have better records, one is almost perfect this season, and one picked up four gigantic road wins in all competitions.
It's not you, Unicaja. It's all the others.)
#4 Joventut Badalona (+3)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 4-1
Only team with better offensive rating: La Laguna Tenerife at 128.3; Joventut right next to them at 127.3.
Only teams with better defensive rating: Unicaja (91.2), AEK (92.5), Gran Canaria (96.0) and Chalon (96.6); Joventut right next to them at 97.0.
Hence, only team with better NET rating in BCL: Unicaja (32.2); Joventut right next to them at 30.3.
Pick your poison on our Advanced Stats page, these guys are probably Top 5 whatever you're searching for.
So it's only logical they are Top 5 in the Power Rankings, too.
#3 Elan Chalon (+2)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 3-3
Remember when we said there was a team that picked up four gigantic road wins? Here you go!
Coach Elric Delord built these Road Warriors, capable of defeating Monaco, ALBA BERLIN, ERA Nymburk and ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, all on the road, all in just one month of action!
Read all about Delord's computer science approach to this monster of a team:
#2 La Laguna Tenerife (0)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 4-1
Well, that happened so we know it's a possibility: Tenerife lost a game, their first of the season, over the weekend.
Baskonia became the first team to defeat these guys in the BCL or Liga Endesa, despite Marcelinho Huertas' monster double-double of 16 points and 12 assists.
Back-to-back home games up next, first against the two-time BCL champions San Pablo Burgos (hey, welcome back to the top division!), then against Tofas Bursa.
Another two wins could be what pushes them to top spot here.
#1 AEK BC (0)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 4-1
First defeat of the season happened over the weekend, as Peristeri forced 17 AEK turnovers, and escaped to a 13-point win with a 22-12 final stanza.
Still, AEK are looking confident and their fans are definitely expecting them to go 3-0 before the national team break, since they are at home against PAOK and VEF Riga, then face Maroussi on the road.
Could be all important to win all three because December has them facing Olympiacos, Levice, Panathinaikos and Szolnoki in the first 16 days.
But for now, they are looking like the team to beat here.
###
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.