MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League Season 11, powered by Ameresco SUNEL has completed one third of the action in the Group Phase, with all clubs playing two games.
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 16 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 6-1 in the BCL, but 6-11 in their national championship.
#32 Bnei Penlink Herzliya (0)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 2-3 Streak in all competitions: L3
Three defeats in the BCL, three straight defeats in all competitions. Not much to add, really.
#31 BK KVIS Pardubice (-4)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 10-2 Streak in all competitions: W1
This isn't really fair, because Pardubice have their fine moments every time they are on BCL schedule. Unfortunately, we don't count fine moments, so they are 0-3.
That domestic record is crazy, already 12 games played in the Czech League! Trey Bonham had another big game over the weekend, 19 points and 5 assists in just 18 minutes of work as they defeated Opava with ease.
#30 BMA365 Bamberg Baskets (-4)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 4-4 Streak in all competitions: L1
Last five games: L - W - L - W - L.
Meaning, W is up next. And it is supposed to happen on the road at UCAM Murcia, so Bamberg could be a Top 20 team in two weeks' time here, if they pull it off.
Richard Balint has been their most consistent performer this season, consider this our Fantasy League advice.
#29 RASTA Vechta (0)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 3-5 Streak in all competitions: W2
Good news? Vechta picked up back-to-back wins by scoring 199 points in those two encounters, led by Tommy Kuhse, who's on a wild run right now.
Kuhse had 24 points, 7 assists and 4 boards against Hagen, then followed it up with a LeBron-esque stat line of 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists against Chemnitz.
Bad news? They are still 0-3 in the BCL and running out of time...
#28 SK Slavia Praha ERA NBK (0)
BCL record: 0-3 Domestic league record: 11-1 Streak in all competitions: W4
Four wins in a row are something, especially when we tell you they had five different top scorers during that run. Javian McCollum had 22 points and 9 assists against Opava, Ronaldo Segu had 21 against Usti nad Labem, Martin Kriz finished with 18 points against Decin, while Nana Owusu-Anane and Travis Harper had 17 each against Lokomotiva Plzen.
Still, they can't move up in the Power Rankings because they are 0-3 in the BCL.
#27 Cibona (-5)
BCL record: 1-2 ABA league record: 2-4 Streak in all competitions: W2
Khalif Battle is finally back! He had 26 points against Siroki in the Adriatic League on Monday, very important for him to see that he fits right in with the new coach's plans, as Ivan Tomas used him for 30 minutes in that game.
Meanwhile, it could be too little too late, because Cibona struggled without him and these two BCL defeats were by a combined 43 points. In such a closely contested group with SIG Strasbourg, Legia Warszawa and Galatasaray, point difference could be crucial.
#26 Igokea m:tel (-4)
BCL record: 1-2 ABA league record: 2-4 Streak in all competitions: L2
Speaking of Cibona's blowout defeats, Igokea beat them by 20 on the road in the Adriatic League, but failed to convert it into something beautiful. Instead, they lost to Zenit in the Winline Basket Cup and to Krka in the Adriatic League. At least they picked up a five-point win over SK Slavia Praha ERA NBK, that could be big in getting them above the Group Phase cut.
#25 Salon Vilpas (0)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 5-4 Streak in all competitions: L1
We were really debating about Salon Vilpas being a Top 20 club here, because the way they ended Windrose Giants Antwerp's winning streak in their first game without Leland Walker made us think they've got something special.
But, we're keeping some question marks here because of their domestic record. They had the league leaders Kipina Basket in chess for 39 minutes and 40 seconds, on the road, too, and then just completely collapsed, losing the game on a turnover and a layup in the last 20 seconds.
So that's the only reason why there's a (0) next to their name. We'll reward them in a couple weeks if they extend those 39:40 to 40:00, we promise.
#24 Falco-Vulcano Szombathely (-8)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 7-0 Streak in all competitions: W1
Think of their defeat to AEK in Hungary as a tennis match, and it was set point and they were on their own serve and then they just smashed it out of bounds. You're right, it's AEK, and you're right, it's still early days, but this is not about one game, it's more about Falco missing an opportunity to take a gigantic leap towards the next stage.
Meanwhile, they are on one of their most dominant runs in the Hungarian League, ever, even by their standards; check the margins here:
+26 @ Soproni
+26 @ Kormend
+20 vs. Duna Aszfalt
+28 @ Pecs
+31 vs. Szedeak
+24 @ OSE Lions
+19 vs. Phoenix MT Fot
#23 FC Porto (-10)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 5-1 Streak in all competitions: W1
On the other end of the Falco-esque scale, Porto have kept their fans on the edge of their seats by winning some close games, and losing a pair of such games, too.
Joventut were way too strong for them in the BCL, but still, if you count that game out, Porto's only two remaining defeats in all competitions were by a total of five points, meaning they could've easily been 2-1 here and 6-0 in Portugal.
Ten different guys played between 11 and 30 minutes, ten different guys got on the scoresheet while handing Braga an 81-76 defeat this weekend.
#22 Sabah BC (+8)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 4-1 Streak in all competitions: W3
Three straight wins, as Sabah enter a game at home against Trabzonspor this week. Last time they played them, they went down by 35-12 after the first quarter, but it was probably the only bad quarter of basketball by Sabah this season.
Just ask Nanterre if you don't believe everybody here at the Basketball Champions League Ameresco Power Rankings Headquarters.
At 1-2, with two of three remaining games in Azerbaijan... We're not gonna say it out loud.
But we're gonna write it down quietly here like this, you know at 1-2 with two home games left Sabah could win the group or get home court advantage in Play-Ins, right? You know it's not a wild thing to say, right?? You know they are legit, right-right??? Right.
#21 Pallacanestro Reggiana (-3)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 2-5 Streak in all competitions: L3
#20 Itelyum Varese (+4)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 4-3 Streak in all competitions: L1
Finally on the board! Varese won their first game of the season, and it immediately created a three-game winning run in all competitions, scoring 110, 95 and 99 against BC Roma, Bamberg and Verona.
The run ended in a one-possession defeat to Udine, but hey, something positive happened for a minute there. They need more of that, because if the BCL Group Phase ended today, they would be playing AEK BC in the Play-Ins.
Without home court advantage, too.
#19 Galatasaray MCT Technic (-7)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 4-3 Streak in all competitions: W1
Chimezie Metu before October 19: five games, 40 points, 8.0 per game.
Chimezie Metu since October 19: five games, 91 points, 18.2 per game.
Sometimes, players just have this kind of reaction to a coaching change, and whatever it is Manuchar Markoishvili is doing with Mezie, just don't change a thing because in a pair of BCL wins, he'll join the MVP Race, for sure.
Two of their next three BCL games are at home, something to keep in mind.
#18 Nanterre 92 (-7)
BCL record: 1-2 Domestic league record: 5-2 Streak in all competitions: W2
You know why that defeat to Sabah was painful? Because Nanterre were in the middle of something special, defeating Cholet by 17, Bourg on a buzzer-beater three-pointer and Chalon by 12, scoring 86, 101 and 93 in the process.
But that defeat to Sabah ruined a chance for this to be a four-game winning run with clutchness included, that's why they lose seven spots in the Power Rankings. Xavier Castaneda in those four games, points and assists: 25+6, 23+8, 21+9, 17+8.
Time to remind you about the Fantasy League, yep.
#17 Hapoel Maoz Daniel Holon (+6)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 1-4 Streak in all competitions: L2
Two straight wins in the BCL, two straight defeats in the Israeli League. You never know what you're going to get with Holon, because at times, they can be that team that defeats the Serbian champions on the road, and then again, they can also be a team which allows Nate Kingz 37 points in a 110-101 defeat to Hapoel Galil Elion at home.
Kingz had a total of 42 points in three games prior combined, just fyi. When it rains, it pours.
#16 BC Juventus Utena (+4)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-6 Streak in all competitions: L1
We always reward teams that come up clutch in overtime wins, and Juventus moved up four spots thanks to their triumph against Pardubice.
But it's also kinda hard to ignore it was their only win in last four games in all competitions. That's why they are so far away from a Top 10 spot even at 2-1 with two straight BCL wins.
Turn on notifications for Laurynas Beliauskas, he's got six straight games with 10+ points scored, including a near double-double with 9 assists against Pardubice.
#15 Legia Warszawa (+6)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-3 Streak in all competitions: L1
They go +1 for a win over Galatasaray, and another +5 because of the videographer.
We value content over here, you know that. Btw, 2-1 with two home games left! Round of 16 doesn't sound so far away, does it?
#14 UCAM Murcia (-7)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-4 Streak in all competitions: L1
Okay, losing seven spots is mostly because it's a big no-no when you lose a game at home in this format. Peristeri took them by surprise, so Murcia took it all out on Lleida, scoring 125 points with Howard Sant-Roos proving he's much more than just an elite defender and that's a wild sentence to say.
Anyway, he scored 24 in that one, Murcia need him to be the same old HSR in order to win this group and move to Round of 16. Again.
#13 Cholet Basket (-5)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 3-5 Streak in all competitions: L1
Okay, losing five spots is mostly because it's a big no-no when you lose a game at home in this format. However, they've got a story to tell:
#12 Spartak Office Shoes (+7)
BCL record: 2-1 ABA league record: 4-2 Streak in all competitions: W3
Don't look now, but the Serbian champions may be the best team nobody talks about.
They won three in a row, including a dramatic 109-104 overtime win at Mega, they won four of their last five, and six of their last eight, with those two defeats being to Holon by two and Partizan by two, too.
They can beat you any way imaginable, in high scoring affairs or in a 67-51 matchup against Zadar, they are too good.
An opportunity for a sweep arrives this week, defeating Cholet on Tuesday would be a double win and a huge step towards the Round of 16 already.
#11 SIG Strasbourg (-2)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 4-4 Streak in all competitions: L1
A lot has been said about the depth of Strasbourg in our MVP Race, so you should focus on that instead of on this little box.
#10 AEK BC (+5)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 2-4 Streak in all competitions: L1
It just seems to be bad news into more bad news, as injuries have hit The Queen hard this season, culminating with a long term Achilles injury suffered by Greg Brown III over the weekend. Just as he was catching his high-flying rhythm...
On a positive note, Frank Bartley is now officially on the same page as Keith Langford and Kevin Punter:
#9 Telekom Baskets Bonn (+5)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 5-3 Streak in all competitions: W3
A nice little streak happened and Bonn find themselves just two wins behind the Bundesliga leaders!
The schedule is not looking smooth, though, as they have to travel to Bamberg and have another road game against Herzliya right after that, so their only home game in this batch is against Ulm on the 22nd, before travel to Munich to face Bayern.
The +5 from the brackets could go either way after November, but with the way they are playing right now, you feel it could be another +5 and another +3 after that.
(That's our way of saying Bonn could be #1 in Power Rankings at checkpoint 5.)
#8 Peristeri Betsson (+1)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 3-3 Streak in all competitions: L2
The two domestic defeats are the only reason we're not pushing Peristeri towards the top four spots, as they are still perfect after three BCL games this season.
So while the jury is still out if they can keep this unbeaten streak going here, more good news flew their way, as Ty Nichols joined the Top 10 of the MVP Race!
#7 Rytas Vilnius (+3)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 5-3 Streak in all competitions: L1
The ups and downs continue for the defending champs on the court, as they had a four-game winning run, but then dropped two games by a total of 9 points in the Lithuanian League.
Off the court? They are just winning all the time:
#6 Trabzonspor (-2)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 4-3 Streak in all competitions: L1
Having watched Trabzonspor vs. Petkim - don't ask about the score - we're here to tell you that Brandon Boston is legit.
The guard is electric, eclectic, ecstatic and everything else, he scored 34 points in 41 Turkish League minutes against Korfez and Petkim - don't ask about the score - while shooting 6-of-13 3PTS, 5-of-9 3PTS and 7-of-10 FTs.
He is here to make them a different team, to change the landscape and avoid future defeats to Petkim - ahh you didn't ask about the score, but we told you anyway, they lost by 10 at home, wasting a chance to move up to #3 in the Turkish League.
That's fine, though. Boston is good, they'll get better with him, for sure.
#5 Surne Bilbao (-2)
BCL record: 2-1 Domestic league record: 4-3 Streak in all competitions: L1
Up and down continues, as Bilbao go WLWLWL over their last six games, and all eyes will be on them on Tuesday, because they are up against ALBA BERLIN at home.
A win would be cool. A win by four would be even cooler, because they would own the tiebreaker. A defeat would not be cool, and would send ALBA through to the Round of 16 if Slavia beat Igokea in the other game.
#4 Windrose Giants Antwerp (-2)
BCL record: 2-1 BNXT league record: 6-0 Streak in all competitions: W1
Gotta admit, we were a little bit worried after the Giants had suffered their first defeat of the season in their last BCL game. And we were worried because they had a road game at Oostende a few days later, their arch rivals.
Well, guess what, Bob Marley was right when he said "Don't worry about a thing 'cause every little thing gonna be alright." Enoch Cheeks (22pts), Nijel Pack (19pts) and Joel Murray (17pts) were the Three Little Birds as Antwerp defeated Oostende 82-71 to stay perfect in the BNXT League.
Three home games left until the end of November for them. Feeling good about this team, for real. Especially about Enoch.
#3 Asisa Joventut (+3)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 2-5 Streak in all competitions: L1
Instead of trying to explain how they started the Liga Endesa at 2-5 after winning the Supercopa - it's impossible to explain, really - we'll just focus on dissecting what they do the best.
Their passing is a clinic, a masterclass, a master's course, a column by our favorite analyst Diccon Lloyd-Smeath:
#2 ALBA BERLIN (+3)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 4-4 Streak in all competitions: W1
Is it time to go bold because there's an important message? Okay, time to go bold!
ALBA BERLIN could become the first team to advance to the Round of 16 in Season 11 of the Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL!
If they defeat Bilbao on the road, it would mean they are 2-0 against them and would finish ahead of Bilbao even if they lost their remaining two games and finished 4-2. At the same time, if Slavia defeat Igokea, both of them would be 1-3, meaning they can't get to four wins and ALBA would pack their things towards Round of 16 Group K!
Unbolding just to tell you that by today's standings, ALBA would be joined by Antwerp, Legia or Sabah, and Juventus or Holon.
#1 Unicaja (0)
BCL record: 3-0 Domestic league record: 3-4 Streak in all competitions: L1
Oh well. What's new?
Unicaja dropped a pair of games in Spain, but both were closely contested and they could've easily won those two, which would mean they are on an eight-game winning streak in all competitions.
Instead, they are just 6-2 in their last eight, while setting their new BCL record with 19 three-pointers made against Reggiana, just two shy of the all-time mark of 21 set by Bamberg in 2021.
Three of their next four games are at home, including the one against Pardubice in the BCL, so don't expect them to lose grip of the top spot any time soon.
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.