MIES (Switzerland) - Summer's endings and familiar beginnings. Return to our beloved habits.
That's one way to describe the feeling of returning to Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL action as the competition enters Season 11, tipping off on October 6 with the usual format.
With 32 teams divided into eight groups with four teams each, eight sides will gain access to the Round of 16 by winning their respective group. The fourth-placed teams in the eight groups, instead, won't continue their trajectory in the competition, being out of contention after the first six games of the Group Stage.
Purgatory belongs to the second-placed and third-placed teams in the groups, as these sides from adjacent groups (C2 vs. D3, D2 vs. C3) will square off in the Play-Ins: best-of-three series with the winners advancing to complete the Sweet 16 picture.
That's why we have decided to preview Groups C&D together, keeping in mind that it's important to know what's going on in the neighboring group. Let's roll with it, as Season 11's just around the corner.
The favorites
Group C: Up by 20 points in the third quarter in Badalona, the black-and-yellow wave of fans on the stands of the Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona was extremely excited, on cloud nine.
Simonas Lukosius' takeover ruined the party for AEK BC, closer than ever to returning to the top step of the podium in the BCL after an eight-year drought. Heading into their 11th consecutive season in the competition, becoming the only club capable of such a streak, the Queen has never been so determined.
Most importantly, they have managed to contain the departure of contributors to Season X's run towards the BCL Final Four, bringing in two potential breakout forwards and an experienced veteran.
In 2025-26, Dragan Sakota's team found a new offensive dimension when adding James Nunnally. Preparing for Season 11, while confirming the MVP, Frank Bartley IV, they decided to move in a similar direction, boosting their roster with the veteran presence and all-around package provided by the 35-year-old Derrick Williams.
The same approach was executed for two more additions in the team's backcourt, with the return of Giannoulis Larentzakis after seven years and Thomas Heurtel's arrival. Plenty of experience for this season's AEK.
We also mentioned potential breakout forwards, didn't we? Well, Landers Nolley II and Nelly Joseph are both coming off promising seasons in France, in Nancy (19.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game) and Strasbourg (averaging almost a double-double with 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds), respectively.
Group D: Looking at the Spanish teams that have competed in the BCL over the years, only Tenerife have recorded more participations (10) than UCAM Murcia, that are about to enter their 6th Group Stage.
Moreover, they have always proved they can compete for the highest stages of the competition, reaching at least the Round of 16 in each of their appearance. They can count on two bronze medals (2017-18 and 2023-24), while also reaching the Quarter-Finals in the 2022-23 campaign.
Their absence in 2025-26 made itself felt, but they were still able to reach the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Europe Cup, getting eliminated in the second leg by PAOK. Now, after a fourth-place season in the ACB, they are back.
Considering their resume and roster continuity, it's hard not to consider Murcia the most impressive team at the starting grid in Group D. Coached by Sito Alonso since 2019, they've confirmed several players as well.
The team's captain, Jonah Radebaugh, will be once again joined by Dylan Ennis and Howard Sant-Roos, respectively, experienced offensive and defensive forces for the Spanish side. Michael Forrest is coming off averaging 13.3 points per game in the 2025-26 FIBA Europe Cup, and he's hungry for more.
While adding Jean-Marc Pansa to their frontcourt, Murcia have also welcomed the point guard Souley Boum Jr., who has posted 17.6 points per game for Guinea in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers.
Games to watch
Group C: With AEK likely to proceed to the Round of 16 by staying on top of Group C until the end of the Regular Season, Falco KC Szombathely and Windrose Giants Antwerp will contend for second place.
That's why you shouldn't miss their two clashes during Season 11's Group Stage: the first one will be played in Antwerp on October 7 at 20:00 CET, while the second in Szombathely on December 16 at 18:00 CET.
We will mention in more detail Salon Vilpas' historic landing in the BCL Regular Season later on, but in the meantime don't forget to mark down their home debut in Turku's Kupittaa Hall, on November 3 at 18:30 CET.
Group D: We've spoken already about Murcia's ambition in the BCL Regular Season after their one-year absence competing in the FIBA Europe Cup, but Itelyum Varese might be a surprise in Group D.
The Italian team, coming back to the BCL after already playing on this stage in Season One, have built a competitive roster in all positions, and could end up being one of the Group Stage's dark horses. Don't miss their clashes on October 7 (in Murcia at 20:30 CET) and December 22 (in Varese at 18:30 CET).
It will also be interesting to see the Spaniards squaring off against Peristeri Betsson after their bronze-medal game in 2024. They will play on October 27 at 20:30 CET (in Spain) and December 8 at 18:30 CET (in Greece).
Cinderella stories
Group C: They started by beating Patrioti Levice, one of last season's BCL Qualification Round Tournaments' winners. They continued by dominating against Bakken Bears Aarhus, previously seen on this kind of platform several times. And then they survived CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea's comeback. Upsets on upsets.
Vilpas' qualifying route to their first-ever BCL Regular Season campaign has been absolutely outstanding, especially if we put everything into a different perspective: there hadn't been any Finnish team in the competition for 10 years following Kataja's participation in 2016-17.
Now, Jussi Savolainen's team won't have anything else to lose: every effort, win, or eventual success would be the cherry on the cake of a living dream. After his record-breaking night of 42 points in the QRT1 Final, Leland Walker has attracted significant interest all across Europe; if he stays in Finland, a lot of eyes will be on Vilpas.
Group D: Six years have passed since BMA365 Bamberg Baskets last played in the BCL, and only recently have they managed to witness memorable and historic nights like they were used to in the past.
In 2025-26, they not only finished in 3rd place in the Basketball-Bundesliga Regular Season, getting eliminated in the Semi-Finals by ALBA BERLIN, but also conquered their 7th-ever BBL-Pokal.
At Season 11's starting grid, they begin back in the heats of Group D, behind Murcia, Varese, and Peristeri. But it won't be wise to consider them out of contention in advance. Don't rule Bamberg out yet.
Players to watch
Group C: Unless you have lived under a rock, if you are a basketball lover, you should have been reached by Leland Walker's outstanding performances in the BCL Qualification Round Tournaments.
Leading Vilpas to their first-ever BCL Regular Season, he was definitely the one to watch in Samokov, putting up 34.7 points per game over three matchups. Among them, he also had a 42-point eruption in the QRT1 Final.
It's still unclear whether the Finnish side will be able to contain and resist the interest coming from all of Europe to get the 23-year-old point guard to move away. As said, keep your eyes on him if he stays there.
Moreover, while everybody's expecting AEK to count on a collective contribution on any given night, considering the roster's depth and large number of high-level newcomers, they will still count on Frank Bartley IV.
The American forward is coming off a fantastic season in the BCL, pushing the Queen to the Final after averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Only Marcelinho Huertas was able to be named MVP of the Season in back-to-back campaigns before Season 11. Will the black-and-yellow #24 join the Brazilian icon in this unique list?
Group D: Guinean playmakers shining in the BCL? In Season 11, we could have had two of them, but Promitheas Patras BC couldn't go through the Qualifying stage despite Shannon Evans' performances in Samokov.
The presence of one of them, however, is certain. Souley Boum Jr. earned his way to Murcia and the BCL after a 2025-26 campaign in the ABA League with BC Vienna.
After putting up 18.6 points per game over 44.2 percent from beyond the arc in Austria, it will be extremely interesting to see him hooping next to more experienced teammates on this platform.
Moving to other teams in Group D, Peristeri can count on two players who previously represented Patrioti Levice in the Qualification Round Tournaments: Will Carius and Ty Nichols.
Both of them eventually left the Slovakian side to join the Greek side and contributed to a solid run in the 2025-26 FIBA Europe Cup. Nichols registered 16.4 points and 4.6 assists per game last season.
Last but definitely not least, Varese have strengthened their roster in their European comeback season. Among the newcomers, the French center Ismael Kamagate and Hunter Hale are expected to deliver every week.