The 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season will feature the same number of games as last season, but the change to a new and exciting competition format promises to make the regular season even more compelling. Now that the regular season draw has taken place, here's a look at the teams in Group B.
For the first time since 2004, the EuroCup season will open with the defending champion in action. Gran Canaria was undefeated at home last season and Coach Jaka Lakovic will have several of his stars back in action to try to defend the crown. Granca enters the season needing 16 wins to become the EuroCup's all-time leader in wins.
Last season, Buducnost became the fourth team to play 200 games in the EuroCup, however, it has never advanced past the quarterfinals. Its run came to an end in the eighthfinals in each of the past two seasons. Led by Coach Petar Mijovic, Buducnost comes into this season confident it can change those facts.
Ulm made noise in each of the past two seasons by threatening upsets in the quarterfinals and then made history last season by winning the German championship for the first time. With many of the young stars who helped make that happen expected back, there are plenty of reasons for optimism in Ulm.
Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse
Bourg jumped out to a red-hot start last season by winning six of its first seven EuroCup games, but had a late season six-game slide, finished the regular season in fifth place and was eliminated in the eighthfinals. The club made sure to re-sign Isiaha Mike and bring in top prospect Zaccharie Risacher as it targets a historic season.
After reaching the EuroCup Final last season, Turk Telekom was forced to rebuild on the fly this summer with several of its big names climbing to the EuroLeague. New head coach Nenad Canak has been handed a talented squad with which Turk Telekom will aim to prove itself as a contender.
Lietkabelis readies for its fourth consecutive season in the EuroCup and its record has improved in each of the last three. Having made back-to-back appearances in the EuroCup Eighthfinals, the club hired head coach Roberts Stelmahers to try to crack that barrier this season. Opponents must beware of Panevezys, where Lietkabelis was 7-2 in the regular season in 2022-23.
Back in the EuroCup for the first time since the 2015-16 season, Aris brings a reputation as one of Europe's storied clubs. It has won three continental trophies, reached the EuroCup Finals in 2006 and reached the EuroLeague Semifinals three times. Led by Coach Ioannis Kastritis, Aris looks to turn some heads in its EuroCup return.
No team has taken the floor in the EuroCup more times over the past five years than Trento, but not since its semifinal run in 2016 has Trento won a game in the elimination rounds. The club hopes new head coach Paolo Galbiati will make the difference and lead Trento on a new path deep into the competition.
This season will make it three straight in the EuroCup for Slask, which advanced to the eighthfinals in its return to the competition two years ago, but won only a single game last season. Slask has also finished on the podium in the Polish League in each of the last three seasons and will continue to seek success on all fronts this season.
After winning the Romanian League three years running, Cluj enters its second straight season in the EuroCup looking to continue its climb on the continental stage. As a debutant last season, Cluj turned some heads with a 3-4 start, but struggled down the stretch. With a year of experience under its belt, Cluj will try to take a big step forward this season.