With no more unbeaten teams, the 2025-26 EuroCup campaign continues to heat up
At a glance: Tricky road games for the two group leaders
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The action is hotting up as teams across the continent get ready for Round 7 of the BKT EuroCup. This is what lies in store on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday, November 11
ratiopharm ulm vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:00 CET)
Group B leader Bourg (5-1) will attempt to retain that status with a tough trip to face joint-second Ulm (4-2). Both teams are coming off narrow victories, with Ulm ending a two-game losing streak by edging past London behind the long-range accuracy of Nelson Weidemann, who averages 11.2 points per game on 54.2% from deep. This week he is facing the competition leader in three-point shooting, Darius McGhee, who averages 3.2 triples per night. Bourg also returned to winning ways last week, edging out Chemnitz as big man Kevin Kokila grabbed his first double-double of the season, and he will again play a key role in a competition-best Bourg defense which has limited opponents to just 70.2 points per game.
Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)
Group leader Bahcesehir (5-1) will look to get back to winning ways with a testing trip to Aris (3-3). The Greek team snapped a three-game losing streak by overcoming Slask at home last week, and will look for guard Bryce Jones to again show his ability to draw fouls after he netted a remarkable 17 free throws in that victory. Bahcesehir lost its perfect record with a home defeat to Hapoel last time out, and needs to recover its usual defensive meanness after allowing 90 points. The Turkish team will lean on the physical presence of Trevion Williams (13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game), while Aris will hope Arnoldas Kulboka can stay hot from deep after netting 4 triples last week.
Slask Wroclaw vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:00 CET)
Two strugglers at the bottom of Group A are seeking a turnaround in fortunes as Slask (2-4) receive a visit from Hamburg (0-6). The Polish team has lost three consecutive games after continuing to struggle inside the arc, converting just 48.1% of two-point shots despite Kadre Grey averaging 15.8 points over the last four games. He will hope to profit against a Hamburg team that the league’s worst defensive record, allowing 97.7 points per night. The German team also desperately struggled offensively last time out, scoring just 55 points against Reyer despite 17 points from Carlos Stewart, who will try to win the backcourt battle with Noah Kirkwood (13 points and 3.8 assists per game).
Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Neptunas Kleipeda (20:30 CET)
Two teams targeting a fourth straight win go head-to-head as Hapoel (4-2) welcome direct rival Neptunas (3-3). The Lithuanian team has turned on the offensive style by averaging 97 points during a three-game winning run, sparked by the EuroCup’s runaway assists leader Arnas Velickas (9.2 per game). His offensive mastery will definitely be required against a Hapoel team which has also won three in a row, most recently ending Bahcesehir’s unbeaten start behind 27 points from Jared Harper. That game also featured a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) from Austin Wiley, and Neptunas needs to counter him through a strong game from center James Karnik (12 points and 7 rebounds per game).
Wednesday, November 12
Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)
A big battle in Group B will see Besiktas (4-2) attempt to pull two games clear of Trento (3-3). The Turkish team has a 100% home record, scoring at least 90 points in each of those wins, and boasts the competition’s third-best three-point shooting conversion rate (38.2%) – helped by Anthony Brown averaging 12 points per game on 40% from beyond the arc. Trento gained its second straight win by narrowly downing Lietkabelis last week, and will hope that forward Peyton Aldridge can continue to lead the physical fight after he grabbed 10 rebounds in that game. The Italian team also needs another big night from Devante Jones, who has scored 21 and 20 points in the last two games.
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. BAXI Manresa (18:00 CET)
Two teams tied in the middle of Group A will battle for supremacy in a key matchup as Cluj (3-3) welcomes Manresa (3-3). Manresa will look to recover its usual defensive toughness after allowing 100 points in last week’s loss at Neptunas, while Hugo Benitez will attempt to continue to provide offensive fireworks after a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists in that game. Cluj is also looking to bounce back and make a defensive improvement after a home loss against Cedevita, and will hope competition PIR leader Fatts Russell (24 points, 6.7 assists and 25 PIR per game) will win his backcourt battle with Benitez.
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Umana Reyer Venice (18:30 CET)
Another crucial Group A matchup between direct rivals will see Cedevita (4-2) defending its homecourt with a visit from Reyer (3-3). Cedevita snapped a two-game losing streak by overcoming Cluj last week behind the routine excellence of guard Umoja Gibson (15 points and 5.3 assists per night), who faces a good battle with Reyer backcourt leader RJ Cole (11.8 points and 5.2 assists per game). The Italian team has won three of its last four games and will hope to dominate its significant physical advantage over the host: Cedevita ranks last in the competition in rebounding (31.3 per game) while Reyer is top of the class in that category (39.7 rpg).
Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:45 CET)
Two teams heading in different directions go head-to-head with Lietkabelis (1-5) hosting Turk Telekom (4-2). The home team hasn’t won since the season opener, while Turk Telekom has reeled off four consecutive wins mostly thanks to the second-best defense in the competition (76.7 points per game allowed). A key offensive weapon for the visitor is Jaylen Smith (14 points per game), who netted six triples in last week’s win over Panionios. To counter him, Lietkabelis needs Michael Flowers to maintain his magnificent form after netting 20 and 22 points in the last two games – a return to form by Kristian Kullamae would also be welcome after he went scoreless in last week’s loss to Trento.
NINERS Chemnitz vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (19:00 CET)
Inconsistent Chemnitz (2-4) will look to climb towards the all-important top six at the expense of in-form Buducnost (4-2). The German team can look for leadership from Corey Davis, who averages 17.7 points and 6.2 assists. But he will have to overcome a confident Rasheed Sulaimon, who helped stretch Buducnost’s winning run to three games by pouring in 20 points against Besiktas last week. Chemnitz ranks second in the competition in two-point conversion rate (62.4%), partly thanks to Yordan Minchev averaging 9.5 points per game on 67.9% from inside the arc, so Buducnost will have to rely on another big game from Juwan Morgan, who averaged 14.5 and 5.5 boards in the last two games.
London Lions vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (20:30 CET)
The week’s final game gives two struggling teams the chance to climb the Group B standings as London (2-4) hosts Panionios (1-5). The English team has lost two straight while Panionios is on an even worse stretch, losing five in a row. London is the competition’s lowest scorer (75 points per game) despite the consistency of Kameron McGusty (16 points per game), and particularly needs to take better care of the basketball after averaging a EuroCup-high 17.7 turnovers per game. The visitor is ranked last in two-point shooting percentage (48%), but can hope to build on a solid debut from Keron Deshields, who scored 17 points in last week’s loss at Turk Telekom.