There are more intriguing angles and protagonists to the new 7DAYS EuroCup season than letters in the alphabet, but here are 26 of them to keep in mind as we head to the opening round of the new season.
The new 7DAYS EuroCup season: A to Z
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A is for Alimpijevic. After taking Frutti Extra Bursaspor all the way to last season's title decider, Dusan Alimpijevic was named EuroCup Coach of the Year. Repeating that feat will not be easy, but he can call upon quality reinforcements inside the paint with the arrivals of Ahmet Duverioglu and Zach Auguste.
B is for Blocks. One of the EuroCup's most imposing defenders around the basket will surely be new Germani Brescia signing Tai Odiase, who led the German league in blocked shots last season with 1.4 blocks per game. The 27-year-old now has the chance to shine in the EuroCup for the first time.
C is for Cluj. The Romanian city will host EuroCup basketball for the first time, with U-BT Cluj-Napoca making its debut in the competition. Cluj has won back-to-back domestic championships and a flurry of summer signings has given head coach Mihai Silvasan confidence that his team can progress to the playoffs.
D is for Diop. Gran Canaria can call upon one of the continent's best young players, with 20-year-old Khalifa Diop having won last season's EuroCup Rising Star award. Diop was rewarded with a new three-year contract over the summer, with Gran Canaria hoping he can make another jump as it pushes for the EuroCup title.
E is for Erden. Not many players make their EuroCup debut at 36, but Semih Erden will step into the competition for the first time with Turk Telekom Ankara. The big man has spent most of his career in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, making 160 appearances, but he will now look to make his mark in the EuroCup.
F is for Far-flung. With 20 clubs from 13 different countries – from Gran Canaria in the west to Tel Aviv in the east, from Patras in the south to Panevezys in the north – this season's edition of the EuroCup represents the full kaleidoscope of European basketball culture. And with five newcomers all eager to make their mark, there will be plenty to enjoy in the months ahead.
G is for Ginzburg. Does any coach in the EuroCup have a tougher task than Ronen Ginzburg of Prometey Slobozhanske? Not only is he leading his team into its first-ever season at this level, but he's doing so more than 1,000 kilometers away from home (see 'R'). Ginzburg will rely heavily on experienced center Ondrey Balvin along with the scoring skills of Gian Clavell.
H is for Hapoel. Another newcomer to the competition is Hapoel Tel Aviv, which is now aiming to step up to the continental level in its debut EuroCup campaign. Head coach Danny Franco has EuroCup experience with Hapoel Jerusalem, and he has assembled a restocked roster including former FC Barcelona and Frutti Extra Bursaspor scorer Xavier Munford.
I is for Isiaha. After falling just short of the playoffs last season, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has its sights set on progressing to the last 16. Bourg has high hopes for new signing Isiaha Mike, a power forward who impressed with Niners Chemnitz of Germany, where he played alongside another new arrival, combo-guard Frantz Massenat.
J is for Joventut. For many, this year's EuroCup title favorite is Joventut Badalona. After keeping the majority of its core together, it has added sharpshooter Kyle Guy, Henry Ellenson and William Howard. Should head coach Carles Duran find the right mix, Joventut – the only team in this season's competition that has won the EuroCup title in the past – will take some stopping.
K is for Koufos. EuroCup newcomer London Lions made a splash over the summer by bringing in veteran big man Kosta Koufos, who adds plenty of experience to an untested roster. With two EuroLeague seasons under his belt, along with more than a decade in the NBA, Koufos will be a key player – on and off the floor – as the Lions attempt to roar.
L is for Lietkabelis. After advancing to the playoffs last season, 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys is aiming for at least the quarterfinals this time around. Securing home-court advantage could be crucial: Lietkabelis can always count upon a passionate fanbase, which was key in its 6-2 record at home in 2021-22. Playing as many games as possible in Lithuania is vital.
M is for Malwaya. European basketball's tradition of developing world-class young players is another reason to get excited about the new EuroCup season, with the latest top-level prodigy being Paris Basketball guard Killian Malwaya. The 17-year-old, named MVP of last season's Adidas Next Generation Tournament, is definitely going to be one to watch.
N is for Nostalgia. As the EuroCup celebrates its 20th anniversary, there will be plenty of opportunities to look back on some of this century's highlights. From Valencia's record four titles to Virtus Bologna's triumph against Bursaspor in last season's return to a single-game title decider, the competition has been packed with memorable moments for two decades. This season will provide many more.
O is for Omic. The most experienced player in the 2022-23 EuroCup is Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana center Alen Omic, who has made 114 appearances in the competition, the ninth-highest all-time and more than any other active player. This season should see Omic become the all-time EuroCup leader in rebounding, as he has 737 so far and needs just 28 more to overtake Bojan Dubljevic.
P is for Patras. Promitheas Patras finished bottom of Group B last season, so advancing to the playoffs is the minimum requirement for the team led by Makis Giatras, who returns for his third spell in charge. Roughly half of last year's roster remains, but there is excitement around newcomers Anthony Cowan, Vassilis Mouratos and Joe Young, son of 1993 EuroLeague champion Michael Young.
Q is for Quality. The EuroCup is becoming increasingly competitive with each passing season, and that is especially the case with the new format, which is entering its second season. There is no room for any team to drop its concentration, and the several upsets in last season's playoffs – notably Bursaspor's three straight road wins to reach the final – show that anything can happen.
R is for Riga. The Latvian capital does not boast a EuroCup team, but it will host games this season. How? The city is serving as the temporary home of Prometey, the Ukrainian team which has been forced away from its home location and will spend this season 1,400 kilometers to the north in Riga, where it will surely call upon a sizeable fanbase.
S is for Sehovic. One of the more familiar faces in the EuroCup is Buducnost VOLI Podgorica captain Sead Sehovic. The 35-year-old is entering his 10th season in the competition – his ninth with Buducnost – and, after being limited to six appearances due to injury, his ability to decide games from the bench, as well as his locker room leadership, could be valuable.
T is for Tessitori. At the end of last season, Amedeo Tessitori was celebrating after helping Virtus secure the EuroCup title. Tessitori has now swapped Italian clubs to join the ambitious project at Umana Reyer Venice, where he will look to enjoy more success in the competition. Another bench role is in store for him, but he will nonetheless be an important cog in Reyer's machine.
U is for Udom. Italy has three teams in the 2022-23 EuroCup – more than any other country – and very few players know the Italian basketball scene better than new Dolomiti Energia Trento signing Mattia Udom. The 29-year-old, who has spent his entire career in his native country, will be determined to boost a Trento team that is desperate to improve on last season's 1-15 record.
V is for Virtus… and Valencia. If any club competing in the EuroCup needs any extra motivation, they only have to look at the examples of Virtus and Valencia. Both teams are now preparing for the upcoming EuroLeague season, but only after they established themselves as two of the best EuroCup teams in the last few years. The EuroCup can be a springboard for greater things.
W is for Wroclaw. Slask Wroclaw is one of two teams in the EuroCup this season that reigns as a domestic champion, with the other being Cluj in Romania. After ending its 20-year wait for the Polish title, Slask is looking now to establish itself among the EuroCup contenders following its eighth-place group finish last season and early exit from the playoffs.
X is for X factor. As always in basketball, the eventual EuroCup title winner will surely be the team that takes care of the littlest of details: the X factors that can make all the difference between triumph and despair. This could be a multitude of things on the court, yet they will all go a long way toward deciding the destination of the trophy.
Y is for Yago. One of the most promising newcomers to the EuroCup is ratiopharm Ulm signing Yago Mateus. The 23-year-old guard arrives to Germany after having already starred on the international stage, averaging 11.7 points to help Brazil take the silver medal at FIBA AmeriCup. Mateus will form a backcourt loaded with potential alongside fellow new arrival Juan Nunez from Real Madrid and returning talent Fedor Zugic.
Z is for Ziga. Another young player in Germany to watch closely is Ziga Samar, who could be poised for a big season with Veolia Towers Hamburg. The 21-year-old Slovenian point guard was signed this summer by ALBA Berlin after shining with Fuenlabrada of Spain, but he was immediately loaned out to gain experience with Hamburg, where he will look to maintain his upward trajectory.