EuroCup Draw: Morabanc, Partizan in Group A, Valencia, Bologna in Group B / News - Basketnews.com

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The latest edition of the EuroCup is arguably going to turn many heads. EuroLeague Basketball's second-tier competition, scheduled to start on October 20, includes several high-level teams that could easily be a part of the top division.

Points this season

48%77,4Points made:77,4Accuracy:47,5%Place in standings:16Record max:92Record min:57Best scorer:Anthony BrownTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

On June 9, the EuroCup held its Draw ceremony to determine which teams will comprise two groups during the regular season.

This season, in addition to the highly anticipated and desired presence of fans in the stands, the change of format will present clubs with additional motives. The revamped competition model will provide the clubs with a greatly expanded regular season, including 18 games for each team. In addition, every regular-season game will have increased importance given that the higher-ranked teams from each group will serve as hosts in the single-game knock-out rounds during later stages.

As for the competition itself? This year has seen an increase in the quality of the top participating teams. After Monaco's and UNICS Kazan's promotion to the EuroLeague, new teams will seek a chance to secure a spot under the sun. Currently, only the winner is guaranteed promotion to the 2022-23 EuroLeague. The finalist will have to keep their fingers crossed that UNICS or Monaco do not make the playoffs and, thus, drop out of the EuroLeague.

Partizan Belgrade welcomed back European coaching legend Zeljko Obradovic and have been very active on the transfer market so far. Those who rushed to conclusions about the Serbian club's alleged "low budget" were immediately surprised. Two cornerstones of AX Armani Exchange Milan - Kevin Punter and Zach LeDay - joined Partizan along with Aleksa Avramovic and former NBA player Rodions Kurucs, in a span of a few days. The 1992 EuroLeague champs aim at nothing less than the title, which will restore their place at the upper echelons of continental basketball.

Virtus Bologna came up short last season, losing their place to the EuroCup finalist Unics Kazan. Nevertheless, owner Massimo Zanetti hired Sergio Scariolo, the Spanish head coach who returns after three productive years in the NBA. Milos Teodosic is staying with the team for two more years, and that has probably been the best news for Virtus fans this summer.

The list of potential candidates does not stop here. Lokomotiv Kuban have signed Darius Thompson and Greg Whittington; Joventut Badalona are still counting a lot on the Ante Tomic-Pau Ribas duo; Buducnost welcomed back coach Aleksandar Dzikic, while Promitheas Patras handed over the reins to their first-ever non-Greek tactician, Spaniard Luis Casimiro.

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