2023–24 Basketball Champions League
The 2023–24 Basketball Champions League was the 8th season of the Basketball Champions League (BCL), the premier[citation needed] European professional basketball competition for clubs launched by FIBA. The season began on 17 October 2023 and ended with the championship game on 28 April 2024.[1] Telekom Baskets Bonn were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Peristeri in the quarter-finals. The Štark Arena in Belgrade hosted the Final Four and the championship game, the second time the competition had a neutral venue for its conclusion.[1] Unicaja won its first Champions League title following their win over Lenovo Tenerife in the final.[2] As champions, Unicaja also qualified for the 2024 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Team allocationCountry rankingsThe BCL Country Ranking is used to define the number of clubs each country is entitled to enter into the various stages of the BCL. The results are based on the results of the past three seasons (the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons).[3]
TeamsA total of 54 teams from 29 countries participated in the 2023–24 Basketball Champions League.[4] 15 of them were domestic champions in the previous season. Two teams were invited as a wild card entries.[5] If one or more clubs do not exercise their right to participate in the BCL, the FIBA may decide to allocate the respective place(s) to other clubs of the same or other National Federation(s).[6] League positions after playoffs of the previous season shown in parentheses. The Basketball Champions League rankings are taken into consideration.
NOTE: According to BCL rankings, National Federations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia and Hungary should had two berths in Regular season, as well as one berth for the champion of Romania (U-BT Cluj Napoca decided to play Eurocup), and one berth for the Russian representative (banned from competition). Their places were allocated to the teams from Turkey (3), Spain (1) and Poland (1).[citation needed] Notes
Qualifying roundsDrawThe draw for the qualifying rounds will be made on 5 July 2023. The 25 teams were divided into six pots. The top eight national champions from the unrepresented nations were placed into Pots 1 and 2, and the remaining clubs into Pots 3–6. Pots are arranged based on the competition's club ranking and, for clubs that have not yet participated in the competition, on the country ranking.[8] The three winners of the finals will then qualify for the regular season and join the 29 directly qualified teams in the main draw. The rest of the teams will be demoted, if they apply, to the FIBA Europe Cup.[8] VenueOn July 27, 2023, it was announced that Antalya Sports Hall in Antalya, Turkey, has been selected as the host city for the Qualification Rounds which was scheduled to take place from 24 September to 1 October.[9] Champions Path
Main Path
Pre-qualifierThe pre-qualifier round match consists of a one leg match that is expected to take place at a neutral venue. The winner of the pre-qualifiers round match will be drawn to Pot 6 and advanced to the main qualifying rounds. The losers of the pre-qualifiers is transferred (if they apply) to the FIBA Europe Cup
Qualification Group I
Qualification Group II
Qualification Group III
Regular seasonDrawThe 29 teams that entered in the regular season directly were divided into four pots based firstly on the club ranking and, for clubs that have not yet participated in the competition, on the country ranking. The country protection rule will apply for the stage of the draw. Clubs cannot be drawn in groups with other clubs from the same country.[8]
Group A
Source: Groups standings
Group B
Source: Groups standings
Group C
Source: Groups standings
Group D
Source: Groups standings
Group E
Source: Groups standings
Group F
Source: Groups standings
Group G
Source: Groups standings
Group H
Source: Groups standings
Play-insThe Play-ins took place from 2 to 17 January 2024. The teams classified in second and third place in their respective groups of Basketball Champions League, went to the Play-ins. Winners advanced to the round of 16. The first legs were played on 2–3 January, the second legs on 9–10 January. Eventual third legs were played on 16–17 January.
Round of 16The Round of 16 will take place from January 24 until March 22, 2024. The groups will be formed by the winners of each Regular Season Group and by eight Play-Ins winners. The 16 teams were divided in 4 groups, 4 teams each. The first two of each groups advanced to the quarter-finals. Group I
Source: Round of 16 Standings
Group J
Source: Round of 16 Standings
Group K
Source: Round of 16 Standings
Group L
Source: Round of 16 Standings
PlayoffsThe playoffs will begin on 3 April 2024 and ends with the 2024 Basketball Champions League Final Four, which will be hosted in the Štark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.[1]
Final FourSemifinalsThe semifinals were played on 26 April 2024.
Third place gameThe third place game was played on 28 April 2024.
FinalThe final was played on 28 April 2024.
Individual awardsSeason awardsThe annual season awards were announced on 27 April.
MVP of the Month
Team of the MonthSee alsoReferences
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