ULEB Cup will have a new name from next season. I will be called Eurocup while FIBA Europe Eurocup will be renamed to EuroChallenge. 48 clubs in total (24 will start in qualifying round and 24 will start in regular season) will be playing in the new Eurocup. Competition system is explained below.
EUROCUP 2008-09 COMPETITION SYSTEM
A draw will be held to determine the elimination rounds match-ups and regular season groups.
* teams automatically qualified for the regular season = 24
* teams automatically qualified for the second preliminary round = 8
* teams participating in the first preliminary round = 16
FIRST QUALIFICATION ROUND (October 14 to 21, 2008): Organized by FIBA Europe
The first qualification round will have 16 teams playing two-game series (home and away), the winners of which advance to the second qualification round.
The losers to these two-game series will play the 2008-09 FIBA EuroChallenge.
SECOND QUALIFICATION ROUND (October 28 to November 4, 2008): Organized by FIBA Europe
The first qualification-round survivors play against those teams that directly made it to the second qualification round.
The second qualification round will be played as two-game series (home and away), the winners of which advance to the EUROCUP regular season.
The losers to these two-game series will play the 2008-09 FIBA EuroChallenge.
REGULAR SEASON (November 25, 2008 to January 13, 2009): Organized by ULEB
Eight groups of four teams each will play in round-robin competition, with all teams playing a total of six games.
The four group winners and the four second-place teams in each group will advance to the Last 16.
LAST 16 (January 27 – March 10, 2009): Organized by ULEB
Four groups of four teams each will play in round-robin competition, with all teams playing a total of six games.
The four group winners and the four second-place teams in each group will advance to the Final Eight.
FINAL EIGHT (April 9-12, 2009): Organized by ULEB
At the Final Eight, the quarterfinals will feature Last 16 group winners facing second-place teams from different Last 16 groups.
The four quarterfinals winners will meet in single-game semi-finals.
The semi-finals losers will play one game for third place.
The semi-finals winners will play in the single-game Final.
The winner of the Final will be the EUROCUP champion and qualify for the 2009-10 Euroleague.
A draw will be held to determine the elimination rounds match-ups and regular season groups.
* teams automatically qualified for the regular season = 24
* teams automatically qualified for the second preliminary round = 8
* teams participating in the first preliminary round = 16
FIRST QUALIFICATION ROUND (October 14 to 21, 2008): Organized by FIBA Europe
The first qualification round will have 16 teams playing two-game series (home and away), the winners of which advance to the second qualification round.
The losers to these two-game series will play the 2008-09 FIBA EuroChallenge.
SECOND QUALIFICATION ROUND (October 28 to November 4, 2008): Organized by FIBA Europe
The first qualification-round survivors play against those teams that directly made it to the second qualification round.
The second qualification round will be played as two-game series (home and away), the winners of which advance to the EUROCUP regular season.
The losers to these two-game series will play the 2008-09 FIBA EuroChallenge.
REGULAR SEASON (November 25, 2008 to January 13, 2009): Organized by ULEB
Eight groups of four teams each will play in round-robin competition, with all teams playing a total of six games.
The four group winners and the four second-place teams in each group will advance to the Last 16.
LAST 16 (January 27 – March 10, 2009): Organized by ULEB
Four groups of four teams each will play in round-robin competition, with all teams playing a total of six games.
The four group winners and the four second-place teams in each group will advance to the Final Eight.
FINAL EIGHT (April 9-12, 2009): Organized by ULEB
At the Final Eight, the quarterfinals will feature Last 16 group winners facing second-place teams from different Last 16 groups.
The four quarterfinals winners will meet in single-game semi-finals.
The semi-finals losers will play one game for third place.
The semi-finals winners will play in the single-game Final.
The winner of the Final will be the EUROCUP champion and qualify for the 2009-10 Euroleague.
