Though a Euroleague championship would elude him, Brown’s aforementioned career résumé includes nine domestic titles, three EL Final Four appearances, four national cup wins, a Korac Cup title, and three Baltic Basketball League championships. Personal accolades include six domestic-league MVP nods, one EL first-team and two second-team inclusions, and two domestic-league final MVP awards.

Today, BallinEurope pays tribute to Brown the best way possible: With YouTube clips!

• Brown began his winning ways early in his European career; after playing a bit in 1998 with Pau-Orthez and a brief sojourn with the Vancouver Grizzlies in which he didn’t see one minute of playing time and a tiny bit with the Detroit Pistons, he jumped to CSP Limoges for 1999-2000. That team bagged the French championship as well as the Korac Cup, for which they upended a future Brown side in Unicaja Malaga. In that competition, Brown was good for 56.8% overall shooting (including 52.9% on threes) for 20.9 points to go along with 2.1 steals per game over 10 games. The big league’s official website recognizes this win as “[Brown’s] only Continental title.”

• As the following YouTube title christens him, “The Legend of European Basketball” was a near-constant presence in the Euroleague shortly thereafter. First moving to Benetton Treviso and later Efes Pilsen, Brown landed with CSKA Moscow in 2003. He’d stay until 2005 and appear in back-to-back EL Final Four tournaments.

Here’s a look at Brown’s play from 2003 through 2008, the latter representing his first go-around with Žalgiris Kaunas. (Sorry, you’ll have to enjoy in silence; “audio disabled.”)

• Perhaps no other fan base loved Marcus as much as those basketball-rabid backers of Žalgiris Kaunas, and why not? Brown’s play for the Greens alone could fill a full-length highlight clip. (Besides, it seems the appreciation was mutual, as the player noted in his retirement announcement that “I also give a special thanks to what could be the best basketball fans in Europe, BC Žalgiris and all of the Lithuanians.”) Check out his 31-point, career high-tying performance against Virtus Bologna in December 2007.

• Naturally, Brown was named Euroleague Player of the Month for that December…

• In the Top 16 phase that season, Brown couldn’t work miracles for Žalgiris Kaunas, who went 1-5 in the round and was bounced before tournament play. He tried, though, in game one scoring nine points in about one minute of play against Real Madrid.

• In 2008 – and now playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv – Brown passed Luis Scola to become the all-time Euroleague scoring leader; in March 2009, he’d become the first player ever to amass 2,500 EL points. The big-budget Israeli club had quite a nice bunch of names for 2008-09, including Juan Carlos Arroyo, Omri Casspi, young Lior Elihayu and D’Or Fischer in addition to Brown.

• Could Brown continue to come through in that clutch that season? You bet, as evidenced by the following brief videos.

• For 2009-10 and his penultimate season, Brown returned to those “best fans” in Kaunas to play out the remainder of his career. The excitement was surely palpable.

• And Brown wasn’t even done adding to his personal highlight reel; below, he takes apart the CSKA Moscow defense in a December 2009 game from the VTB United League’s inaugural season.

• Brown memorably capped Žalgiris’ 2009-10 Euroleague regular-season play what a what-the-heck last-second three-pointer to close out a win against Fenerbahçe Ülker.

• And who could forget that 2009-10 LKL championship series in which Brown was forced to take on coaching duties…?

In the end, BallinEurope says “Farewell, Marcus (at least until your FIBA Hall of Fame induction) and thanks for the memories!” We’ll always recall you as the guy in Europe for whom “shooting was a mission.”

After all, Galatasaray played for the TBL title in 2011 after a hard-fought season in which the team placed third overall – one spot ahead of perpetual big league contenders Anadoule Efes (a.k.a. Efes Pilsen) – at 22-8. Plus, the EL Final Four will be held in Istanbul and, um, it *is* called the “Turkish Airlines Euroleague,” is it not?

In any case, BiE feels further vindication for the argument today, as the FC Barcelona official website is announcing former Blaugrana player Jaka Lakovic’s signing with the Turkish side.

The Slovenian joins what is seriously resembling a bona fide Euroleague roster, with new additions in Jamont Gordon, Ender Arslan, Cevher Ozer and Furkan Aldemir already on board.

Newly-remolded Galatasaray begins the 2011-12 season playing in the Euroleague Qualifying Rounds; BiE says if there’s any justice, these guys will grab one of those two available spots in the EL … and have something to do with Milano’s elimination, too.

BallinEurope’s gut reaction, at least on a visceral Eurocentric level? Cool! Bring on the empty stadiums and bring in the players to Europe! Whisperings since 2010-11 tipped off had some top clubs claiming to be stockpiling cash for NBA players should the lockout happen; combine this awareness with the desire for some of these guys to, you know, just *play* somewhere, America’s loss could truly prove to be The Continent’s gain – at least after the 2011 FIBA Eurobasket tournament, for which, not so incidentally, the NBA may also have a profoundly negative affect.

During this offseason, BiE will definitely have one eye on the NBA lockout, passing on news and speculation regarding NBA players to (and, in some cases, back to, Europe). In all seriousness, while it would be a shame to see an entire season fall by the wayside (and brutal to see another 50-game season, though BiE’d certainly bet the Miami Heat couldn’t take a title in such circumstances), a year in which the indisputably top professional basketball was being played in the Euroleague would be, basically, awesome.

Yesterday, writer John McMullen of The Sports Network concluded that “Europe is no panacea for locked out NBA players” in a look toward The Continent. CSKA Moscow addition Nenad Krstic is quoted heavily in the piece after a Boston Herald story, with the key lines going as follows.

“I don’t think you will see a lot [of NBA players] coming here … Europe is not in a great situation financially. There are only four or five teams now that can offer much to NBA players, and those teams right now are almost full.”

Here’s to guessing Krstic’s four or five might be FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, CSKA, Efes Pilsen and Fenerbahçe Ülker … maybe…? However, outside the Red Army, few of these rosters appear “almost full.” Hmmm…

But perhaps a sheer cash outlay isn’t the point for some. In recent NBA times, some veteran players – a few not even named “Shaquille O’Neal” – have shown the willingness to shed a few million off the contract for a chance at a ring. In the post-2011 lockout world, the willingness of NBA players to come to Europe for the upcoming season depends on their seriousness to stay fit and/or national pride. And possible a chance at a triple crown somewhere.

Gasol flashback: 2000-01

“But I know I don’t want to have [and empty] year if the season is suspended, something that would seem very strange to me, given that the NBA is in a good period.”

You know who’s enjoying some schadenfreude and slightly salivating in anticipation of a cancelled 2011-12 NBA season? FC Barcelona fans. Gasol has clearly had a 2011-12 season in Barcelona in mind for some time, having stated in a Marca.com interview in May that “Barcelona would be my first option…”

And then there’s Nowitzki. Since February or so, three German clubs have been thought to be in the running to land the big Maverick in case of this lockout: Alba Berlin, just-promoted Bayern München, and 2011 BBL champions/2011-12 Euroleague contender Brose Baskets Bamberg.

With Alba Berlin not guaranteed to play in the big league in the upcoming season, this would empirically seem to be a dead option; however, the always-excellent Germany-based heinnews has Bayern president Uli Hoeness stating yesterday that “We could get [a Nowitzki contract] done.”

Hoeness is being quite conservative publicly any such giddy notions, though: “…the signing of German superstar and NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki is not really an issue at the moment. ‘That is not planable. We don’t need to talk about unlaid eggs,’ said the Bayern boss, who added, ‘Naturally we would very much like to see Dirk here. And if we had the opportunity we would also get it done.’”

Finally, a Britain-based website sees much darker and more expensive implications of the NBA lockout for international ‘ball, based on … insurance policies.

According to the MVP magazine website, the lockout temporarily suspends a compact between FIBA and NBA with regard to insuring against career-ending injuries. National organizations from all over Europe will have to provide this money for their NBA-associated national players.

For Team Britain, this is crucial, with key members Luol Deng and Ben Gordon now needing this coverage. MVP notes that in 2008, Deng alone cost British Basketball some £272,000 (approximately €354,550/$540,000) and, according to the ‘site, “British Basketball performance director Chris Spice admitted that the governing body has now begun its quest to ensure the pair are cleared to play.

“‘We’re trying to secure insurance coverage,’ Spice revealed. ‘FIBA Europe has also looked into it on behalf of all the nations who have NBA players. We’ve look at their coverage as well as taking one out independently. The issue is that we have two players. The thing now is that we’re taking to insurers about what the conditions would be to bring the premiums down.’”

At present, only the above-listed domestic leagues have shut down for the summer; BiE supplies information on the current situation in the others’ regular seasons and/or playoffs. This list will be updated whenever possible.

Any information BallinEurope readers can provide is much appreciated as well.

Euroleague: The Euroleague Final Four tournament begins on May 6.

ULEB Eurocup: Unics Kazan became the first unlicensed team to officially join the 2011-12 Euroleague ranks with a decisive 92-77 victory over Cajasol Sevilla in the championship match. Maciej Lampe contributed a huge effort with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelly McCarty went for 18 and Terrell Lyday put in 15. But it was Marko Popović who was named MVP for dishing out a Eurocup championship record 11 assists to go with his 18 points.

FIBA Eurochallenge: On Friday, April 29, it’ll be Spartak St. Petersburg v. Lokomotiv Kuban, while Adriatic League quarterfinalist Krka makes another final four to take on BC Oostende.

Adriatic League: Partizan Belgrade took its fifth straight NLB title by defeating fellow Euroleague side Union Olimpija, 77-74, in the championship game.

Balkan League: Macedonia’s KK Feni Indistrija took its first-ever BIBL title by defeating Rilski Sportist of Bulgaria, 88-75, in the championship game.

Baltic League: Žalgiris Kaunas defended home court with the magic of the “Green Death” to take the Baltic League title over VEF Riga, 75-67.

VTB United League: It’s an all-Moscow final for this Eastern European League, as BC Khimki takes on CSKA in Kazan at 6.30pm local time (4.30pm CET, 10.30am EST). In the third-place game, it’s hometeam Unics vs. Azovmash Mariupol at 4pm (2pm CET, 8am EST). The official website broadcast the final four round games, so BiE presumes you’ll be able to watch the finals there tonight.

Albania: SK Tirana were crowned Albanian Basketball League champions after twice topping UAT. Despite going just 7-8 during the FSHB regular season, UAT snuck into the finals by upsetting theretofore-undefeated Studenti Tirana in a best-of-three round.

Austria: The semifinal round begins on Easter Sunday with no. 1 seed and two-time defending champion (plus winners of five of the last six Österreichische Basketball Bundesliga titles) Allianz Swans Gmunden take on BSC Raiffeisen Furstenfeld Panthers. In the other bracket, it’s the seriously American-loaded Oberwart Gunners vs. the nicely international Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions.

Belarus: BC Minsk will continue its incredible 2010-11 season, taking its 43-0 overall record into the best-of-five championship series against Grodno-93 beginning on Friday, April 29; Grodno was the second-place finisher in the Belarusian league at 25-15 – just 15 games behind the Minsk machine.

Belgium: The Ethias League regular season runs through May 14.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: The regular season has entered stage two in Bosnia; last year’s championship contenders Siroki TT and BC Igokea Aleksandrovac top the table at 6-1 thus far.

Bulgaria: Two more weeks are left to play in the NBL.

Croatia: In stage 2 of the Croatian League, it’s Cedevita Zagreb topping the table at 7-1.

Cyprus: After a wacky playoff tournament which ultimately saw no. 4 seed Intercollege Etha Engomis face off against no. 6 AEL Limassol (who were just 6-10 in the regular season!) for the title, Etha was named 2011 champions in winning the series three games to two. Kudos to these champions, who reportedly have quite the long history of Cinderella and/or underdog status – and this season, league MVP Anthony King.

Czech Republic: Eurocuppers CEZ Nymburk are currently topping the Czech standings at 9-0.

Denmark: The Bakken Bears were named Ligaen champions after avenging last season’s championship series loss to Svendborg by sweeping the Rabbits 4-0 in the finals. Bakken’s former Texas Tech Red Raider Charlie Burgess was named league MVP.

Estonia: In the semifinals, Tartu Rock and Kalev/Cromo hold 1-0 leads over TTU/Kalev and Rakvere, respectively.

Finland: Kataja (30-14 in the Korisliiga regular season) will play Tampereen Pyrinto (37-7) for the championship.

France: The LNB regular season is still being played; as of this writing, the Euroleague’s Cholet Basket is in first place at 20-6.

FYR Macedonia:

Georgia:

Germany: The Bundesliga finishes its regular season on Saturday, April 23.

Greece: The EΣAKE playoffs begin next Saturday with Olympiacos needing one more win to set a new record for Greek League victories in a single season.

Holland: The eight-team playoffs of the DBL begin today.

Hungary: The schedule has not been announced yet, but the semifinals will see Szolnok take on Fortress Körmend, while Albacomp gets 2009-10 runners-up Atomerőmű SE Paks in the other bracket. The Atoms took out last year’s NBI champions ZTE in the first round.

Iceland: In what is perhaps Europe’s smallest league, the tinily-titled KR (a.k.a. KR Reykjavik if you’re not into the whole brevity thing) defeated Stjarnan, three games to one, to take the title.

Ireland: Killester Dublin made it back-to-back titles by defeating Neptune Cork, 84-80, in the championship.

Israel: Stop BiE if you’ve heard this one before: Maccabi Tel Aviv has won the Ligat HaAl regular season with a 26-1 record. However, folks may recall the way last season ended for Maccabi; former head coach Pini Gershon, who once complained that the single-game elimination format was designed to end his franchise’s dominance has proven prophetic, as Tel Aviv has now gone down in the championship game two of the past three years

Italy: Four more weeks remain in the Serie A regular season.

Kosovo:

Latvia: On Tuesday, April 26, the LBL playoffs continue with the semifinals seeing Ventspils vs. BK Barons Riga and VEF Riga vs. Liepaja Lauvas.

Lithuania: Does it really matter who’s matched up in the semifinals against Žalgiris and Lietuvos Rytas…?

Luxembourg: Two more weeks of second stage play remain in the Luxembourg league.

Malta:

Moldova: In Moldova, the semifinal matchups are no. 1 seed UASM against BC Gamma Cahul, while ASEM gets the awesomely-named Fire Ball Bender in the other series.

Montenegro:

Norway: Baerum Basket bested the Tromso Storm in two straight games to win the Norwegian title.

Poland: Perpetual power Asseco Prokom has a commanding 3-1 lead over Energa Czarni; PGE Turow and Eurochallengers Trefl Sopot are knotted up at two games apiece in the other semifinal series.

Portugal: The final quarterfinal match to be played is scheduled for Easter Sunday.

Romania: Question: Where can BiE get up-to-date Romanian basketball scores? Related question: Does anyone care about basketball in Romania? Seriously, here’s the national sports page. Do you even see hoops anywhere?

Russia: Five weeks remain in the PBL season; Unics Kazan, just bounced in the VTB United League semis, holds a tenuous lead atop the table at 15-5.

Scotland:

Serbia: Five more games are to be played in the Serbian Superleague. Naturally, Partizan tops the table currently at 6-1, while the Eurocup-contending 2010 runners-up KK Hemofarm are at the Black-and-Whites’ heels at 6-2.

Slovakia: Levice awaits the winner of the BK SPU Nitra v. Vahostav-Zilina winner today.

Slovenia: The second stage of Slovenian ball ends on May 17.

Spain: Four weeks of play remain in the ACB; FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, PE Valencia and Caja Laboral Baskonia have clinched playoff spots while some eight teams remain in contention for seeds five through eight going into this weekend.

Sweden: The defending Basketligan champion Norrköping Dolphins began their quest for a repeat with a 79-78 victory over the 2009 title-winning Dragons at Sundsvall on Friday night for a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

Switzerland: Lugano Tigers have a 2-0 lead over Monthey, while the Fribourg-Geneve Lions series is tied at one game apiece.

Turkey: The TBL still has three games left to play in its 2010-11 regular season. The top seven – Fenerbahçe Ülker, Galatasaray Café Crown, Efes Pilsen, Banvit BK, Beşiktaş Cola Turka, Pinar Karsiyaka, and Olin Edirne – would all appear to be set for the playoffs with Fenerbahçe all but guaranteed the no. 1 seed for the playoff tournament and only a complete disaster should eject Antalya BC from that last spot.

Ukraine: The quarterfinal rounds are currently underway and will wrap by April 30.

United Kingdom: The top four seeds in the BBL playoffs have advanced to the semifinals, which pit no. 2 Newcastle Eagles against no. 3 One Health Sharks Sheffield and no. 1 Mersey Tigers against no. 4 Cheshire Jets. Newcastle took a one-game lead on Friday evening win a 76-68 win buoyed by long-time BBLer Drew Lasker’s 27 points.

• First up: BiE offers congratulations to Žalgiris Kaunas, who took the Baltic Basketball League title over VEF Riga, 75-67. Tadas Klimavicius was the stud for the “Green White Boys” with a team-high 15 points to go with nine rebounds; Trevon Hughes was game high scorer, contributing 16 for Riga as well as five boards.

The BBL is infuriatingly short on video coverage – even on YouTube – but, um, here’s a swell clip of some rabid fans in that distinctive mode of European basketball…

• In losing to Riga the previous day, Lietuvos Rytas would not be granted a chance to avenge its recent loss to LKL rivals Žalgiris in yesterday’s final. The Lithuanian side did take the BBL third-place game, however, upending BK Ventspils, 84-80.

• And here’s a performance from Riga’s cheerleaders, just because.

• Congrats are also due Halcón Avenida, which bagged the FIBA Euroleague Women’s title yesterday. With the 68-59 defeat of Sparta & K, the Russian club’s four-year reign of the big league’s champions ended. Check out Halcón closing things out below – Spanish basketball announcers rule, by the way – followed by a few words from captain Silva Dominguez, who put in 16 points.

• Even if BiE didn’t habitually include an ACB highlight clip among such compilations, this one would still made the grade: Real Madrid 77, FC Barcelona 72, read the score, and the rivals are now tied for first atop the ACB table at 23-5. Whoa, what’s up with Barça lately? BiE’s still mulling that one over and promises to get back to you on it.

• Incidentally, Gran Canaria’s Jaycee Carroll chased up last week’s 32-point performance – then a career best – with 35 points against DKV Joventut in Jornada 29. Do they actually say “¡Ay carumba!” in Spain? If they do, they were this weekend in Badalona…

• Here’s a brief clip from Saturday night/Sunday morning’s Nike Hoop Summit; unfortunately, no action from Europe’s top player in the game, Mateusz Ponitka:

• And BiE told you Bismack Biyombo was gonna blow up, explode in online popularity, go viral and whatnot after his triple-double performance in the ‘Summit game. YouTube contributor NetScoutsBasketball is calling the toast of Congo “a world sensation” already, and why not?

• Biyombo got to do a post-game presser as well; check out how his coach praises the big man for wanting to … practice. He’s talking about practice.

• Though most will remember the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011 as that of Dennis Rodman’s entry, BiE will naturally always recall Arydas Sabonis’ induction. (The summary on Sabas starts at right around 1:40 in the video below.)

• Speaking of European greats, this swell retrospective on 40 years of Croatian player-cum-coach Rusmir Halilović’s career was posted this week.

• …as well as one on Žalgiris club history.

• Not only did Woody Paige give props to British basketball on ESPN’s “Around the Horn” a short while back, he also registered one of the flubs of the week with his description of that special relationship between coaches and fans. Note to those studying English: There is a big difference between “discourse” and “intercourse.” And yes, Paige is reportedly a native speaker.

• An extensive interview with D.J. Strawberry by the ever-reliable Erildas Budraitis runs over at RealGM; well-worth reading, it also gives BiE an excuse to run an old highlight clip plus a truly ill happy-smiley kinda bit from back when Strawberry had a cup of coffee with the Phoenix Suns.

• In these days when Chris Kaman can join a national team based on matrilinear connections, it seems odd that longtime Efes Pilsen great Petar Naumoski, a Macedonian who played under the Turkish sobriquet Namık Polat whilst with the Istanbul team, never even thought about getting with Team Turkey in the 1990s.

So says the former Nash-like guard in this morning’s Zaman; see “Naumoski: It never occurred to me to wear national team’s jersey.” Also see the rare video in which Eurosport recaps Naumoski leading Efes Pilsen to the 1996 Korač Cup title; the below clip of the Turkish side’s 76-68 over Stefanel Milano includes bonus sightings of Ronaldo Blackmon, Dejan Bodiroga and Conrad MacRae.

• Finally, the Euroleague PR department is excited about the Final Four … are you?

Since FIBA has awarded Great Britain an automatic qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games, BiE won’t be symbolically awarding the no. 100 spot to the top team in the British Basketball League; so congratulations to BC Oostende in this edition. Without further ado, the following are the current rankings based on play in all leagues to date.

1. (1) FC Barcelona (ESP), 382.44 points
2. (3) Olympiacos (GRE) 365.56
3. (2) Real Madrid (ESP), 365.12
4. (4) Montepaschi Siena (ITA), 358.51
5. (6) Panathinaikos (GRE), 347.50
6. (5) Fenerbahçe Ülker (TUR), 339.86
7. (8) Power Electronics Valencia (ESP), 330.24
8. (7) Caja Laboral Baskonia (ESP), 326.34
9. (9) Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), 298.89 – Last week, high state honors were granted to Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv president Shimon Mizrahi; Mizrahi “was named among the 2011 recipients of the Israel Prize, the country’s most prestigious award given annually on Israel’s Independence Day. … Mizrahi, 71, is the seventh person to receive the Israel Prize in the field of sports and becomes the third person affiliated with Maccabi Tel Aviv’s basketball club top win the Israel Prize, joining former Euroleague champ Tal Brody (1979) and former Maccabi coach Ralph Klein (2006). Mizrahi has served as Maccabi president since 1969 and been a part of the club winning five European titles.” BiE’s question: When will Pini Gershon take this prize finally?

10. (10) Union Olimpija (SLO), 285.98
11. (12) Žalgiris Kaunas (LTU), 283.60 – The Žalgiris season to date: The Greens are 18-0 in LKL play and decisively whipped Lietuvos Rytas, 85-60, in the sole meeting between the two to this date; stand in second place in VTB United League Group B with a solid 7-2 record; remain ranked higher than their inter-country rivals in the BiE Top 100; and have managed to keep a head coach for two months (should Ilias Zouros last through today) … how long can this go on?

12. (14) Unicaja Malaga (ESP), 280.85
13. (11) Efes Pilsen (TUR), 277.84
14. (15) Lietuvos Rytas (LTU), 275.58
15. (13) Partizan Belgrade (SER), 270.51
16. (27) Norrköping Dolphins (SWE), 233.69 – The pride of Swedish basketball benefits in the rankings from its incredibly busy schedule; the Dolphins have played in a whopping 64 games in the 2009-10 season, just a couple fewer than the average NBA team right now. And at 35-29, Norrköping would be the current no. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of the New York Knicks. (Hey, don’t look at me for this ranking: After leaving on The Continent for 16 years, BiE still thinks the European standard of awarding points for losses is weird.)

Plus, the Dolphins have inspired at least one original rap song:

17. (16) AJ Milano (ITA), 228.55
18. (17) Lottomatica Roma (ITA), 228.29
19. (25) Gran Canaria 2014 (ESP), 228.24
20. (18) Cajasol Sevilla (ESP), 226.62+
21. (24) Asefa Estudiantes (ESP), 226.62
22. (19) Galatsaray Café Crown (TUR), 223.48
23. (33) BK Ventspils (LAT), 221.39
24. (28) Tartu Rock (EST), 220.60
25. (34) BC Azovmash (UKR), 214.17
26. (26) Unics Kazan (RUS), 212.43
27. (20) BC Khimki Moscow region (RUS), 212.29
28. (23) CSKA Moscow (RUS), 208.61 – Could the nightmare finally be over for CSKA despite another coaching change? After getting officially ignominiously bounced from the Euroleague to close out 2010, the Red Army has gone 10-5 overall. They’re currently in fourth place in PBL play with an opportunity to jump into third in an April 5 meeting against Spartak St. Petersburg; meanwhile, the Muscovites have stormed out to an 8-1 mark in the VTB United League with the second round soon to start. BiE still thinks a top-to-bottom makeover will be in effect before the 2011-12 season, however … and one does have to wonder who might be coaching…

29. (21) Aris BSA (GRE), 208.59
30. (32) Budivelnik (UKR), 207.60
31. (37) Cedevita Zagreb (CRO), 203.78
32. (74) TTU/Kalev (EST), 200.69
33. (35) Benetton Bwin Basket (ITA), 197.73
34. (22) Cholet Basket (FRA), 196.45
35. (31) Asseco Prokom (POL), 193.85
36. (39) KK Krka (SLO), 192.57
37. (45) Kalev/Cramo (EST), 190.28
38. (44) Hemofarm Stada (SER), 189.19
39. (36) Beşiktaş Cola Turka (TUR), 188.70
40. (29) Brose Baskets Bamberg (GER), 188.51

41. (40) Pepsi Caserta (ITA), 185.61
42. (30) Bennet Cantu (ITA), 185.00
43. (48) CEZ Nymburk (CZE), 180.66
44. (42) Cibona Zagreb (CRO), 171.57
45. (46) Siauliai (LTU), 170.67
46. (47) Bizkaia Bilbao Baskets (ESP), 170.60
47. (51) Pinar Karşiyaka (TUR), 169.24
48. (38) PAOK BC (GRE), 168.46
49. (43) Banvit BK (TUR), 167.96 – So how did Juan Dixon’s debut with Banvit go? About as well as to be expected after a 13-month hiatus, one supposes … Dixon saw about 20 minutes of game time, shooting just 2-of-5 overall (though 2-of-3 beyond the arc) for seven points in an 84-76 loss to Karşiyaka. Banvit keeps its hold on third place in the TBL, but is now just one game ahead of Efes Pilsen and two in front of Karşiyaka and Beşiktaş Cola Turka in the domestic league.

50. (41) Buducnost (MNT), 167.50
51. (50) Gravelines Dunkerque (FRA), 163.64
52. (53) Panellinios BC (GRE), 162.19
53. (55) VEF Riga (LAT), 161.84
54. (49) Valladolid (ESP), 161.00
55. (56) Alba Berlin (GER), 158.42
56. (57) Rudupis (LTU), 155.75
57. (54) Fuenlabrada (ESP), 153.33 – The ACB has been quite a model of parity this season, with nearly every week producing a couple eyebrow-raising results. What would have been a true shocker was avoided when FC Barcelona awoke to rise up in the fourth quarter against would-be upsetters Menorca. However, on Saturday, Fuenlabrada torched current ACB no. 4 Caja Laboral Baskonia, 82-68, to utterly tighten things on the table: Just three standings points separate the third- and seventh-place teams with nine games to go…

58. (52) DKV Joventut (ESP), 151.40
59. (61) Le Mans (FRA), 151.21
60. (60) BG Goettingen (GER), 149.59
61. (63) Dnipro (UKR), 146.44
62. (62) KK Zadar (CRO), 144.32
63. (59) KK Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje (CRO), 142.58
64. (66) Liepaja Lauvas (LAT), 133.33
65. (58) Spirou Charleroi (BEL), 128.93
66. (68) Nevezis (LTU), 128.21
67. (71) Spartak St. Petersburg (RUS), 126.03
68. (78) BC Minsk 2006 (BLR), 125.35
69. (77) Perlas (LTU), 123.88
70. (83) Honka Espoo Playboys (FIN), 122.81

71. (73) Olin Edirne (TUR), 121.67
72. (81) BC Lokomotiv Kuban (RUS), 121.21
73. (69) Asvel Basket (FRA), 117.69
74. (67) KK Radnicki (SER), 117.40
75. (76) KK Siroki TT Kabeli (BIH), 115.00
76. (64) Fabi Shoes Montegranaro (ITA), 115.00
77. (87) BC Donetsk (UKR), 114.21
78. (65) Maroussi BC (GRE), 112.50
79. (n/a) Khimik Yuzhny (UKR), 111.82
80. (70) Chorale Roanne (FRA), 110.46

81. (n/a) Elitzur Netanya (ISR), 110.31
82. (79) SLUC Nancy (FRA), 110.00
83. (72) Air Avellino (ITA), 108.33
84. (85) Lukoil Academic Sofia (BUL), 107.27
85. (75) L’Elan Chalon/Saone (FRA), 106.79
86. (n/a) Panionios (GRE), 105.00
87. (82) CS Bologna (ITA), 105.00
88. (80) KK Igokea (BIH), 103.30
89. (n/a) Turk Telecom Ankara (TUR), 102.41
90. (90) BK Prostejov (CZE), 100.86

91. (93) Hoverla (UKR), 100.53
92. (86) Anwil Wloclawek (POL), 97.79
93. (96) Ferro-ZNTU (UKR), 97.37
94. (88) Deutsche Bank Skyliners (GER), 97.34 – Deutsche Bank Skyliners’ DaShaun Wood certainly has a fan over at Eurobasket.com. In a 3,500-word combination game writeup/profile piece entitled “Another Typical Day At The Office For Dashaun Wood Displaying A Strong Combination Of Monta/Kemba/Lebron Stats As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Outgrind BG Goettingen 88-82,” Wood is likened to Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Derrick Rose, an X-43 and an archangel. Right now, the man-cum-legend is going for 18.8 points and 5.9 assists per game, stats certain to land him the Bundesliga MVP award for 2010-11.

95. (84) Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR), 95.38
96. (92) Pyrinto (FIN), 94.76
97. (89) Gasterra Flames (NED), 91.49
98. (99) Kryvbasbasket (UKR), 90.00
99. (91) EWE Baskets (GER), 88.28
100. (97) BC Oostende (BEL), 85.61.

Bubbling under: Korihait (FIN), 84.51 points; Kataja (FIN), 82.00; KTP Basket KOTKA (FIN), 82.00; Maccabi Haifa (ISR), 77.74; Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (ISR), 77.69; Kouvot (FIN), 75.73; Krasnye Krylia (RUS), 72.39; SKS Polpharma-Pakmet (POL), 69.00; BC Kyiv (UKR), 68.95; Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER), 68.71; Dexia Mons-Hainaut (BEL), 68.55; Hyeres-Toulon (FRA), 65.71; Antwerp Giants (BEL), 65.47; FMP (SER), 64.81; PGE Turow (POL), 57.37; Trefl Sopot (POL), 55.88; Szolnoki Olaj (HUN), 55.36; Energa Czarni (POL), 53.25; Lisboa e Benfica (POR), 52.76; Artland Dragons (GER), 50.58.

The Denver Post first reported – in a story later picked up by several sources – that Iverson had stopped paying off a $3 million-mortgage on a Colorado home; the house will be foreclosed on in April. A BET.com blogger added that such a tab is something that “someone without a job probably can’t afford.”

(So is A.I. no longer with Beşiktaş after all…?)

Aforementioned blogger went on to snarkily remark that “Can someone get him a reality show already? Or some new legs? I’d say a rap contract, but I remember that one single he had. Yeah, that won’t work, so let’s shoot for something else. Anything really … I hate to see this dude go out like this.”

Back to reality, in any case. Iverson’s on-again, off-again Twitter feed has said much on either subject recently. His last tweet as of this writing came on Saturday:

Whats up @Denzel_Bowles … @dayb11 told me about you and I wanted to wish you much success in your future

Not exactly illuminating, eh?

And there ain’t a damn thing on his official website, either. BiE just sent the man his own query; we’ll see if a Twitter miracle happens.

As of February 19, A.I. tweeted that he’d “Just completed my second week of physical therapy. Hoping to return to finish up in Beşiktaş in a few more weeks.” That would translate out to … right about now…

Meanwhile, Iverson’s still (as far as we know)-current team has been rolling as of late, currently in fifth place on the TBL table after enjoying a 7-0 run to chase consecutive single-basket losses to Galatasaray Café Crown and Efes Pilsen in January.

The prospective league could potentially involve teams from nine nations, including superpower clubs like Fenerbahce Ulker, Efes Pilsen, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Montepaschi Siena, and Partizan Belgrade.

After a heady weekend in which Georgios Vassilakopoulos visited Qatar to meet with FIBA Asia Sheikh Saud bin Al Al-Thani and Middle Eastern media giant Al Jazeera chairman Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, the latter of which and subsequently announced a broadcasting deal for the embryonic league, the Hellenic Basketball Federation president yesterday spoke to Greek media to announce that everything with the league is full-steam ahead – possibly even for the 2011-12 season.

As Vassilakopoulos sees it, the league would include three or four Greek teams – including the big two, naturally – in an effort to solve the “impasse,” i.e. a certain lack of competitive parity, in EƩAKE ball. His “supranational championship” is an answer to this problem, says Vassilakopoulos.

Beyond Greece, nations looking to contribute teams to the MBL (that would be the acronym, no?) include Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Qatar and Italy.

Though Vassilakopoulous hesitated to say when the first opening day tipoff might be, stressing the need for a solid five-year economic plan, he emphasized that multinational sponsorships are being discussed and great interest is showing in the corporate sector. In short, says Vassilakopoulous, “We are talking about as soon as possible. If possible, next year.”

Thanks to readers Zoran and Apollo for suggesting BallinEurope get on this story.

But, ran the first question, what relative weight should be prescribed for these games for national bragging rights? Should there just be a bonus for winning the big enchilada and perhaps ending up Cup runner-up? How much of national tournaments are mostly about pride and how much should a winning team be credited for beating an all-too-familiar-opponent? And how to keep the Copa del Rey winner from clinching the number one spot for the rest of the season?

After much hemming and hawing, tweaking and retweaking, BiE ultimately decided to just account for Cup tournament games with a 50% bonus. The thinking here is that, while the teams are familiar and wins and losses should theoretically receive the league standard, these competitions are typically comprised of the teams from the top one-quarter of a given league.

Without further ado, onto the rankings!

1. (1) FC Barcelona (ESP), 360.95 points
2. (3) Montepaschi Siena (ITA), 358.99
3. (2) Real Madrid (ESP), 352.62
4. (6) Fenerbahçe Ülker (TUR), 347.33 – Of all the Cup winners, Fenerbahçe may have been the most impressive, taking out Turkey’s no. 2 (Banvit), no. 4 (Galatasaray Café Crown) and no. 5 (Beşiktaş Cola Turka) on the way to taking the Turkish Cup; this could be the highest the team places in 2010-11, though, with the shocking loss of Mirsad Turkcan for the season.

5. (4) Olympiacos (GRE), 345.90
6. (5) Panathinaikos (GRE), 333.83
7. (7) Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), 309.01
8. (T8) Caja Laboral Baskonia (ESP), 306.41+
9. (T8) Power Electronics Valencia (ESP), 306.41 – After watching both of these Euroleague sides get bounced in the Copa del Rey semifinals, BiE, having gotten weary of seeing this tie within the top 10, came to make an the executive decision: Baskonia gets the nod based on its 81-67 win at Valencia in week six.

10. (11) Union Olimpija (SLO), 285.95
11. (10) Efes Pilsen (TUR), 278.67 – Union Olimpija stomped through the Slovenian Cup tournament while Efes Pilsen fell victim to surprising Beşiktaş Cola Turka early in Turkey, and so Olimpija leapfrogs back into the top 10 after a disastrous previous week.

12. (13) Partizan Belgrade (SER), 277.92
13. (14) Zalgiris Kaunas (LTU), 274.40
14. (12) Unicaja Malaga (ESP), 268.53
15. (15) Lietuvos Rytas (LTU), 260.55
16. (16) AJ Milano (ITA), 248.83
17. (17) Lottomatica Roma (ITA), 240.93
18. (18) BC Khimki Moscow region (RUS), 222.97
19. (19) CSKA Moscow (RUS), 217.17
20. (20) Cholet Basket (FRA), 214.20

21. (31) Galatsaray Café Crown (TUR), 208.26 – Now the top-ranked non-Euroleague team in the top 100, Galatasaray travels to the Czech Republic for a must-win Eurocup game against CEZ Nymburk (BiE’s no. 45) tonight after eking out the 76-75 victory in the last meeting.

22. (22) Unics Kazan (RUS), 207.11
23. (21) Brose Baskets Bamberg (GER) 206.41
24. (36) Bennet Cantu (ITA), 203.42 – Three teams made significant jumps this week based on cup finishes; for the second straight year, Cantu finished as runner-up to Montepaschi Siena in Italy.

25. (23) Cajasol Sevilla (ESP), 202.11
26. (38) Aris BSA (GRE), 201.43
27. (24) Asseco Prokom (POL), 201.17
28. (25) Gran Canaria 2014 (ESP), 201.15
29. (29) Norrkoping Dolphins (SWE), 197.26
30. (30) BC Azovmash (UKR), 194.40
31. (28) Tartu Rock (EST), 193.72
32. (26) Benetton Bwin Basket (ITA), 191.98
33. (33) Budivelnik (UKR), 190.91
34. (27) Asefa Estudiantes (ESP), 190.73
35. (32) Cedevita Zagreb (CRO), 188.66
36. (34) Cibona Zagreb (CRO), 184.50 – Just when you think another sentence can’t begin with “And Cibona Zagreb’s 2010-11 campaign has taken another turn for the worse,” here’s another one: And Cibona Zagreb’s 2010-11 campaign has taken another turn for the worse, as the team has reportedly decided to release starting Rok Stipcevic, leaving the roster with one true point guard in 21-year-old Karlo Vragovic. And let’s not even talk about the Krešimir Ćosić Cup, all right?

37. (56) Beşiktaş Cola Turka (TUR), 181.44 – The biggest jump of the week was enjoyed by none other than Beşiktaş, who made it all the way to the Turkish Cup finals before getting turned back by Fenerbahçe in a bizarre game which featured A.J. Ogilvy going to the free-throw line 18 times while the remaining Eagles took exactly one charity shot.

38. (42) Buducnost (MNT), 181.03
39. (39) BK Ventspils (LAT), 179.44
40. (35) Pepsi Caserta (ITA), 178.65
41. (37) KK Krka (SLO), 176.42
42. (T40) Hemofarm Stada (SER), 173.14
43. (48) PAOK BC (GRE), 170.65
44. (44) Banvit BK (TUR), 170.14
45. (T40) CEZ Nymburk (CZE), 169.52
46. (43) Siauliai (LTU), 165.15
47. (59) Gravelines Dunkerque (FRA), 161.33
48. (45) VEF Riga (LAT), 157.83
49. (46) Valladolid (ESP), 156.33
50. (47) Alba Berlin (GER), 155.45

51. (T53) DKV Joventut (ESP), 152.58+
52. (T53) Bizkaia Bilbao Baskets (ESP), 152.58 – Another tiebreaker settled: Joventut won at Bilbao, 92-85, in week eight.

53. (50) Spirou Charleroi (BEL), 150.92
54. (49) Pinar Karsiyaka (TUR), 150.76
55. (57) Rudupis (LTU), 149.44
56. (51) Le Mans (FRA), 146.33
57. (52) Panellinios BC (GRE), 145.03
58. (61) KK Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje (CRO), 144.79
59. (n/a) Fabi Shoes Montegranaro (ITA), 143.83 – The highest debut of the week is Montegranaro, though at just 9-9 in Serie A ball, BiE did violate his own rules a bit here…

60. (60) KK Zadar (CRO), 141.76
61. (T53) Fuenlabrada (ESP), 141.33
62. (62) Dnipro (UKR), 140.94
63. (58) BG Goettingen (GER), 136.67
64. (63) Chorale Roanne (FRA), 128.29
65. (67) Air Avellino (ITA), 128.28
66. (T73) KK Radnicki (SER), 127.08
67. (64) Asvel Basket (FRA), 126.77
68. (80) KK Siroki TT Kabeli (BIH), 124.08
69. (n/a) L’Elan Chalon/Saone (FRA), 120.45
70. (72) Nevezis (LTU), 119.80
71. (39) TTU/Kalev (EST), 118.20
72. (65) SLUC Nancy (FRA), 117.75
73. (66) Perlas (LTU), 117.17
74. (68) Maroussi BC (GRE), 116.33
75. (T73) KK Igokea (BIH), 116.21
76. (70) Spartak St. Petersburg (RUS), 115.42
77. (71) BC Minsk 2006 (BLR), 114.26
78. (75) Liepaja Lauvas (LAT), 114.25
79. (77) Khimik Yuzhny (UKR), 113.57

80. (76) Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR), 110.65
81. (78) Turk Telecom Ankara (TUR), 108.62
82. (81) Lukoil Academic Sofia (BUL), 108.48
83. (79) BC Lokomotiv Kuban (RUS), 108.38
84. (83) Honka Espoo Playboys (FIN), 108.06
85. (96) Elitzur Netanya (ISR), 107.83
86. (91) Anwil Wloclawek (POL), 107.36
87. (82) BC Donetsk (UKR), 107.06
88. (84) Deutsche Bank Skyliners (GER), 104.37
89. (88) Olin Edirne (TUR), 104.13
90. (86) Gasterra Flames (NED), 101.96
91. (85) EWE Baskets (GER), 100.08

92. (110) SKS Polpharma-Pakmet (POL), 98.83 – BiE offers special congratulations to Polpharma, firstly for taking out Asseco Prokom and secondly for winning the first-ever Polish Cup.

93. (87) BK Prostejov (CZE), 97.05
94. (89) Hoverla (UKR), 96.33
95. (94) Pyrinto (FIN), 91.83
96. (89) Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (ISR), 89.74
97. (91) Ferro-ZNTU (UKR), 88.99
98. (95) Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER), 84.76
99. (97) Kalev/Cramo (EST), 83.83
100. (100) Mersey Tigers (GBR), n/a.

Bubbling under: BC Oostende (BEL), 80.76 points; Kataja (FIN), 79.42; Kryvbasbasket (UKR), 78.83; Krasnye Krylia Samara (RUS), 78.04; KTP Basket KOTKA (FIN), 77.47; Hyeres-Toulon (FRA), 76.48; Korihait (FIN), 75.89; Maccabi Haifa (ISR), 75.71; Szolnoki Olaj (HUN), 74.60; FMP (SER), 71.58; Dexia Mons-Hainaut (BEL), 69.03; Energa Czarni (POL), 66.02; BC Kyiv (UKR), 64.48; PGE Turow (POL), 58.83; Antwerp Giants (BEL), 56.23; Artland Dragons (GER), 55.50; Trefl Sopot (POL), 55.08; Enterprise Dynamo Moscow (RUS), 54.89; Lisboa e Benfica (POR), 54.27; New Yorker Phantoms (GER), 54.06; Apoel Nicosia (CYP), 52.58; Leiden Basketball (NED), 50.50; Helsinn Lugano Tigers (SUI), 50.37; TBB Trier (GER), 50.20.

Ogilvy all smiles after upset

In what was not exactly a shooting clinic – Beşiktaş (10-7 in TBL play in 2010-11) collectively was “good” for 35% overall shooting on 20-of-57 while Efes Pilsen (13-4) managed 37.5%, including a woeful 4-of-15 success rate on threes – the Eagles did not miss their American headliner, who will be sidelined for some time yet by injury.

Team Australia’s A.J. Ogilvy contributed one of his best games in weeks with a 19-point, 11-rebound effort for Beşiktaş, while the only other double-digit scorer was the Brewers’ Igor Rakocevic with 12 points.

No video highlights are yet available, but you might want to keep half an eye on the official video site of the Turkish Cup.

In today’s matches, it’ll be Galatasaray Café Crown (13-4) vs. Olin Ederne (9-8) and Fenerbahçe Ülker (15-2) vs. Banvit (14-3), the latter of which features the top two teams in Turkish basketball. Beşiktaş will square off against Trabzonspor in the ‘Cup quarterfinals tomorrow night.