FC Barcelona Regal arrives to the Top 16 as Group D champion after suffocating teams with its outstanding defense. Barcelona has the best defense in the competition (59.9 points allowed per game) but is also second in assists (17.1 apg.) and has committed the second-fewest turnovers (11.1 per game). All-Euroleague big man Erazem Lorbek (14.7 ppg.) has been simply unstoppable so far. Juan Carlos Navarro (12.1 ppg., 3.1 apg.), though currently injured, became the Euroleague's all-time top scorer earlier this season. Floor general Marcelinho Huertas (9.2 ppg., 5 apg.) and do-it-all swingman Chuck Eidson (8.8 ppg.) have been important so far for a Barcelona squad that is deep, experienced and hungry.

Last year's runner-up Maccabi Electra is back to the Top 16 ready to fight for its first Euroleague title since 2005. Maccabi is undefeated at Nokia Arena and stole a couple of road wins to finish second in difficult Group C. Just like last season, All-Euroleague center Sofoklis Schortsanitis (11.7 ppg.) and mobile power forward Lior Eliyahu (11.2 ppg.) have been the main references around the baskets. Newcomer Keith Langford (6.8 ppg.) should see extended playing time from now on, too. Expect Maccabi, backed by the support of its legions of fans not only in Tel Aviv, but all around the continent, to mount a serious charge to make what would be its eighth Final Four in 13 seasons.

Thirty years after it first lifted the Euroleague trophy, Bennet Cantu returned to the competition to become the first team to seal a Top 16 spot in the most balanced regular season group ever. With a near-perfect record at its unique home court, Pala Desio, head coach Andrea Trinchieri’s rotation goes 10 deep and the squad embodies true team basketball. Only one player averages double figures in scoring, forward Vladimir Micov (10.5 ppg.), but with big Giorgi Shermadini manning the middle and former champ Gianluca Basile providing leadership and clutch shooting off the bench, Cantu fans have reasons to believe.

After reeling off three wins in its final four games to advance to the Top 16 for the third season in a row, Zalgiris Kaunas is not a team to be taken lightly. Head coach Aleksadar Trifunovic has the team at its best after taking over during the regular season. Sonny Weems (17.5 ppg.) has emerged as the Lithuanian champs’ star, with veteran Marko Popovic standing tall among a list of co-pilots. Two more signings since the end of the regular season leave Zalgiris deeper than ever and poised to keep the momentum going into the Top 16 with the ultimate goal of playing its way into the Playoffs.