There's a long way to go in the EuroChallenge but make no mistake, the cream is rising to the top now that the Last 16 is underway.
BC Oostende looked like title contenders when they won in the Czech Republic over BK Prostejov, and KRKA Novo Mesto showed great resolve again with clutch play in the fourth quarter in beating Dexia Mons-Hainaut.
Lokomotiv Kuban were dominant as they got on top of BC Zadar early and stayed there in a rout of the Croatian team.
BK Ventspils also made some new believers by scoring 100 points and destroying Sport Lisboa e Benfica by 35.
The three most impressive performances may have been turned in by Lukoil Academic and Pinar Karsiyaka, as well as by Barak Netanya - even though they lost!
Lukoil, winners of five Regular Season games, showed no cracks away from home when blowing out Maccabi Haifa late in a 95-78 victory.
The Bulgarians play very well together as a team, which is why they were able to overcome the departure of Kaspars Kambala during the winter break.
Winter break signing Bruno Sundov had a smooth transition and scored 15 points in Israel.
Lukoil also have the ability to turn it up a notch defensively, which they did against Haifa when limiting the home side to just nine fourth-quarter points.
In fact, the Bulgarian team went on a 26-1 run that began in the last 30 seconds of the third quarter and finished with less than three minutes to go.
How is that for saving your best for last?
"When you play good defense," Lukoil coach Jovica Arsic said, "everything is easier."
Amen to that.
Karsiyaka, meanwhile, won on the road but only after blowing a big lead in the fourth quarter.
In addition to winning away from home, the Turkish club prevailed without their center, 19-year-old sensation Furkan Aldemir, who is injured.
Maybe most impressive was their ability to keep it together mentally despite a late collapse.
There is something else crucial for Karsiyaka, and all the teams that have designs on reaching the Final Four.
Good point guards are a must, and the Turkish club has one.
For the third consecutive EuroChallenge game, David Holston excelled.
Holston, who turns 25 on January 16, had 24 points, five assists and a season-high four steals at Antwerp.
Sixth in the Turkish Beko Basketbol Ligi, this Karsiyaka team can't be taken lightly by any opponent.
Then there is Netanya.
They lost their game at Spartak, but only by the narrow margin of three points.
Spartak time and time again threatened to pull away from the Israeli team but Netanya always reeled them back in and even had a chance to force overtime when Dartona Lavelle Washam missed two free-throws.
It spoiled an otherwise spectacular game from Washam, who was making his EuroChallenge debut with the team and scored 23 points on nine of 14 shooting from the floor, including two of three from long range.
Missed free-throws by Adrian Banks in the final seconds cost Netanya in their first game of the year, a 70-67 defeat at Belgacom Liege.
They bounced back from that and maybe will do the same again.
One thing to watch will be how well Banks and Washam play together.
Leading the league at better than 21 points per game, Banks had his lowest-scoring outing of the year on Tuesday.
He had nine points on four of 11 shooting.
What Spartak coach Zvi Sherf must be pleased by, meanwhile, is that his team has yet to lose at home in the competition and also, they won when not at their best.
Anton Ponkrashov had a temperature and wasn't feeling well but this is no time to be missing big games.