Virtus will have high ambitions for the upcoming EuroLeague season. They want to be better than last season, but it won’t be an easy task.
Bologna is a well-known city in Italy where basketball is more popular than football. Much of this can be credited to Virtus and their city rivals, Fortitudo. Virtus has been slightly more successful and has been known under sponsor names such as Knorr and Buckler. However, what stands out are the two EuroLeague titles they boast in their trophy cabinet.
After a period, as they say, of financial consolidation, they are playing their second consecutive season in the EuroLeague. The previous season was, to put it mildly, a phase of adaptation when re-entering the elite competition, and the team surely could have done better as they didn’t make it to the playoffs.
In the upcoming season, a place among the top eight should be obligatory, but Virtus isn’t the only team with such ambitions.
Hot summer in Bologna
Virtus caught the attention of European basketball just two weeks ago. Sergio Scariolo had been at odds with the club’s management since the spring when he “secretly” negotiated to take over Real Madrid for the 2023/2024 season. In the end, Chus Mateo retained his job by winning the EuroLeague. The Spain national team coach didn’t even get through an interview for the Toronto Raptors’ head coaching position. This didn’t sit well with club’s main man, Massimo Zanetti, who hoped that Scariolo would agree to a mutual contract termination in June. Scariolo didn’t like the idea of walking out on an active contract, and Zanetti refused to pay him off.
Two subsequent press conferences seemingly crossed the line for Zanetti. First, at the end of the season, Scariolo mentioned he didn’t assemble the team. Then he reiterated a similar sentiment, but in a more serious tone, after returning from the World Cup. This led to his firing, and Virtus appointed Luca Banchi in his place. The roster no longer includes names like Milos Teodosic, Kyle Weems, Mam Jaiteh and Semi Ojeleye. However, several intriguing players have been added. Devontae Cacok has the potential to be one of the best centers in the EuroLeague, Ognjen Dobric joined after impressive performances in the Philippines, and Achille Polonara hopes to get his career back on track in his native Italy. Jaleen Smith and Bryant Dunston have also been added, creating a mix of talent and experience.
When talking about returning players, it’s essential to mention that Daniel Hackett, Alessandro Pajola, Marco Belinelli, Toko Shengelia, Isaia Cordinier and Jordan Mickey remain with the team. If Banchi can get the best out of this group of players, then Virtus can realistically aim for a play-in spot. For the management, the season would be satisfactory if they can secure at least one of the two major domestic trophies, which they failed to do last season. Anything achieved in the EuroLeague will be a bonus, especially considering the circumstances under which Banchi joined the team just two weeks before the season’s start.
EuroLeague Preview – Virtus: Roster for the upcoming season
Jaleen Smith /190cm/ – USA
Iffe Lundberg /193cm/ – DEN
Alessandro Pajola /194cm/ – ITA
Marco Belinelli /195cm/- ITA
Daniel Hackett /196cm/ – ITA
Isaia Cordinier /197cm/- FRA
Awudu Abass /198cm/ – ITA
Ognjen Dobric /200 cm/ -SRB
Bryant Dunston /203cm/ – USA
Jordan Mickey /203cm/ – USA
Devoante Cacok /203 cm/ – USA
Achille Polonara /205cm/ – ITA
Tornike Shengelia /206cm/ – GRU
Leo Menalo /206cm/ – CRO
Departures: Ismael Bako, Milos Teodosic, Mam Jaiteh, Nico Mannion, Kyle Weems, Semi Ojeleye
Arrivals: Bryant Dunston, Jaleen Smith, Ognjen Dobric, Devontae Cacok, Achille Polonara, Bruno Mascolo.
As we’ve already mentioned, Virtus underwent a coaching change over the summer. Sergio Scariolo was replaced by Luca Banchi, who, after serving as the head coach for Latvia, was distinguished as the best coach at the FIBA World Cup in 2023.
EuroLeague Preview – Virtus: Greatest Success in the competition
Virtus is a legendary European club, having secured the top spot in the EuroLeague twice. Any basketball enthusiast will instantly recognize the leaders of those generations. Virtus won its first EuroLeague title at the Final Four in Barcelona in 1998, led by Predrag Danilovic, who returned to Bologna from the NBA. In a low-scoring final, they defeated AEK Athens by 58:44. Key players in that team included Radoslav Nesterovic, Antoine Rigaudeau, Hugo Sconochini, Alessandro Frozini, Zoran Savic and Alessandro Abbio, all under the guidance of head coach Ettore Messina.
Their second EuroLeague triumph came in the 2000/2001 season. In the final, they beated Tau Ceramica (now known as Baskonia) with a 3:2 series win. This was a season of a new EuroLeague, following a divide in European basketball between the EuroLeague and the SuproLeague, the latter featuring renowned clubs such as Panathinaikos, Partizan, CSKA Moscow, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Efes, Split, Alba and Scavolini.
This Virtus team was spearheaded by the magnificent Argentinian, Manu Ginobili. Other notable players included Marko Jaric, Matjaz Smodis, Rashard Griffith and David Andersen. Ettore Messina once again serving as the head coach.
Few words about the head coach – Luca Banchi
Luca Banchi, who is 58 years old, recently returned from the FIBA World Cup, where he was named Coach of the Tournament. He achieved remarkable success with the Latvian team, finishing in fifth place.
Banchi has spent the majority of his coaching career in Italy, with his most notable stints being at Montepaschi Siena and Olimpia Milano. He clinched the Serie A title with both clubs once and the Italian Cup once.
Luca Banchi has also coached in Greece, Germany, and Russia, and even served as an assistant in the G-League for some time. In 2020, he took over as the head coach of the Latvian national team. Last season, the Italian coach was at the helm of SIG Strasbourg.
EuroLeague Preview – Virtus: Expectations
Expectations are always high for a team with such tradition and passionate fans. What’s crucial to note is that coach Luca Banchi was not involved in the team’s player selection, which could be significant. Compared to last season, the team is without its primary playmaker, Milos Teodosic, who could turn the tide of a game with just a few moves.
The impression is that this roster, while perhaps less talented, has improved defensively, especially with the addition of Bryant Dunston. The expectation is for the team to compete for a play-off spot in the EuroLeague, with anything beyond that being a bonus.