Unbalanced roster and declined signings: could it lead to changes in Bologna? / News - Basketnews.com

Virtus Bologna is currently out of the playoff picture in EuroLeague, but looking at the team's future, there are concerning signs that Sergio Scariolo and the management are not necessarily on the same page. Could this lead to an unexpected turn of events this summer?

Credit: Scanpix-Virtus Bologna Credit Scanpix-Virtus Bologna

This season Virtus Bologna returned to EuroLeague with a lot of expectations surrounding them. The team from Bologna remains the last Italian team to have won the EuroLeague, back in 2001, a lifetime ago.

Marco Belinelli

MIN:13.3PTS:5.5 (43.14%)REB:1.13As:1ST:0.25BL:0TO:0GM:8ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

Last season, the team coached by Sergio Scariolo won the EuroCup title, gaining a spot in EuroLeague.

During the summer, the management made several additions to strengthen the squad, including Iffe Lundberg, Jordan Mickey, former Boston Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye, and the contract extension of Toko Shengelia, who had originally joined the club on a short-term deal.

The first season back in EuroLeague for Virtus, though, has been full of ups and downs so far. The Italian side currently stands out of the playoff area with 9 wins and 11 losses.

After two important wins against Fenerbahce and Barcelona, Virtus lost two games in a row at home against Zalgiris Kaunas and Olympiacos.

They're a poor rebounding team (the second-worst in terms of offensive rebounds per game, only Efes does something worse), and they're a bottom-five team in terms of offensive and defensive rating.

There's room to improve, and the playoff spots are not that far. As a 'rookie' team in EuroLeague, it was almost natural to imagine some growing pains for the Italian club.

But leaving for a moment the focus on what has been done so far in the season and beginning to think a bit about the future, the coming months could be crucial for the Bologna club.

There are some questions and doubts that are beginning to form in the minds of fans but also of those who closely follow the team. So let's try to go a little bit deeper.

An unbalanced roster and some internal disagreements

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