BallinEurope is previewing all 18 Euroleague Basketball teams ahead of the start of the season. Today it’s the turn of Luca Banchi and Virtus Bologna.
After one of the quietest offseasons in Euroleague Basketball, Virtus Bologna look in solid shape. Luca Banchi is going to spring some surprises this season.
Last season
Euroleague record: 17-17
Regular season position: 10th
Playoffs: Lost play-in (Baskonia)
Serie A record: 22-8
Regular season position: 1st
Playoffs: Lost finals to Olimpia Milano (3-1)
Other: Lost Coppa Italia quarter final (Reggio Emilia)
Who’s gone?
Bryant Dunston (Zalgiris Kaunas), Iffe Lundberg (Partizan), Ognjen Dobric (Crvena Zvezda), Awudu Abass (Dubai BC), Bruno Mascolo (Treviso), Rihards Lomazs (free agent), Jordan Mickey (free agent).
Who is new?
Matt Morgan (London Lions), Reyjon Tucker (Reyer Venezia), Riccardo Visconti (Pesaro), Andrejs Grazulis (Trento), Mouhamet Diouf (Breogan), Nikola Akele (Brescia), Will Clyburn (Anadolu Efes).
Who stayed?
Daniel Hackett, Isaia Cordinier, Tornike Shengelia, Ante Zizic, Marco Belinelli, Achille Polonara, Mouhamet Diouf, Alessando Pajola, Nicola Akele, Devontae Cacok
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Need to know
With a Luca Banchi team, expect them to not be intimidated by anyone. He drills confidence into his sides like few others. The best comparison is like a tea bag sitting in a cup. Virtus Bologna will need that confidence in the middle of what promises to be a fiery pack of teams in Euroleague Basketball this season.
What the bookies think
The oddsmakers are largely in agreement on Virtus Bologna. The shortest you will find Luca Banchi’s charges is 40/1 in Euroleague Basketball betting. The overwhelming majority of sportsbooks have priced them at 50/1.
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What we think
This Virtus Bologna team is probably as good, on paper, as the bookies think. Luca Banchi is a special character. While the oddsmakers have them out of the postseason in their Euroleague Basketball rankings, I beg to differ.
Fearless prediction
Welcome to the wild bunch. As things stand, I have Virtus Bologna on the right side of the line in Euroleague Basketball. This is a really fun looking roster. We know they are capable of delivering. To make it to the playoffs proper, it’ll take some Luca Banchi magic.
Pick: 9th in the regular season
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