Virtus Lately

Virtus Segafredo Bologna are a team in the middle. Why is that the case? What do they need to do to push their way into the EuroLeague’s top 8?

[Ed. note: This article was originally published at raymondsimms.com, a temporary personal blog I ran during the 2022-23 basketball season. It was ported over to Crucial Baskets on April 20, 2024.]

After 23 hard-fought rounds, Virtus Segafredo Bologna are 12th in the EuroLeague. Their 11-12 record matches 11th-place Anadolu Efes Istanbul, but they lose out on the tiebreaker due to a Round 10 defeat in Bologna.

However, Virtus’ record is only a game back of a four-way tie between seventh and tenth place. In fact, they’re only five games back of 16-7 table leader Olympiacos Piraeus. Needless to say, this is one of the most competitive EuroLeague seasons to date.

So how did the reigning EuroCup champions become a team in the middle of the EuroLeague table? What do they need to do if they hope to ascend to the Top 8 and make it into the 2023 EuroLeague playoffs?

Virtus have been competitive in the New Year, currently 4-3 in 2023. They’ve won their last two games and three of their last four. Their last three wins have all been by double-digits. Virtus defeated Panathinaikos by 10 points, Crvena Zvezda by 12, and ASVEL on the road by 13.

Earlier in January they lost to current table leader Olympiacos by only two points and defeated current third-place FC Barcelona on the road by eight. That latter game is noteworthy as Virtus’ next match sees them hosting Barcelona on February 9th.

Virtus has been anchored by the defensive end this season. They’re ninth in the EuroLeague in opponent points per game (79.8) and seventh in defensive rating (113.8). Bologna is particularly adept at guarding the perimeter, placing second in the competition in opponent three-point percentage (32.8 percent[!!]). They’re also third in steals per game (7.2), though that zeal also leads them to committing the sixth-most fouls per game in the league (21.4).

The offense, however, is a trickier tale to tell. Virtus is solid in the efficiency department: eighth in 2-point percentage (55.2 percent), ninth in 3-point percentage (35.8 percent), and tenth in free throw percentage (78.0 percent). They also share the ball incredibly well, placing fifth in assists per game (19.0). They’re even sixth in the competition in fouls drawn per game (20.6)! And yet, Bologna sits 13th in the league in points per game (77.9) and offensive rating (111.1).

What is the source of stagnation for a team that has a formidable defense and a flowing offense? Rebounds and Turnovers. Virtus is 12th in total rebounding percentage (44.3 percent) and 16th in opponent total rebounding percentage (46.6 percent). Most glaringly, they are dead last in the competition in turnover percentage (17.7 percent).

Bundled with their aforementioned fouling issue, it seems that Virtus Segafredo Bologna is a team that has the talent to score efficiently and defend staunchly, but do not have the focus nor hustle on either end to do so consistently.

The key in Virtus’ last three victories has been to maintain their efficient scoring while overcoming at least one of their season-long issues. For instance, they managed to out-rebound their opponents in their wins over Panathinaikos (40-28) and ASVEL (32-27). They also prevailed in their turnover battles against ASVEL (13-15) and Crvena Zvezda (11-14). Meanwhile, they outclassed their opponents in field goal percentage in all three victories (46.5 percent to 39.9 percent).

That formula will still apply when they face FC Barcelona next. Virtus also shot better from the field (57.4 percent to 41.1) and won the turnover battle (15-17) in their Round 17 meeting.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna are team in the middle, but still well in the hunt for a playoff berth. For a team that is already talented on both ends of the floor, how much focus and energy they possess will determine their ultimate fate in this rabidly competitive EuroLeague campaign.