Virtus Bologna

Player to watch : Carsen Edwards

WE DID IT ! In just three words, Virtus Bologna has set the internet alight this summer. Yes, they did it – the Bianconeri have managed to sign last season’s top scorer in the EuroLeague: Carsen Edwards. The hype surrounding this offensive gem (and not the crown) began very early on. In fact, if he now has the physique of an American footballer, it’s because he also excelled in that sport at secondary school. During his time at university, however, he prioritised basketball, where he was far from poor. In his freshman year, he became the only player in his class in the Big Ten Conference to record 45 successful three-pointers and 35 steals. And in his second season at Purdue, he won the Jerry West Trophy (best male college guard).

These impressive performances clearly failed to reach the ears of NBA scouts. Carsen Edwards was eventually drafted on his second attempt, with the 33rd pick in the second round. He spent the next three years shuttling between the Boston Celtics and the G-League, before deciding in 2022 to cross the Atlantic and join Fenerbahçe. He stayed there for a year before joining Bayern Munich, where he established himself as one of the league’s very best offensive players. To sum up his game, he can score anytime, anywhere, against anyone. A scoring machine who excels at moves and sensational performances. All you need to do is get the popcorn out and enjoy the show.

Playing style

When it comes to analysing this Virtus Bologna side, one must start from the following observation: they are not elite in any area. Apart from Carsen Edwards – or perhaps Luca Vildoza on his day – there are no real stars in this team. No player is capable of regularly winning games on his own. Nenad Jakovljević knows this. Hence the fact that much deeper rotations are in place and that everyone has a very specific role. Nevertheless, they all share one common task: to bring intensity.

Collectively, there are some typical patterns. Virtus is by far the EuroLeague (C1) team that has used the most off-ball screens since the start of the season. The forwards also excel in pick-and-rolls and off-ball pin-downs. There is no shortage of variations. Above all, Alen Smailagić moves around a great deal on the periphery of the three-point line. He is perhaps the only truly physical big man, as Bologna otherwise favours athletic players who excel at cutting. And in defence, we see a slightly more modern style characterised by high-pressure defence and a very compact zone defence designed to disrupt the opposition’s movement.

Club History

On the evening of 17 January 1871 at San Domenico Primary School, the teacher from the Società Sezionale di Ginnastica founded an organisation that would become Sef Virtus Bologna. As symbols, four Fs arranged in a Roman cross were chosen: strong, honest, steadfast and proud. Words that remain the club’s motto to this day. The first basketball team was formed more than 50 years after the club’s creation, in 1927. The Bianconeri climbed the ranks. But once they reached the top flight, they went on to finish in the top spots time and again without ever managing to lift the trophy. It wasn’t until the end of the Second World War that the club began to add its first titles to its honours list. Those early years gave way to a period of dominance, as under Renzo Poluzzi, the Bolognese side won four consecutive Scudetti before securing back-to-back titles (1955–1956). Meanwhile, another powerhouse of Italian basketball had returned to the standards of the 1940s: Olimpia Milano. This rivalry would deprive Virtus of numerous titles, particularly during the 1960s. Despite the advent of European competitions, the trophy cabinet remained completely empty throughout the decade.

This stagnation was brought to a sudden halt by the appointment of lawyer Gianluigi Porelli as head of the club in 1968, alongside Giovanni Elkan for the basketball section. Whilst sporting results did not improve significantly until 1973, the club’s financial health began to recover. With its foundations now consolidated, Bologna was ready to take the next step. This began with the arrival of the former Chilean national team coach, Dan Peterson, followed two years later by the recruitment of Tom McMillen. Bologna thus reached the quarter-finals of the 1975 European Cup Winners’ Cup (C2), won its first league title in 22 years the following season, and finally fell just two points short of success in the 1978 Cup Winners’ Cup (C2). The rise to prominence continued under Terry Driscoll with another back-to-back LBA title, the first cup-and-league double, and this time the 1981 European Champions Cup (C1) final, which was also lost by the narrowest of margins to Maccabi Tel Aviv (80-79). This ultra-demanding Porelli era came to an end with ‘Sugar Mania’. Why the name? Following Ettore Messina’s appointment in 1989, the club brought in former NBA All-Star Michael ‘Sugar’ as well as NBA champion Clemon Johnson. Together, this small squad avenged 10 years of frustration by finally winning the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup (C2) against Real Madrid (79-74).

Immediately following this remarkable achievement, Gianluigi Porelli sold Synudine Bologna, which became Virtus Bologna. The Cazzola era began with the signing of the mercurial shooting guard Predrag Danilović. The Bologna dynasty then took shape with a first Scudetto during Ettore Messina’s ‘last dance’, followed by a three-peat under Alberto Bucci. But on each occasion, there were no major achievements in the European Champions League (C1). Following two transitional seasons from 1995 to 1997, Ettore Messina made his grand return, bringing with him a certain Predrag Danilović, who had previously set out to conquer the NBA. Surrounded by Radoslav Nesterovič and Antoine Rigaudeau, the Black and Whites established themselves as THE best team on the continent at the turn of the millennium. In 1998, the club won the LBA in overtime of the final match thanks to Dominique Wilkins’ legendary foul on Danilović’s three-point shot. Shortly afterwards, Virtus lifted their long-awaited EuroLeague (C1) trophy against AEK Athens (58-44). There was another final the following year against Žalgiris Kaunas (82-74) before Alfredo Cazzola sold the club to Marco Madrigali in 2000.

In order to make a fresh start, Bologna went all-in on youth. Following in the footsteps of Jaric, Smodis, Manu Ginobili and others, Virtus racked up 33 consecutive wins across all competitions. Unsurprisingly, the 2000–2001 season culminated in a treble: the Coppa Italia, the league title and the Euroleague (C1). More of a flash in the pan than a new dynamic. The Bolognese failed to build on their success and Ettore Messina was sacked in the blink of an eye. Except that a pitch invasion by supporters ahead of a match against Pallacanestro Trieste forced Marco Madrigali to rehire the Italian coach. A domestic cup win followed by an unfortunate EuroLeague (C1) final later, the club found itself on the brink of bankruptcy. The situation became so dire that the Bianconeri were excluded from the LBA due to late payment of wages. Although bankruptcy was narrowly avoided, relegation was confirmed nonetheless. Rock bottom had been reached.

In the summer of 2004, the club regained its membership of the Italian Basketball Federation and was consequently able to use the name ‘Virtus Pallacanestro’ once again. Back in the top flight by 2005, the Bianconeri were making rapid progress. This resurgence was crowned in 2009 when, after a seven-year wait, Bologna’s trophy cabinet was opened to welcome the EuroChallenge (C3). This was followed by four consecutive defeats in the Italian Cup final and, a few years later, the club’s first-ever relegation. Once again, Bologna bounced back quickly. And once again, the Black V went on to lift yet another European trophy with the 2019 Basketball Champions League, their first Scudetto in 20 years, as well as the EuroCup (C2). They are currently the reigning Italian champions.

Zoom : Madison Square Garden

Virtus Bologna is the most ‘New York-esque’ of all European teams. The Knicks are, in fact, particularly popular in northern Italy. Here’s why! In the 1950s, the growing popularity of the four-time Italian champions prompted the city to build a new arena to replace the Sala Borsa. It was then, in 1956, that the club moved to the Giuseppe Dozza Arena. The new venue had a capacity of 7,000.

This arena, directly inspired by Madison Square Garden, was soon nicknamed ‘Il Madison’ by fans and the media. Then, following Dozza’s retirement from politics in 1966, the venue was officially renamed ‘PalaDozza’, although the nickname ‘Il Madison’ has remained part of popular culture.

The Number : 33

That is the number of steals made by Virtus Bologna on 1 February 2001 against Adecco Estudiantes – a record.

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