Behind Virtus Bologna's decision to fire Dusko Ivanovic: what happened
Virtus Bologna's decision to fire coach Dusko Ivanovic comes the day after their derby defeat against Olimpia Milano, a loss that clearly had relatively little to do with the coaching change. The management's choice stems from a fractured relationship between the Montenegrin coach and the team, per sources. Tensions and misunderstandings with several players created a situation that was evidently beyond repair. Above all, the decision to bench Carsen Edwards for the entire second half at the Forum - it is rumored thet Ivanovic was ready to not bring Edwards back to the bench after the halftime - was the straw that broke the camel's back, but the Texan guard isn't the only one who has had a strained relationship with the coach in recent weeks. "It was my decision," Ivanovic commented yesterday regarding his player not returning for the second half at the Forum. However, as early as late December, following the Olympiacos game, the now-former Virtus coach had criticized Edwards—without naming him directly—citing "too much individualism." Even then, the reigning EuroLeague top scorer did not play in the fourth quarter when Virtus nearly pulled off a sensational comeback, cutting a 20-point deficit down to just 3.
Given the obvious impossibility of replacing key roster pieces—not just Edwards—at this point in the season, firing Ivanovic became the most viable solution. The Montenegrin coach was in the final year of his contract, and a renewal was highly unlikely. The ball now passes to Nenad Jakovljevic, who takes on a heavy burden in what is also his first head coaching role. On the flip side, the young Serbian coach specializes in the defensive side so valued by Ivanovic, and he certainly knows the Virtus environment well, having originally arrived during Banchi's tenure.
These final months of the season could even lead to him being confirmed for the role in June. For now, however, the focus is on the present: the scheduled break—the game against Trapani was originally slated for this weekend—provides an opportunity to introduce fresh ideas to a team that posted a 2-5 record in March, including their latest heavy league defeat against Reggio Emilia.
The season of Ivica Zubac is over. A rib fracture will sideline the Croatian center for the remainder of the year. The injury occurred during Wednesday’s game, when he left the court after taking a hit from Donovan Clingan of the Portland Trail...
Moses Wright is enjoying an outstanding season, and in Round 32 he once again played a key role, helping Žalgiris Kaunas secure an 87–85 win over Real Madrid with a performance of 16 points and 4 rebounds. The big man has been at the center of transfer rumors...
Jalen Cannon has signed a 1+1 deal with Vanoli Cremona in the italian second division, the team announced. Cannon last played with Derthona Basket in LBA, and in the last season he put 5.2 points per game with 64.8% from 2pts, and 4.8 rebounds in 17...