“La giuria è ancora in riunione,” according to La Prealpina, regarding the true potential of the current roster following Openjobmetis Varese’s home loss to Udine, a defeat that mirrors the team’s recurring tactical struggles against disciplined defensive pressure.
The loss effectively stalled the momentum Varese built during a recent three-game winning streak, which had seen the team average 105.3 points in victories over BC Roma, Bamberg, and Verona.
While the team remains without key handlers McDowell-White and Della Valle, the defeat highlighted concerns regarding the squad's inability to adapt when opponents successfully neutralize their offensive flow. Beyond the offensive stagnation, Varese also suffered from a lack of defensive solidity, struggling to apply pressure on the ball compared to previous performances.
Udine executed a strategy described as the “Murcia rule,” focusing on physical containment to stifle Varese’s interior game. According to La Prealpina, Varese shot 14-of-20 from two-point range in the first half, accumulating 49 points. Following the intermission, that efficiency plummeted to 4-of-16, resulting in only 32 points for the remainder of the contest.
The visiting side’s ability to close the paint forced Varese into stagnant possessions. Varese committed six turnovers in the second half alone, compared to just one in the first, as the team struggled to find a viable alternative to their initial game plan.
UdineToday noted that the Apu squad successfully lowered the game’s pace after an opening quarter played at Varese’s preferred speed, forcing the hosts into a half-court game where they found less success. While Varese dominated the first quarter, the visitors showed patience in moving the ball to exploit specific defensive targets.
Fans and critics pointed to specific defensive assignments, including the choice to have Kamagate mark Calzavara, as a failure to adjust to the opponent’s late-game tactics. La Prealpina reported that the system, which relies heavily on systematic switching, appears to favor certain personnel like Duke and Renfro while exposing others to defensive mismatches.
UdineToday highlighted the performance of Andrea Calzavara, who exploited these defensive switches to punish the Varese rotation. The report added that Udine relied on a collective effort and a shared system, with key players like Denzel Valentine contributing 34 minutes of balanced play rather than forcing individual shots. This marked a shift for Valentine, who had spent the entire second half of the previous game against Tortona on the bench.
With this result, Udine moves to eight points, placing the team in the playoff zone. The victory serves as a demonstration of consistency, as the club continues to find different protagonists in each outing. Conversely, the result leaves Varese searching for a “Plan B” when their primary identity is countered by physical, organized defenses.
La Prealpina suggested that while the absence of two primary offensive leaders provides some context, the team missed a significant opportunity to consolidate its standing. UdineToday noted that if Udine maintains this level of consistency, they could capitalize on the current struggles of higher-ranked teams like BC Roma, Tortona, Reggio Emilia, and Varese itself.
Looking ahead, anticipation is already building for the upcoming derby scheduled for December 6. In the immediate future, Udine will host Olimpia at the Carnera on Sunday following the coaching change that brought Luca Banchi to the Milan bench.
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