Udine's new guard group gives this matchup a different shape from last season's meetings. Cantù spent much of its league opener chasing the game after a slow start against Venezia. Udine can test that defensive organisation with several scoring options and chances created by its ball pressure. That matchup, rather than either team's opening result alone, is where my judgement turns.
Venezia jumped out to a 13–0 lead against Cantù, whose late push could not close the gap. Coach Frank Vitucci says the team has spent the week working on its offense and defensive solidity. Cantù now gets its first home game, but the defensive work has an immediate test.
Against Scafati, Udine recorded 22 assists, 11 steals and a 40–27 rebounding edge. Denzel Valentine and Raequan Battle supplied perimeter scoring, with Nick McGlynn and Eimantas Bendzius adding points inside and off the bench. Those contributions give Udine more than one way to keep pressure on Cantù over a full game.
