Keen observers of Irish basketball must be wondering just what has happened over the past month to render the results of previous seasons as an almost useless guide to form.
Allowing for the fact that the champions of the past two campaigns, Neptune and Star of the Sea, are still very much in contention, it has been the rise of fledgling Superleague clubs, Waterford and Dublin Bay Vikings, which has stoked most interest.
Both sides are enjoying extraordinary success on their debuts and Waterford's five-match unbeaten run, which has sent them to the top of the table, is all the more stunning as two of those games were single point victories achieved with baskets scored in the final seconds. Any team which holds its collective nerves so well this early in the campaign deserves respect as serious title contenders.
Vikings, formerly known as MSB, form part of a four-way tie for second place and they can assure themselves a share of the lead if they end Waterford's unbeaten record at the National Arena tomorrow.
Vikings have an interesting mix of good Americans and wily experience. Prolific three-point shooter Jay Fazandes has been given a free-roaming role since the introduction of strong rebounder Kevin Byrne to the squad. The 6 ft 6 in Irish-American from Ohio has also helped take some of the defensive load off Ed Randolph. Waterford's Roscoe Patterson, along with the well-travelled Eric Blair, have been one of the best combinations in the league so far, while Irish players Dean Kavanagh and Darren Sealy have prospered under the control and influence of their strong American duo.
That game is the second part of a televised double bill this weekend and is preceded by the cup rematch of Notre Dame and UCD-Marian. This was to have been a home game for Marian but, to allow for the demands of television, it has been switched with the reverse fixture in February. Notre Dame won the cup duel last week by six points and a very close game is in prospect between these two sides. The key player should be American Randall Mounts, who has been top-scoring in every game he has played in since his move from Notre Dame to Marian. The double bill will be shown in highlight form on Sunday Sport on Network 2.
In all, there are nine Superleague matches this weekend starting with tonight's Dublin derby between St Vincent's and Tolka Rovers in Glasnevin. Tomorrow sees Blue Demons, after their exhilarating cup win over Neptune last week, travel to Dungannon, while Neptune renew rivalry with Killester in Cork.
Sligo, who host fellow-strugglers, Limerick, tomorrow, will have a new player-coach, Dave Weaver, in charge after Joe Coughlan's decision to step down this week. Dungannon, who have lost the services of Portuguese player Vic Pereira for the rest of the season, make the journey south on Sunday morning to take on bottom-of-the-table Tolka in Griffith Avenue, while Star of the Sea are at home to Blue Demons. Killarney travel to Dublin to play St Vincent's, who are expected to have Stephen McGuirk back for both of their weekend games.
