Basketball Weekend previewThe main Men's SuperLeague contest this weekend sees cup holders UCC Demons face league champions Tralee Tigers in Cork. Both sides have lost, and gained, several foreign recruits in the pre-season so Sunday afternoon's result will go a long way to showing who has adapted better to the personnel changes.
Demons head coach Pat Price was charged with replacing the highly-effective Torrey Butler and Mark Michiels. He opted for a substantial increase in size and can conceivably field a whole team of players over 6ft 7in after signing Americans Dave Holmes and Glen Worley, along with Aussie Damian Matacz.
"We've adjusted to the changes. Player turnover is pretty common at SuperLeague level but we have got in three fellas of high quality, who are also high-quality guys," said Price.
"Dave Holmes is a warrior. He has an excellent nose for the ball. Glen is bigger than Torrey and, like him, has shown good versatility around the court. Yeah, our strength is in our size this year. We're not used to having depth at the post but we will certainly take advantage of it."
Both teams had successful starts to their campaigns, but the Demons have the extra incentive after losing all three league matches to Tralee last season, although Price is without the injured David Murphy and Seán Carroll who is ill.
Meanwhile, there is an air of anticipation in Mayo as Ballina play their first SuperLeague game at home tomorrow evening against Shamrock Rovers Hoops. Malachy Daly is still out with an ankle injury but, after last week's victory over Waterford, expectations are high in Co Mayo. Considering the form of Laurence Young, Josh Lewis and Ronan McGarrity Ballina should have enough gas to ensure a home victory.
Limerick Lions, who started their campaign with two wins from two, travel to Dublin to take on Killester. The Lions have no injury worries and have a young squad, with six University of Limerick students alongside Americans Chris Jefferies and Sneed Deaderick.
Killester also began well last week, defeating the Hoops. Damien Sealy and John Quigley have niggling back injuries, but are expected to be passed fit.
The Killarney Lakers, who host UCD on Sunday, welcome new recruit Ronnie Clark, from Colorado State University.
In the Women's SuperLeague, UL Aughinish must plan for their match against Killester without Michelle Aspell, who is rated doubtful for the weekend. They will be looking to American Stephanie Graff and 16-year-old Rachel Clancy to play more dominant roles.
FIXTURES: Saturday: Men's SuperLeague: - Waterford v Star of the Sea, Waterford IT, 7.30; Killester v Limerick, IWA, 8.00; Ballina v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Ballina SC, 8.00. Women's Superleague - Killester v UL Aughinish, IWA, 6.00; Meteors v Wildcats, Naomh Olaf's, 6.45; Glanmire v St Paul's, Mardyke Arena, 7.30. Sunday: Men's Superleague - Killarney Lakers v UCD, INEC, 2.30; UCC Demons v Tigers, Mardyke Arena, 3.15.
