QBL Men Week 1 Preview
QBL Week 1 Preview
Friday, April 29
Logan vs. Bundaberg
Offseason: Two teams with different offseasons. Logan has revamped their coaching (Rucker for Johnson) and upgraded their roster (Justin Baker, Mick Cedar, Daniel Sepokas) making them into a legitimate contender not only in the Central Pool but for the entire championship. Bundaberg has been a bit stagnant with Scheraun King replacing Rick James and adding Daniel Sims to the squad.
Key Matchup: Justin Baker vs Willie Shackleford. Baker has a renaissance in 2015, having a double-double and leading Gladstone to the brink of the grand final. Reuniting with Rucker at Logan, you expect Baker to produce similarly for the Thunder. Shackleford has had monster double-double seasons but in recent years those numbers have started to drop. Should be interesting how the battle unfolds down low in terms of rebounding and defending.
Prediction: If Logan are QBL contenders, then they need to take care of their home court and teams like Bundaberg. Bulls don’t really have any expectations for the season, and they could cause an upset or two, but not in this game. Logan
Saturday, April 30
Ipswich Force vs. Gold Coast Rollers
Offseason: Ipswich has lost a key player in Zarryon Fereti, who a dependable scorer for them. In his place they have added Jaryd Eustace, Ben Wilson and Brent Wallace. Both imports are back as well as local standout Jason Ralph. Gold Coast finally got a proper coach in Pero Cameron and that has attract back a lot of veteran QBL players. Even so the team will depend on guys like Christian Salaciech and Jayden Tom.
Key Matchup: James Legan vs. Christian Salaciech. Legan is one of the best scorers than single handedly take over a game. Salaciech return to the Coast after years in the States playing college basketball.
Prediction: Force will have to rely on Harvey and Legan for scoring, although will struggle with issue in the ball-handling (Ralph or Wilson are unavailable). Gold Coast have the veteran players that can exploit that whether they have the legs that is another question. Gold Coast
SC Phoenix Clippers vs. SC Rip
Offseason: Lots of excitement for the inaugural game of the league's newest team. They get to face their local rivals SC Phoenix. SC Phoenix has upgrade the team with locals Jorden Page and Zane Meehl and as import big's Eric McAllister and Lester Ferguson. SC Rip have made a major coup with former NBL import Lance Hurdle headlining the squad
Key Matchup: Jorden Page vs. Lance Hurdle. Both players have had strong basketball careers that have been derailed with injuries. Page makes a huge improvement to a Clippers backcourt while Hurdle is former NBL import that is trying to prove he can play in a elite program.
Prediction: Expect a fiery game between two team trying to prove which one is the top dog in the Sunshine Coast. Phoenix-Clippers have a bit more depth and should have the upper hand. Sunshine Coast Phoenix-Clippers (or as Scheibs calls it the real Maroochydore)
South West Metro Pirates vs. Toowoomba Mountaineers
Offseason: South West Metro has a turbulent off-season At the last minute they got 213cm tall Jason Conrad to compliment Tanner McGraw as their import duo. The pirate have manage to recruit former local standout Brendan Teys who should alleviate the issues of a long term solution at shooting guard. Toowoomba has gone changes of its own, losing current MVP in Jeremy Kendle and replacing him with fellow Bellarmine guard Chris Whitehead.
Key Matchup: Erron Maxey vs. Jarred Bairstow. Maxey has an impressive 2015 season where he ended up as one of the top forwards despite his age. Maxey has a lot more responsibility this season with the loss of Kluck, especially in the post. Bairstow should have the added responsibility of scoring for the Pirate, particularly with McGraw and Conrad unavailable for the first week Prediction: While i think South West is going to have the better season than Toowoomba, missing their imports is going to be a struggle against a Toowoomba team in near full strength. Toowoomba
Brisbane Capitals vs. Bundaberg Bears
Offseason: Brisbane has an unchanged squad from last year, heavily relying on Rychart, Anderson and Thompson to carry the team . Bundaberg will be back for their second game in this roadtrip.
Key Matchup: Aaron Anderson vs. Daniel Sims Anderson is ultra quick and having a guy like Sims around should help in their attempt to stop him
Prediction: Even without Rychart for the first couple of weeks, their sheer amount of firepower and depth should be too much for the Bulls to handle. Brisbane
Mackay Meteors vs. Cairns Marlins
Offseason: Defending champions are through a tough transition with the loss of Hobbs, Demos and Adekponya. Nick Wiggins has the talent just need to have a breakthrough in his pro career while Shaun Bruce is going to be an approximate replacement for Hobbs. Cairns have lost a lot of the guards from last year (Sobey, Maynard, Bruce) but they have managed to strengthen their bigs with veterans Cameron Tragardh and Alex Loughton.
Key Matchup: Cameron Tragardh vs. Tidjane Diop. Cairns will depend a lot on Trigger and Loughton for offense so it will come down to Diop (one of the better post defenders in the league) and Rasmussen to defending that duo. Meteors need that defences of their to click.
Prediction: Mackay is playing for the first time at the revamp Crater, so it should be an amazing feeling to play in front 1200 screaming fans. If there is a team that can spoil it, it would a team that is playing in midseason form. Cairns
Rockhampton Rockets vs. Gladstone Port City Power
Offseason: Rockhampton have revamped their squad following their less than impressive 2015. Adding import Jordan Gregory and Shaun Gleeson should give them plenty of ammunition, while Auryn McMillan and temp import Tom Garlepp should give them quality post play. Gladstone are in for a rough season, following the departure of Baker, Cedar and Baldwin. Marvin Williams Jr should be a solid addition to the post while Ray Wills returns to Gladstone.
Key Matchup: Ray Wills vs. (Rockhampton guards). Wills length is something of a worry given all three guards are relatively undersized. Difficult to figure out who will end up guarding him. If Wills has his way with the guards is only things that could give Gladstone a chance.
Prediction: While Gladstone had a great season in 2015, expectations for this year are a bit lower and Rockhampton would want start on the right foot and avenge their quarter final loss at home. Rockhampton
Sunday, May 1
Townsville Heat vs. Cairns Marlins
Offseason: Townsville have seen significant chances with Mitch Norton unavailable and Corban Wroe gone. They have a new backcourt in Josh Wilcher and Mirko Djeric as well veteran leadership in Peter Crawford. Front duo of Rees/ Brennan are still around. Cairns will be in their second game of the weekend
Key Matchup: Josh Wilcher vs. Damon Heuir. Interesting matchup between two guard with a lot to prove. Wilcher has big shoes to fill replacing local hometown star Norton. Heuir has a lot of add responsible this year making him the Marlins premium guard.
Prediction: Another cracker of game between the FNQ rivals. While i like Townsville’s acquisitions and they had good coaching but this is going to be close. Cairns
