New look, new names, same game. The ESB-sponsored Basketball League - now sensibly known as the league rather than the superleague - begins its 25-week season this weekend with promises of stronger competition and even faster action.
The men's league has been expanded to 15 teams, with Tralee returning to the main event after two years in Division One. The big five from last season - Neptune, Demons, Star of the Sea, Notre Dame and the Saints (formerly St Vincent's) - will again be the teams to beat but there are expectations for more determined challenges from the likes of Killester and UCD Marian.
Of real interest will be the new rule changes. FIBA, the international basketball body, has attempted to make the game faster by reducing the shot clock and amount of time for teams to bring the ball down the court, the same rules that were introduced at the Sydney Olympics.
The shot clock will now be 24 seconds rather than 30 seconds and teams now have eight seconds to bring the ball down into the front court (previously 10 seconds). In addition, bonus shots will awarded after four team fouls in every quarter, rather than on the eighth team foul in every half.
Defending champions Neptune will be without their star American duo Ricardo Leonard and Rasuel McKune this season and, in their absence, the Cork team will find it hard going to regain the title. Leonard has signed with Tralee and with the experienced Roscoe Patterson and Robbie Turner also going there, the Kerry side may well make a significant impression in the first season back among the best.
The TV coverage this year will again be provided by TG4's IBA BEO but the featured games will now be Saturday evenings rather than Friday. The first of the eight matches this weekend takes place this evening when the Demons host Tralee in Gurranabraher.
On paper, the Demons appear to be the team to beat. Coach Dommie Mullins has again included a Spanish element - the towering Hugo Iturralde - and also retains the guts of his Irish panel, including the talented junior Michael Carlos.
Neptune start out against the Clare Jets tomorrow, but without their Americans, Irish captain Stephen McCarthy's role will be crucial to their chances. Cup winners Notre Dame travel to Belfast on Sunday for their opener against Star of the Sea, winners in 1998 and 1999.
Unfortunately, the women's league has been reduced to five teams. Crusaders have opted out and the title will now be decided between Tolka Rovers (the champions) and Killester, the Wildcats, Meteors and the University of Limerick. Saturday's opening game will be an interesting battle between the Wildcats and Meteors, second and third respectively last year.
