Basketball Weekend previewsThe UCC Demons may be travelling to Ballina tomorrow for a meeting between the two leading lights of the northern and southern conferences but this is not necessarily the main draw this weekend.
Instead, UCD Marian's tie against the Tralee Tigers will give a better indication of just how tight this year's dash to the Superleague finishing line is going to be.
Last week's 31-point hammering at home to the Demons shows the Kerry club are some distance off the heights of last season. However, they proved their pride is intact with an impressive recovery to hand the Limerick Lions their first defeat on bank holiday Monday.
Australian Luke O'Hea has been in impressive form but nothing compared to the 42-point display produced by Marian's Lorcan Precious against the Shamrock Rovers Hoops. The Ireland international is living up to his growing reputation.
Killester travel to Killarney Lakers with news that Michael Westbrooks, of the famous north Dublin basketball clan, has returned from college in America and may be available for the rest for the season. Their Serbian star Vladamir Radanovac is expected to miss the trip through injury.
Justin Wingard has been averaging 34 points and 18 rebounds, while Tim Sullivan is on 23 points per game even though the Lakers are still searching for their first victory of the season.
Neptune's difficult start to the season looks set to continue. Stephen McCarthy is out with a groin injury though Dajan Smith may return. They had only one import, American Robert Brown, on court for last week's defeat to Limerick.
Despite pre-season problems the Cork club will be expected to beat the visiting Star of the Sea. They have already had two coaches, as Ozell Wells was drafted in to replace Italian Cristiano Sias after four defeats in the pre-season.
"In Cristiano's defence, his pre-season preparations were excellent, it was just his on-court coaching that left a lot to be desired," said club chairman Tim O'Brien. "We lost four pre-season games and felt it just wasn't working." Sias is now based in Dublin and hopes to contribute further to the Irish game.
Elsewhere, Limerick play St Vincent's, who will be hoping their foreign imports take the weight off the Donnelly brothers' shoulders, especially Emmet, who posted 20 points in last week's defeat to Ballina.
FIXTURES: Saturday: Men's Superleague: UCD Marian v Tralee Tigers, Belfield, 7.30; Ballina v UCC Demons, Ballina Sports Complex, 8.0; Neptune v Star, Neptune Stadium, 8.0; Limerick Lions v St Vincent's, University of Limerick, 8.0; Killarney Lakers v Killester, Presentation College, 8.30.
Women's Superleague: UL/Aughinish v Peugeot Meteors, University Arena, 6.45; Mustang Sally's v Killester, Presentation, 6.30; Wildcats v Coolock, Mercy Gym, 7.30.
