Skip to main content

BBP: Durham Wildcats: 'New coach can push us to the top'

The Durham Wildcats have changed their coach and enter their third BBL season under the guidance of Lee Davie.

Davie has replaced David Elderkin who helped them achieve their BBL status and will be looking to build a successful squad.

Alliances Manager Richard Warburton is hoping Davie is the right man to lead the Wildcats into the play-offs and beyond.

He said: "Last season was a step forward, we won a bigger percentage of our games but we were a bit frustrated to miss out on the play-offs in the last few games."

"We have a slightly stronger roster this season with a lot of player turnaround due to the fact we are based around the university here, we get a lot of post-graduate students from around the world."

"The new coach has a lot of experience having managed in women's basketball and his current role with the GB U20 side."

Warburton is also hoping that the team can improve on last seasons first round defeats in the BBL Cup and the Trophy.

"A run in either the Trophy or Cup would be great this season, we have a home game against Cheshire [in the cup] which we are confident about and a slightly harder trip to Plymouth [in the trophy]."

"We aren't really sure what the main aim will be for the team this season, it is a bit unknown, we will see how the first few games go."

"We have a tough start away at Newcastle Eagles and we can hopefully put on a show, we have a lot of athleticism and pace and we know home games are important with a good crowd."

"The sport is growing the UK and in the north-east and hopefully we will be challenging at the top soon enough."

Season tickets and regular game tickets for the Durham Wildcats are available from their website.

*View our full BIG BBL Preview list here!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Worcester Wolves Coach praises British basketball legend Sullivan

Worcester Wolves head coach Paul James has praised former GB captain Drew Sullivan following his retirement from the game. Sullivan - who made over 100 appearances for his country - announced his decision earlier this year. He led a team to victory one more time yesterday with London beating the World 89-84 in his testimonial. Paul James coach of the Worcester Wolves, has come up against Sullivan as a coach a number of times over the years and says he has a lasting legacy on the British game. James said: "I think he has been phenomenal for the British game, the ultimate professional. I haven't really had the pleasure to work with Drew, but to see the way he handled himself on and off the court, you could see he was very serious about his basketball and his success has happened because of that. "He's won many championships and for sure he has been a real leader on and off the court, for anybody that has worked with him. "It's sad to see such a

BBP: Surrey United: "One of our strengths is United's past"

Surrey United - previously Surrey Heat - have gone through multiple changes this summer, including a change of owner, name, coach and various players. The 2012/13 season was largely a success with the team finishing in fourth place and getting to the play-off semi-finals. Now a new man is in charge; Jack Majewski, who was part of London United's BBL exploits which are confined to recent history. He is keen to dispel any fears that Surrey's stay in the BBL may be shortened by the takeover and thinks the future can be bright. He said: "I don't believe in a program which isn't run on integrity and financial transparency and at London United we were misled that the borough would pump money into basketball and we are paid for our mistakes." "The main difference between then and now will be stability, we will use local young players and we can use Surrey Sports Park and Surrey University as a base, so players can come in for three years." &quo

Kendal Johnson wants to ball in the BBL

Kendal Johnson is an American who wants to play in England in a busy week where he is likely to find out where he will be playing and when. Johnson is the cousin of NBA star Marcus Camby and is looking to be a player/coach in the British Basketball League or English Basketball League. He admits he doesn't know too much about the current state of British basketball but has heard good things. He said: 'I've always wanted to go to England but I don't know a lot about the basketball league, I have a friend at the Worcester Wolves and he has told me there is lot's of positives.' 'I've played basketball since I was little obviously having Marcus Camby as a cousin I was always in that sort of environment.' Johnson revealed he had been in talks with various BBL and EBL clubs and is hoping a move can be agreed in the coming days. He also thinks that it is important to get young people involved in sport. He added: 'One thing I would like to