Intro
The trophy returns for it’s third season with new naming right sponsors. The regional group pits all 14 NBL D1 clubs and includes two D2 invitational spots with Charnwood and former D1 side Oaklands Wolves competing as part of their regular season preparations.
The format
Four regionalised, single legged groups with the top two sides advancing to the round of eight. All games up until the final take place before the regular season.
Especially from a media perspective preparation for this season has been hindered with the fixtures coming out late, there is likely to be less hype around this year’s competition with many teams deciding not to stream their games.
With the league only releasing fixtures a few weeks ago there is a chance some teams may have been unable to register players in time.
The Sponsors
KitKing are a Loughborough based brand and you can find out more by clicking the link here!
Group 1
This will be first opportunity for fans of the four-time reigning champions to see this seasons Team Solent Kestrels‘ new look side, as long as they attend the SSC. Solent had their pre-season game behind closed doors and do not have any of their home trophy games streamed.
They face a double header with familiar faces on the opposing side in game one with Worthing Thunder coming to town. Thunder have to date recruited four champions from last season’s Solent side.
They then head to the capital on Sunday to face London Lions II. This will be streamed and will be a litmus test of both side’s credentials to challenge for Top-eight spots. Lions have had a productive preseason trip to Spain for both their men’s and women’s D1 rosters and will fancy their chances on Sunday.
Worthing are also back in action on Sunday as they travel to Essex Rebels, both of Sunday’s games at 2pm will be streamed. Links will be posted below once announced.
Essex will likely struggle this weekend but will definitely feel confident of getting out of group 1 with some good recruitment and keeping much of the core of last season’s side.
Worthing Thunder head in to this trophy as overwhelming favourites to top the group with an impressive recruitment in Zaire Taylor’s maiden season as Head Coach.
The fight for second place could well be the most intriguing across all four regional groups.
Group 1 Q&A
Ahead of this weekend’s games I spoke to Rebound’s first Kent Baller Dunk Contest champion Solent’s Kai Walker and London Lions II Head Coach James Vear, Coach Vear was also involved in the first inaugural Rebound All-Stars game as Team Blain’s Head Coach.
Kai Walker on a busy summer:
“Summer has been good, having some time off and spending time with my family, while also getting myself ready for the season. The Hoopsfix PRO AM was good to see guys at the top level compete and everyone at the same place and same time”.
Kai Walker on prep and facing former team mates:
“Prep at Solent has been good, just getting ready for a long season ahead. Ready to battle and go for it all! Not much talk going on. We just focussed on what we need to do to get the win.”
On what are some of the things the side are looking for from the opening trophy games, Kai said “we are looking to gel more and more as a team, and have a good start to games ready for the regular season.”
Coach Vear on the pre-season trip to Spain and where his side is at in terms of preparation.
‘Spain was really good, we got to spend two weeks as an academy to just concentrate on basketball. We have made good strides early in preseason, but we know the season is a marathon and not a sprint. And we know that getting better everyday is our goal at the moment.
Coach Vear on facing a much changed Solent D1 side.
“I’m expecting a tough opponent in Solent, I got to watch their D2 team from last season quite a few times. They have a lot of talent on that team who will do very well in D1 this coming season.”
Fixtures
Saturday 16:00 Team Solent Kestrels v Worthing Thunder Live Stats, No stream, but updates from us on social media.
Sunday 14:00 London Lions II v Team Solent Kestrels Live Stats, Stream link
Sunday 14:00 Essex Rebels v Worthing Thunder Live Stats, Stream link
Group 2
Thames Valley Cavaliers are likely favourites to lead this group with D2 Oaklands Wolves, Reading Rockets and Westminster Warriors making up Group 2. Thames Valley Cavaliers have already had significant preparation already, following the Taylor Classic, and winning the 1-1 tie by aggregate score.
With plenty of changes on court Coach Banks has recruited some great talent from across the league and rumoured to still have a few more to announce.
Reading Rockets faced a talented USA select and just came up short. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II meant they withdrew from the Taylor Classic. They are however involved in the Marriott invitational on Saturday as part of their preseason.
Westminster Warriors return to D1 on the first time of asking after an amazing unbeaten D2 season. Their game versus Reading Rockets this weekend could dictate who gets 2nd place.
Oaklands Wolves will use this group to forget about last season’s attempt in the league as they look to bounce back to D1 at the first time of asking.
Group 2 Q&A
Chris checked in with Westminster Warriors’ Chuck Duru.
Chuck Duru on how the group feel about returning to D1:
“We’re very excited to be in back in division 1, where we believe the club belongs and our aim is to be competitive in our return”
With the first game re-uniting Chuck Duru with former employers Reading Rockets. Chris quizzed Chuck on what to expect from his former side, and whether the context of the stature of the club’s in this group, whether this game takes on any added importance? It is likely that the winner of this match up with likely finish in the top-two.
Chuck Duru on facing Reading:
“I am especially excited for this match up with my old team! I expect a well coached and very drilled Rockets team. They have a mixture of experience in my old teammates Lewis, Reis and Ben, along with their new imports so they will be a tough test. I am confident however if we play 40 minutes of good basketball we can win the game.
Chuck Duru on the importance of the Reading game as a potential decider to advancing the group stage:
“It definitely does. But we are focused on one game at a time. We don’t want to overlook Oaklands and we know TVC will be a tough test, but we need to be focussed on being the best versions of ourselves”.
Fixtures
Saturday 16:15 Oaklands Wolves v Thames Valley Cavaliers Live Stats, No stream
Sunday 16:00 Reading Rockets v Westminster Warriors Live Stats, Stream link
Group 3
There is only one game in the Group this weekend, Group 3 comprises Hemel Storm, Nottingham Hoods, Loughborough and Charnwood.
In the only fixture this weekend top-four side Nottingham head to Hemel in the late fixture on Sunday.
Midlands side Nottingham will be suiting up without Head Coach Ben Stanley, now of Team Solent Kestrels making Nottingham a bit of an unknown quality with also a few changes on the court. Leader Victor Olarerin swapped to the black and gold of Thames Valley.
Last season’s Play-off finalist and 6th placed Hemel Storm have recruited around MVP candidate Taylor Johnson re-uniting him with former Dartmouth and Thames Valley Cavaliers teammates. Sunday’s clash between Hemel and Nottingham could be a good indicator for both side.
Charnwood and Loughborough form part of the player pathway for BBL side Leicester Riders. Both have already faced each other in preseason
Group 3 Q&A
Chris Hughes checks in with Hemel Storm’s Assistant Coach Michael Darlow following an exciting off season. Loughborough’s Ben Woog also checks in after getting a promotion from Charnwood Academy.
Coach Darlow on the recruitment process, preseason and being ready for the trophy:
” I can not wait for it all to begin to be honest! Preseason has been a lot of fun, the new faces have gelled with the old, we have come together as a group and I am looking forward to seeing us compete on Sunday. Recruitment is always a crazy period, it is like piecing a jigsaw puzzle together and we have a desired outcome of how we wanted our team to look, and I feel we have achieved that. Hoods, Loughborough and Charnwood are going to be a stern test to open the season but we are ready?
Ben Woog on Pre-season:
“Pre-season has been great! Very solid group of players with many different skill sets. First week back was a lot of conditioning, getting everyone back in shape and then we started to play. Putting in some new plays for this year, but also meeting one or two new faces”.
Ben Woog on aspirations and stepping up from Charnwood:
“Our group is ready to push for the play-offs and we are all motivated to make that happen.
The change from Charnwood to Loughborough is quite the difference with physicality and skill wise, as I am going from players of 19 (years) and no older to now a league full of all ages and experience. I am confident I can match the physicality and the skill level, the skill level is much different as there’s so many experienced players and high skill sets so being able to learn and play against these kind of players will really benefit my growth as a player”.
Ben Woog on group rivals:
“Charnwood is a team full of young players with some skilled, as expected, so I think as much as we should not underestimate them, we should look to use this game as one to go over our motions and sets so when we come up against Hemel we know what we have to do.
As for Nottingham they have lost a few players in their roster for this year, but they are still a strong team adding some new faces, I think they will do well this year again. We can definitely challenge them this year and it will be exciting to play them in the KitKing Trophy.
Ben Woog on Hemel… “They are one of the best teams in the league so they will be pushing for the Trophy. We can give them a game and take advantage of this fixture to give us a clear image of how structured we are and our capabilities against the top teams in Division One this year”.
Fixtures
Sunday 18:00 Hemel Storm v Nottingham Hoods Live Stats, No stream
Group 4
The reigning champions of the Trophy and last season’s top-four side Derby Trailblazers are now pitted in an all-D1 group with Myerscough not involved in this year’s trophy.
Recently promoted Manchester Magic face a baptism of fire as they travel to Derby for the first game. The young side recruited Greg Wild but will face tough challenges with Bradford Dragons and Team Newcastle University to entertain as part of Group 4.
Derby Trailblazers will miss Blake Bowman but otherwise have recruited really well.
Saturday’s game between Bradford and Newcastle could well determine who gets second place with Derby the favourites on paper. Both sides have made promising signings in the off season, especially Bradford by securing BBL star Jordan Wheelan.
Group 4 Q&A
Chris Hughes caught with Derby Trailblazer’s new signing Jase Harrison ahead of their double header with Manchester and Bradford.
Jase on playing in the first Rebound All-Stars game:
“It was such an honour to be part of the first All-Star group, the whole event was great and the game was fun and competitive. Its is just nice that a league that is constantly growing and bringing in more and more talented players, that there is an event to showcase all of that. It is a huge part of creating more UK basketball fans and plus it is always nice to be recognised for your efforts. We can’t thank everyone enough who played a role in making it happen.”
Jase on his thoughts on swapping London to Derby before and after making the decision:
“Derby is a little more quiet than London. It is a great change of pace for me and a good opportunity to regroup and refocus. I was unaware of how big the club was overall, something like 19 teams this year. They’ve been creating a successful program for years now and itb is great to be in such a big family-feel environment.
Jase on preseason:
“Preseason has been great! Finally getting all the guys together and building team chemistry”
Jase on the group’s feelings after winning the trophy last season:
“Confident and motivated. It is clear from the energy of the guys the goal is to repeat. We have something to prove. With all the movements this off-season, Derby has remained relatively the same, coming off the success of last season, there is an excitement within the team for the opportunity we have to out and not just compete but win.”
Finally, Jase on the preparation for the double header weekend:
“We are looking to really set the tone to be honest. It is about us, and coming together as a team and just enjoying competing together. The pieces are there we just have to put them together.”
Fixtures
Saturday 18:15 Bradford Dragons v Team Newcastle University Live Stats, Live Stream (FB page)
Saturday 19:30 Derby Trailblazers v Manchester Magic Live Stats, No Stream
Sunday 17:00 Derby Trailblazers v Bradford Dragons Live Stats, Possible stream
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