Wolves @ Riders – BBL Championship preview

Saturday 20th October

Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders vs Worcester Wolves

Saturday’s meeting at the JSSC between the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders and the Worcester Wolves marks the first time the two clubs have gone head-to-head since last seasons April encounter which finished 93-71 to Worcester.

A new season has brought with it a number of roster changes with Worcester losing top performers in 2011/12 Richie Gordon and Tommy Freeman while Leicester saw former MVP candidates Ayron Hardy and Cameron Rundles depart. The Riders continued their streak of recruiting hidden gems by signing a quintet of potential stars, as Wolves recruited high scoring small forward, Alex Owumi, amongst others.

Worcester enter their seventh game of the season with an inconsistent 3-3 record, but any frustrations Coach James may have over a lack of form may be tempered by the high scoring bench who currently average 45 points per game – 53% of Worcester’s total output.

The ‘team contribution’ that Worcester are adopting early in the season will be tested to the fullest on Saturday as they face a Riders side who haven’t yet missed a beat, picking up where they left off last season, as they look to once again challenge for silverware this season.

Led by new centre, John Fraley’s dominant 20.7 ppg (on a superhuman 77% from the field) and 13 rpg, Coach Paternostro’s Riders are one of only three teams to remain unbeaten this campaign, going 3-0 over the first month of the season.

With both sides looking to improve on their respective second and third place finishes last year, this early season encounter at the John Sandford Sports Centre has the potential for a classic.