Wolves @ Tigers – BBL Championship preview
The Mersey Tigers are looking to get their season under way on Friday 26th October when they host the erratic Worcester Wolves at the Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30PM.
The Tigers have struggled to compete in their opening five fixtures, setting league lows per game in: points scored (52.3), field goal percentage (37.4%), field goals (17.3), 3 point field goal % (22.4), free throw % (52.6), free throws (6.7), offensive rebounds (7.3), defensive rebounds (17.3), total rebounds (24.7) and assists (10.7). The Tigers lead two categories but both are detrimental to them: Points against (97.3) and turnovers (19).
With statistics like that highlighting the Tigers flaws and areas to be worked on, it is no surprise that they are losing games by an average of 47.6 points per night. The last meeting with the Wolves was on Saturday 13th October when the Wolves handed the Tigers only their third heaviest defeat of the season when they beat them 98-48.
But all is not lost for the Tigers. The season is still young and with the promise of additional players to come before the seasons end, all is not lost for the Merseyside club.
One player who has started his BBL career promisingly, is centre Rudy Etilopy, who has led the team in scoring in his only two appearances with the club. The 6’10 centre has improved the clubs rebounding as well as given them a scoring presence both inside (10 points in the paint vs WW) and outside (two 3’s and one jumper outside the paint vs MG) and despondent Tigers fans will be hoping for a continuation of that form over the coming weeks.
Worcester Wolves, at 6th place in the league are chasing a winning record, having won 3 and lost 4 games so far this season.
One of those wins came against the Mersey Tigers in the team’s last meeting at the University of Worcester, where the Wolves blew the Tigers out by 50 points. Coach Paul James commented at the time:
“This was a great opportunity to play some players that wouldn’t normally get as much court time, with the extended minutes it allowed me to see what they can do both offensively and defensively and I thought they handled themselves very well.”
The Wolves leading scorer Alex Owumi, who is one of only four BBL players who has featured more than once in the BBL’s team of the week, was accompanied in the team by this week’s surprise entry Daniel Belgrave – who has recently secured a starting role in Prezzie Blue’s absence.
Stanley Ocotti who is 4th in the league in rebounding, averaging 9.1 a game will be looking to dominate the boards once again in the teams clash on the 26th.
