The Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops

After the big announcement yesterday the Australian basketball world has been a buzz! Twitter conversations were all about it yesterday, people were talking about it on message boards and everyone was wondering what was going on and how it effects the NBL and its players.

If you missed the actual announcement, here's a clip from Sports Tonight:



A lot of people jumped to conclusions one way or the other despite only limited information being released about the event. Here are the main conversations about it:

OzHoops
Hoops SA

The press conference and the announcement were covered in most papers this morning and here are some of them:

Brisbane Times
Adelaide Now

And the first comment from an NBL player:
Townsville Bulletin
Its a pity they continue to spell Corey's nickname wrong (check the title).

I've just found that Jeff Van Groningen will be on Inside The Game TV with Kevin Brooks and Team Owner Brett Maher. The show is on from 6 - 7pm (I assume SA time) and they will no doubt be discussing the event, answering some of the questions that have been raised and dispelling some of the myths that are already out there.

Keep checking in here for more announcement regarding The Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops.

NBL tidbits

After a solid start to the work today, there's been a lull in the last hour or so which has given me the chance to see what's happening in the NBL.

Firstly, here's a story about the return to the court of ex-Brisbane Bullets guard CJ Bruton. After two off-season surgeries, expect CJ to start the season slowly but once he gets back to 100% expect the basketball shooting displays we're used to from him.

Positive Bruton ready for return | Stuff.co.nz

New Zealand Breakers star CJ Bruton is hoping that the pain of a couple of major off-season surgeries will translate into some serious gain on the Australian NBL court before too long.

The 33-year-old Aussie point guard has only just been able to resume full training after going under the knife over the off-season to have some work done on his ankle and elbow, both of which hampered him through the club's record-breaking 2008-09 campaign.


Then, while checking out the OzHoops board, someone mentioned this interview with ex-Brisbane Bullets and now Gold Coast Blaze head coach Joey Wright. I'm looking forward to heading down the freeway numerous times this season to see Joey, Big Joe, Gibbo and the rest of the Blaze in action. It will certainly be more entertaining (and no doubt more competitive) than the Blaze games I have seen over the last few years.

FIBA.com - News - Interviews

BRISBANE (NBL) - Brisbane Bullets championship coach Joey Wright has returned to Australian shores to coach the Gold Coast Blaze, and is a most welcome returnee, bringing up-tempo, exciting basketball back to the Coast. His mission is to take the Blaze from the NBL cellar to the top of the heap, just as he did with the Bullets.

He has coached some notable internationals in club competition, including Nigeria's Ebi Ere, Tall Blacks Dillon Boucher and Mika Vukona, and Australian greats Mark Bradtke (4 Olympics), CJ Bruton and Sam Mackinnon. This year at the Blaze he will coach 2002 FIBA World Championship All-Star Pero Cameron, Stankovic Cup MVP James Harvey and emerging Australian Boomers point guard Adam Gibson.

Wright always has some interesting views on world basketball, and FIBA's Paulo Kennedy caught up with Joey to talk about the contrasts between different countries.

New look NBL website

I noticed yesterday that the NBL has recently released a new look website. I haven't had a good chance to explore through it yet but checking out the OzHoops boards most people seem to like the new look of it but are still somewhat underwhelmed by the content and stats side of it.

I did like the Transaction Tracker they have at the bottom of the page. If you're not sure who's playing for your team this season or if you're trying to find out where someone's gone, that's the place to look.

In other NBL news, the Top End Challenge pre-season tournament gets underway in Darwin tomorrow. The big question is, who the f is the guy in the pic? Why wouldn't you use this opportunity to promote a player rather than a model?

Tim Coenraad signs with the Hawks

I've mentioned him a couple of times over the last few weeks but yesterday I got the news from Tux that Tim Coenraad (pictured right, from his college days in the US) had signed a contract with the Wollongong Hawks to play in the NBL. The news came to Tux from Tim's mum who he works with so I had the scoop a little earlier than most and it was a good chance to post on the OzHoops boards.

Tim has been averaging 24 points, 9.5 boards per game for the Northside Wizards in the QABL and had a great college career in the US so its great to see him get a shot in the NBL. I actually knew of Tim from his pre-US days as he was a development player with the Brisbane Bullets.

Coenraad should fit in nicely down in Wollongong as he's playing with old friends Rhys Martin and fellow Wizard Cameron Tragardh. All the best Tim, I hope you have a great season.

Wollongong ahm Hawks sign rookie Tim Coenraad

Rookie Tim Coenraad (pronounced Con-rad) has today been signed by the Wollongong ahm Hawks for the 2009/10 NBL Season.

After arriving into Wollongong this week for a three day trial with the team, Coenraad showed he has the skills, versatility and maturity to make his mark on the NBL this season.

“We’re very pleased to have Tim Coenraad join the Wollongong ahm Hawks this season, he is a promising talent who we believe can really develop under the guidance of our coaching staff and veteran players” Wollongong ahm Hawks CEO Wayne Morris said.

“He’s a mature young individual who has all the tools to make it at this level. He has had a standout college career and I believe he will definitely be one of the top rookies of this season.”

“We were all very impressed during his trial with the team this week. He came in with a focused and positive attitude and is very keen to learn from our coaching staff and on court leaders Mat Campbell and Glen Saville.” Morris added.

The 200cm Guard/Forward from Brisbane, Queensland has just returned from a stellar four year career at Nova South Eastern University (Florida, USA) where he led the team in scoring in his junior and senior year, while also gaining selection in the First team All Sunshine State Conference in his senior year.

Coenraad is currently playing with the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League alongside fellow Hawks Cameron Tragardh, currently averaging 24.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Wollongong ahm Hawks for my rookie season in the NBL. I’m really looking forward to being part of the program this year, there’s so much I can learn from our coaching staff and matching up against guys like Mat and Sav every day of the week.” Tim Coenraad said.

“While on trial I was able to get a sneak peak of Wollongong this week. The vibe around the club is very positive and the support from the community I hear is going to be fantastic this year.” “It’s great to be joining a club that is so rich in history and community support. Gordie took us through the history of the Hawks earlier this week and really made each of us feel a part of the club. We’ve got a great group of guys this season and we’re all ready to go to put on a good performance on court this season.” Coenraad added.