http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/article2915061.ece

Ulster basketball has received a huge boost with Jordanstown becoming the second team in the elite All Ireland superleague.

Yesterday, coach Deirdre Brennan formally announced the decision of the University of Ulster to back the club in competing in the superleague and they will immediately go into a derby clash with Belfast Star on the opening game of the season on October 7.

For the past two years Jordanstown been competing in Division One but when Basketball Ireland brought in a new structure of purchasing licences in order to compete at the highest level they decided to make their bid.

Coach Brennan, wife of former Irish international Gareth Maguire, is relishing the opportunity of taking on the best in Irish basketball but for her and the university it is about much more than that.

"This year is going to be a tough year on the court because we are stepping up another three levels from the standard in Division One but we have a long term goal of not just success as a club but in developing local players," said Brennan. "We are delighted that the university has backed us. Basketball is one of seven focus sports at the university which has a vision of becoming the top sports university on the island of Ireland.

"To do that they know they have to be competing in national competitions and at the highest level."

Jordanstown have already acquired their two American players for the season in 6ft 6' Adrian Gross and 6ft 5' Bryan Nieman, from Coastal California University and NC State university, respectively. Brennan added: "We have been able to tie in our American players with scholarships at the university so they will be studying masters degrees as well as playing for us and taking part in our basketball outreach programmes which are about developing the sport in Ulster.

"The clubs we have links with like Belfast Storm, Blackstone Ballymena and Knights have all seen the benefit of how players have developed in recent years with us and we hope to keep that going.

"Of course in this league the performances of your American players are crucial but we are not about going out and bringing a load of foreigners to play. We want to see our Irish players develop and we have two new young players in Paddy McGaharan and Matt McColgan who we are very excited about.

"And we are in for a real test in the first game against Star. It seemed it just had to be Star in the first match. It's our home game but they play in our arena as well so it's not quite the same. I'm sure the gym will be packed out for that one and I would like to think that we are going to have some of the old spice back that we had in Ulster when Star were competing against the likes of Dungannon and Queen's who are no longer in the league.

"It's going to make this year much more exciting for basketball here and I just hope that we can make our mark but it's going to be a steep learning experience for everyone and we are ready for that."

9/4/2007 4:19:18 PM

Sounds like a horrible league, but it is still amazing that Neiman will be playing professional basketball in any league.

9/4/2007 4:22:06 PM

This is fucking huge for Ulster. I've been a fan of theirs for a long time--ever since they drafted Doboslav Nicoletsky. They've done reasonably well in recent years but have really struggled in close games due to their lack of a go-to-guy in late game situations. The addition of Nieman not only gives them 20 points and 10 rebounds a night, it also brings an intimidation factor that Ulster has lacked since the retirement of Gore Yepbrinovic. Neiman brings a physical presence that will help boster the teams already impressive front line. Hopefully this pick will make up for Ulster blowing their last pick on Urov Stakoviak -- we all remember how that turned out, lol.

I smell the playoffs this year!

9/4/2007 4:28:34 PM

OMFG put it in the NCState basketball thread.


j/k... this is pretty cool. congrats to nieman.

9/4/2007 4:29:27 PM

This is fucking huge for Ulster. I've been a fan of theirs for a long time--ever since they drafted Doboslav Nicoletsky. They've done reasonably well in recent years but have really struggled in close games due to their lack of a go-to-guy in late game situations. The addition of Nieman not only gives them 20 points and 10 rebounds a night, it also brings an intimidation factor that Ulster has lacked since the retirement of Gore Yepbrinovic. Neiman brings a physical presence that will help boster the teams already impressive front line. Hopefully this pick will make up for Ulster blowing their last pick on Urov Stakoviak -- we all remember how that turned out, lol.

I smell the playoffs this year!

9/4/2007 4:37:52 PM

fuck yes nieman, gg

9/4/2007 4:42:09 PM

i know it's new to tdub, but this is really fucking [old].

9/4/2007 5:17:55 PM

NC State runs European basketball.

9/4/2007 8:28:56 PM

there are pro leagues all over the world that our chaps can compete in

9/4/2007 10:51:12 PM

Nieman?

for cereal?

[Edited on September 4, 2007 at 10:57 PM. Reason : really?]

9/4/2007 10:56:48 PM

good now he'll have more money i can take from him in poker

9/4/2007 11:22:07 PM