Hoops

Big V Champ Women: Season Preview

Even if they don't make it this year they certainly have the makings of a great side with so much youth involved, problem is when those youth players start heading off to college in USA or uni in Vic, and the o,der ones become just that bit too old, they will need to continually rebuild, but good luck to them hope they have a great season

The Southern Peninsula Sharks women have enjoyed a dream start in Big V’s top flight, making it to the Easter break undefeated and sitting pretty in third spot on the State Championship ladder.

While it is still very early going, the question needs to be begged – are the Sharks the real deal in 2015?

Are Southern Peninsula the real deal in SCW?

Bulleen women also sign a new import for the season:

Bulleen women secure import Taylor Hall

Warrandyte sign a former collegiate star and WNBA player!

Venom women announce signing of Chastity Reed

Basketball Australia are looking at a second tier to run between state league comps and the NBL. Boti reports:

WAYNE Carroll was a hard man to defend going to the basket but he has a tough job ahead driving Basketball Australia's "Euroleague" style second tier competition plan.

As BA's new high performance general manager, the Hall of Fame dual-Olympian will be working with the second-tier SEABL competition and the many - and varied - state leagues to devise a coordinated national competition structure.

"What we need to have beneath the NBL is feeder systems," BA chief executive Larry Sengstock said.

"That will be Wayne's job, getting the pathway right so when the kids turn 17-18 and they're looking at footy, basketball, they can see our pathway.

Full article: Plan for a Number 2 tier

Unless I've misread the concept, I think they've got it all wrong. The NBL, either now or with a couple more teams, should not be the top tier. And Norwood, Sturt, Forestville - these teams should not be tapped to spend up on flights and rosters that will get them into a more expensive competition.

Paul, who regularly posts here, has what I think is a very smart plan that I'd like to see him publish and get some support for.

A second tier is the right way to go but, IMO, it should be above the NBL. The NBL should be the 'community tier' for bottom-end NBL sides Cairns, and Wollongong, smaller capitals like Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, and new community-based teams in Victoria, NSW, QLD, etc.

A new blockbuster comp (big launch, television deals, marquee signings) should come in above the NBL and the seasons should be staggered so that some players could play in both competitions (maintaining their earnings while spreading their costs across two rosters).

Better to keep, say, the Hawks where they are and add a new level above that, than bring in a lower tier and potentially push a battling side down a level.