Wildcats star backs JackJumpers coach Scott Roth
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth received a huge vote of confidence from a rival NBL club when a Wildcats star said the experienced American was the perfect man for the Tassie NBL team’s top job.
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JACKJUMPERS coach Scott Roth received a huge vote of confidence from a rival NBL club yesterday when Wildcats star Todd Blanchfield said the experienced American was the perfect man for the Tasmanian NBL team’s top job.
Ahead of their historic clash with the New Zealand Breakers at the Silverdome tonight _ the first regular season NBL game in Tasmania since 2005 _ the Wildcats touched down in Launceston yesterday morning and headed to Elphin Sports Centre for a shake-down.
The Breakers arrived last night to make Tasmania their home base for six games.
Blanchfield, the Wildcats’ 200cm veteran who made his NBL debut for the Townsville Crocs in 2009, said the JackJumpers would thrive under Roth, a former assistant-coach at Perth.
“He’s a great bloke and he will do a great job as coach and getting a whole new organization off the ground,” he said.
“He’s working to get a whole new squad together to it will be exciting to see what he can do.”
The Wildcats’ winning streak continued with a six-point win over Sydney Kings in Perth on Thursday and ended with a six-point loss to the 36ers in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Breakers head to Tasmania on the back of a six-point loss to Melbourne United on Saturday.
Roth is expected to go recruiting in NBL ranks once the season is done, and Blanchfield said the Wildcats may not be immune.
“He’s got to get 10 of 12 news players and they’ve got to come from somewhere,” he said.
Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson expects a better display against the Breakers after their effort in Adelaide.
“Adelaide were hungry for it. We were sitting back, placid, and I was really disappointed that we started the game down by 11 and had to fight back,” he said.
The Breakers-Wildcats game is at 7.30pm.
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