Basketball On The Internet.

THERE'S a strange irony to the fact Luke Nevill tomorrow night debuts with Townsville while across the country, Perth limps into its first match of this NBL season without Matt Knight.

In the words of one of The Phantom's old jungle sayings: For those who came in late - the Wildcats let Nevill go as a free agent after the 2011-12 season and in many pre-season conversations, the debate was how long Knight could stay healthy.

The track record isn't super great, not that a calf tear is something you can predict. But it will cost Knight about five weeks, including the All Star Game where he is polling sufficiently well to start for South at Adelaide Arena on December 22.

Meanwhile, Nevill will run out at last with the Crocs in what could be their unlucky 13th straight loss (lost last two semi final games last season after leading series 1-0 over New Zealand, then 0-10 this season) or their breakthrough first win.

STILL in Townsville, Larry Abney's arthroscopic knee surgery this week - NOT Luke Nevill's arrival - has led to the ageing import retiring.

It means he can start preparations for his new breakfast radio show with Russell Hinder but, like most radio shows, they need a softer, gentler third person to truly make it click.

You know, like we had Kim, Ali and Dzelde in Adelaide for a while, with Ali being the kindly voice. Or Rabbit, Cosi and Amber, with Amber providing that softer perspective.

I've got it!

To provide the serenity the new brekky format program needs, tune in soon for Rusty, The Birdman and Benny.

MIA Newley's career-high 31 points for Townsville against Sydney has won the former Lightning co-captain the WNBL Player of the Week honors for Round Eight.

Mia lit up the Flames in the Fire's red-hot 89-81 home win, knocking down 11-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Newley is enjoying career-best numbers, averaging 13.3ppg, with a three-point percentage at 45.2 and her free throw conversion rate at 94.1.

THE 2012 Australian Schools Championship tips off in Melbourne on Monday with more than 100 teams and 900 players hitting Knox and Kilsyth.

In the Championship Division, 16 schools will battle it out for the national title while more than 100 teams will contest the Invitational Division.

The Kilsyth Sports Centre, Knox Stadium and the new State Basketball Centre at Knox all will be utilised for the weeklong tournament which concludes tomorrow-week.

Olympic Bronze Medallist Jenna O’Hea is Honorary Patron of the series.

For full fixture and event information, hit www.asc2012.basketball.net.au

DUSTY Rychart and Aaron Grabau will chalk up their joint 700th NBL game on Sunday when the Taipans host Wollongong.

Dusty is up for Game #300 and Grabau for #400, both men's longevity speaking volumes for their value.

Let's hope Cairns can have an offensive explosion against the Hawks and maybe get to 60? (They have scored 58 and 59 in their two other games with Wollongong.)

NBL Players Association is bristling over the fines flung out in the aftermath of the Melbourne-Sydney fiasco two rounds back, saying there was a "denial of due process, without transparency and accountability".

In a statement from the NBLPA today, it said in part: "The NBL has recently issued fines to several players as a result of on court actions under Section 5.3 of the Rules and under Section 12, Rule 111.4 of the Rules relating to the NBL Tribunal and appeals to the NBL Commission.

"In essence, these sections empower the General Manager of the NBL to issue fines
arbitrarily, without due process, transparency or accountability. These powers were created
without consultation with the players and as such the NBLPA repudiates their legitimacy.

"Furthermore, the indiscriminate nature of the fines has left the players completely void of
understanding or awareness of what actions will be considered by the NBL as ‘fineable’.

"Therefore, the NBLPA finds the current situation untenable for the players, and as such have
advised all affected members to not pay any fines issued via this process until such time as a complete set of guidelines and processes is negotiated in conjunction with the players, clubs
and NBL."

Yeah. Good. And fair enough from an NBLPA standpoint. But if the league says: no fine payment = no play until it is done, what happens then?

SAD to hear today that Theo has passed away.

If you were ever in Albert Park Stadium, you surely saw the massive THEO'S MEATS sign on Court One, the lovable Greek businessman a great friend of the sport and all who played it.

His presence and support will greatly be missed.

REALLY looking forward to the first official lunch tomorrow of a newly created Independent Foundation designed to financially aid underprivileged young basketballers.

The brainchild of West Adelaide stalwart David Spear - who also was both an NBL and SEABL championship-winner as a player - its beneficiaries will be juniors in a fashion somewhat similar to the annual Pete's Bar Lunch's financial aid.

"A few years ago a parent of a child I was coaching in a state side suffered a life threatening stroke. As a self-employed person he suffered terribly financially," David said.

"His son, a very talented player, then faced the reality that given his dad's illness he may not be able to compete at the national championship.

"A bill of some $1,700 for him to compete had to be found at a time when putting food on the table was a daily chore, paying hospital bills grew by the day etc.

"This year two African lads made a State team. A bill of nearly $4,000 came to the family to try and get their boys to a national tournament.

"I am sure this will only get worse as the high cost of living continues to rise. Kids unable to pay for registration fees and therefore we lose them because as we all know, basketball is an expensive year-round sport."

Spear thought old and past players, coaches, umpires etc could help by raising monies, while having a good time to boot. He and former 36er, lawyer Karl Luke, are setting up the Foundation and its inaugural lunch is tomorrow.

Guest speaker? The one and only Ken Cole.

THAT leads into West Adelaide's celebrations on Saturday where some 35 members will be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame before the 30th anniversary of the Bearcats' 1982 NBL championship also is feted, most notably at halftime during the Adelaide 36ers-Sydney Kings game on Sunday at Adelaide Arena.

Any past and present Bearcat should get along to Port Adelaide Stadium on Saturday at 7pm for what will be a huge day in the history of SA's most successful senior basketball club.

You can check out a bit more about that here http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/adelaide-36ers-to-respect-west-adelaide-bearcat-legacy/story-fndekpx4- 1226526061478 and get along if you can.

THE NBL website is challenging fans to determine who they think will win the Slam Dunk competition at the All Star Game in Adelaide on December 22.

Had a bit on the contest in my online Around the NBL column if you want to take a squiz at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/around-the-nbl-set-to-soar-for-more/story-fndekpx4-1226526027166 ...or not, of course.

 

NBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 (8) CROCS - A long climb ahead but at least there's a new big guy to lead the way.

7 (7) TAIPANS - Another opportunity blown. Once again they say it will be THIS week.

6 (6) TIGERS - Just a few minutes of brain fade keeps Melbourne from moving forward.

5 (5) KINGS - A split road trip this weekend (or better) would allay any doubts.

4 (3) 36ERS - Drop a ranking spot just because of a bye? Well sorry but out of sight...

3 (1) BREAKERS - Welcome back to earth, with that hefty Perth thud.

2 (4) WILDCATS - Solid return-to-form but no Knight means life just got tough again.

1 (2) HAWKS - Great season start and finishing efficiency is truly admirable.

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 (9) WAVES - Still struggling to develop a winning culture because, well, that requires wins.

8 (7) FLAMES - Logan again this week. Third time lucky maybe?

7 (8) THUNDER - Pulled off the great escape last round but tougher this time around.

6 (6) FIRE - Season-defining road trip to Adelaide-Perth. Are they genuine contenders?

5 (5) BOOMERS - Still just staying above water and Bendigo won't be a pleasure cruise.

4 (4) LIGHTNING - Spluttering and must stall the slide or slip back to the pack.

3 (3) CAPITALS - Got to be happy with how season is unfolding but this could be a split round.

2 (2) SPIRIT - Very deep now and off to the best start in club history. No stumble in sight.

1 (1) RANGERS - The best talent in the competition, as Canberra will soon discover.

 

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

WHETHER the Adelaide fan base shows up in number on Sunday to support the 36ers against Sydney largely will hinge on how the Sixers open on the road against Townsville.

A loss to the 0-10 Crocs would probably drop the crowd for Sunday below 4,000 again but a win might see it climb back to 5,000. So much hinges on this game from the club's point-of-view.

That 30-point road loss on the Friday against Melbourne did zip for Sunday's home crowd against Perth. But, truthfully, this is exactly the type of game the 36ers historically lose, what with the Crocs all revved up suiting Luke Nevill and all.

But I'll take the punt that Adelaide is legit and pick them here.

Similarly, with the Wildcats down Matty Knight and The Buccaneer, I will take a chance on Sydney to continue its tremendous form and to get the upset at The Jungle.

I don't mean to diss James Harvey but perhaps his injury-forced absence was just the tonic Ben Madgen and Aaron Bruce needed to settle into a groove. Just a theory.

Belted by 25 last time at bat, New Zealand will be looking for a home-run at home and Melbourne looks incapable of giving the 40-minute effort it would take to keep this within upset parameters.

Fast forward to Sunday - because no-one wants to see an NBL game on a Saturday anymore - and I expect the 36ers to beat the Kings at Adelaide Arena and Cairns to promise the Earth against Wollongong, but deliver Uranus.

CANBERRA faces a tough weekend WNBL challenge and while it should beat Logan, Dandenong presents a much bigger basket full of problems which I cannot see the Caps overcoming.

If Townsville is to make any real noise, this weekend is the key to it and, with so many of its outfit completely at home in Adelaide (and Lightning missing Jenni Screen), this should be the game.

Sydney should finally beat its Logan curse, and West Coast, with Deanna Smith back, should be more competitive at home to Townsville but I still see the Fire winning.

Bendigo will beat Bulleen to conclude a ripper round.

 

LUC Longley, Luke Schenscher and Luke Nevill walk into the Eskimo Bar in Perth. The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "What is this? Some kind of joke?"