Coming together key to win
Point guard Travis Trice (above) is only new to the Taipans’ road woes, featuring in the Snakes’ past two away losses, but he is adamant the playing group needs to come together if they are to earn a much-needed victory in Adelaide tonight. The Taipans’ loss last Saturday in Sydney makes it more than 350 days since the Taipans last won an away game. Two seasons ago, the Far North club went 9-5 on the road, which equalled the best road record in the NBL.
IF point guard Travis Trice can get the job done in front of 72,238 at the NCAA’s Final Four, the crowd in Adelaide tonight should hold no fears.
The Michigan State guard is only new to the Taipans’ road woes, featuring in the Snakes’ past two away losses, but he is adamant the playing group needs to come together if they are to earn a much-needed victory in Adelaide tonight.
The Taipans’ loss last Saturday in Sydney makes it more than 350 days since the Taipans last won an away game.
Two seasons ago the Far North club went 9-5 on the road, which equalled New Zealand with the best road record in the NBL, and both advanced to the grand final.
Since then the Taipans’ away games have looked more like a graveyard.
Cairns claimed their sole road win last season, fittingly, the last time they played in Adelaide on October 31, thanks to a Markel Starks buzzer-beater.
And, with seven out of first 10 games away in 2016-17, the Snakes better find out how to win away from Cairns or they will be well off the pace.
Trice, coaches Aaron Fearne and Gordie McLeod and teammates held a long team meeting before they flew to Adelaide yesterday morning.
“We need to really lock in,” Trice (pictured) said.
“You really need to come together as a team because you are going into an environment where it is you against everyone else.
“In those type of situations, you need to be close as a team.
“I don’t have a routine really. On the road as a team, we like to hang out in each other’s room or going out to eat.
“We need to stay close as a group.” WHEN: 6.30PM, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS, TITANIUM SECURITY ARENA 36ERS Jerome Randle Eric Jacobson Terrance Ferguson Adam Doyle Majok Deng Anthony Drmic Daniel Johnson Brendan Teys Matt Hodgson Nathan Sobey Coach Joey Wright
Trice, in his third game back from a knee injury, could be injected into the starting line-up tonight after spending more time with the starters at practice this week. That would mean stand-in starter Jarrad Weeks would go back to the bench. TAIPANS Fuquan Edwin Travis Trice Cameron Gliddon Mark Worthington Alex Loughton Jarrad Weeks Mitch McCarron Nnanna Egwu Nate Jawai Damon Heuir Stephen Weigh Coach Aaron Fearne
Veterans Stephen Weigh and Nate Jawai also trained more with the starting group this week and are a chance to regain familiar starting spots against the in-form 36ers.
Import duo Fuquan Edwin and Nnanna Egwu are likely to come from the bench if Weigh and Jawai are activated.
Trice said he was not worried if he was going to start or come from the bench tonight.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and get that first win of the year,” Trice said. “Our thing is that we just want to get rolling.
“I look forward to that challenge every night.”