Basketball: Leicester Riders put 50-week unbeaten home record on line
Leicester Riders put a proud record on the line tomorrow with the visit of Sheffield Sharks to their second home, Loughborough University (4.0).
Jelson Homes DMU-backed Riders have not been beaten on their own court in 50 weeks, including three games in Loughborough, which is by far the club's best-ever run of success.
The game is being played at the university's Sir David Wallace Sports Hall, instead of the normal home venue of the John Sandford Centre, in Leicester, to accommodate live TV coverage.
"It's a nice atmosphere," said coach Rob Paternostro of the county venue.
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"The club's staff have done a good job of making that a nice game-night experience. It's not our normal home and everyone knows how successful we've been at John Sandford, but we've been thrilled with the atmosphere in Loughborough.
"We've had some very good performances over the last year at home, obviously a lot of that is the enthusiastic crowd that we have had."
Sheffield come into the game in their best run of form this season having won five of their last seven games.
"I think with the addition of BJ Holmes, they seem to have a good balance now," said Paternostro.
"I think he's done a good job of running the point and also (Demetrius) Jemison wasn't with them at the start of the season. He's played very well and those two joined a talented group."
Holmes made his debut for Sharks against Riders in the BBL Cup semi-final. He has now settled into the squad is their second leading scorer as well as being among the best in steals and assists.
Riders have already beaten Sharks three times this season, including a record 30-point success in December. Leicester have, in fact, won the last eight meetings between the sides dating back to 2011, their best-ever run against Sheffield.
Paternostro said: "We know their team well having played them in cup semi-finals as well as the league, but they will have changed. It's been almost two months since we last played them, so we understand they will be a different team from then."
Riders: Okoro, Couisnard, Stewart, Sullivan, Calvo, Hopkins, Taylor, Anderson, Washington, Lamble, Haggith, Gould, Dawes, Maynard, Losonsky, Rowe.
Sharks: Brownell, Gordon, Williams, Holmes, Lewis, Gachette, Tuck, Babalola, Jemison, Sing, Bridge.
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