Men’s SBL Shootaround - Episode 2

We are back with our second episode of Men's SBL Shootaround and we had so much to discuss it's hard to imagine how we would have found time to cover the on-court action should there have been any!

SBL writer Chris Pike and six-time Grand Final, two-time championship winning coach Ben Ettridge teamed up once more to take a look at what the 2020 SBL season might still hold while then having our very first guest which was a fascinating interview with James Fitch before analysing how four teams were looking coming into the season and then having a discussion of our favourite basketball movies of all-time.

The James Fitch interview is one you don't want to miss. Coming out of the University of Idaho, he joined the South West Slammers in 1990 and never left, retiring in 2001. Along the way he played 315 games, won four championships and was named Grand Final MVP on three occasions.

He discusses all of that but also goes in-depth about why he still calls Bunbury home, talks about how he'd fare in today's game, how he is back involved at the Slammers with Mark Worthington and recalls some stories from during his career that simply must be heard to be believed. He and Ben Ettridge also recall some of their old battle stories for good measure.

On top of that, talk then turns to how the Cockburn Cougars, East Perth Eagles, Geraldton Buccaneers and Goldfields Giants were looking ahead of the 2020 SBL season.

The show then concludes with a discussion surrounding the favourite movies of all-time relating to basketball from both our listeners and co-hosts, and that's a discussion that can't be contained to just the one show!

Women’s SBL Shootaround - Episode 1

We are excited to release the first episode of Women's SBL Shootaround with a look at the impact of COVID-19, the cancellation of the 2020 season, what might pop up in its place and in-depth look at the basketball journey of the co-host.

SBL writer Chris Pike and Goldfields Giants 20-year Anniversary Team captain Randy Miegel have teamed up to bring you Women's SBL Shootaround for 2020 - and while there might not be an official season, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to talk about.

First up the discussion surrounds the impact COVID-19 has had on forcing the cancellation of the 2020 SBL season.

As a two-time Women's SBL Coach of the Year, Randy offers his unique insight into his thoughts on the decision, what it means for the competition and players overall, and what might still possibly happen this year in place. He also comes from the perspective as the father of a current player.

It's then time for an in-depth chat with Randy about his remarkable basketball journey that began at Murray Bridge in South Australia before he headed to the Sunshine Coast and then came to Kalgoorlie where he was a player and coach at the Goldfields Giants.

He resurfaced to coach the Mandurah Magic for five years in the Women's SBL up until the end of 2018 taking them to two Grand Finals which they were heartbreakingly close to winning.

There's all of that and much more as we begin this journey on Women's SBL Shootaround.

Men’s SBL Shootaround - Episode 1

Welcome to the first ever episode of Men's SBL Shootaround. There might not be an SBL season officially going ahead in 2020, but that doesn't mean there isn't still plenty to talk about and that's what we are here to do.

SBL Writer Chris Pike and a man with a remarkable legacy in the SBL as a player and coach, Ben Ettridge, have teamed up initially to dissect everything that happened in the 2020 SBL season. But now instead we will look to help fill the void of not having a competition at all thanks to COVID-19!

The first episode of Men's SBL Shootaround begins with a discussion about the show and how it came about, and what we will look to bring to our listeners and West Australian basketball fans throughout 2020.

We then discuss The Last Dance documentary and all aspects of that before taking an in-depth look at the decision to cancel the SBL season and the ramifications of that, and whether or not it was the right call in our eyes.

Rather than a special guest for this first episode, it's then time for a look back on the basketball journey of Ben Ettridge from growing up the son of a coach to his own playing career with the Cockburn Cougars, Willetton Tigers, Mandurah Magic and Perth Redbacks.

We talk about his great success coaching wheelchair basketball too and look at his incredible performance with the Joondalup Wolves where he coached for seven seasons for six Grand Final appearances, two championships and almost an 80 per cent winning record.

He left the Wolfpack at the end of 2019 and we discuss what was behind that and also why things didn't work out at the East Perth Eagles for 2020.

All that and plenty more plus a call out for your top five basketball movies which we'll discuss on our second episode!