Durham Wildcats have an opportunity to get back on the winning track this Sunday when they host Surrey United, who are in last place in the BBL at 4-16. Four straight losses for the Wildcats has put them on a more difficult path to return to the playoffs, but the team remains optimistic on their chances for success.
Even with their 7-14 record, the Wildcats are not too far from quickly jumping up the table. Above them, four teams have either eight or nine wins. Combine a Durham winning streak and multiple losses from either Manchester Giants, Bristol Flyers, Glasgow Rocks or the Sheffield Sharks and Head Coach Lee Davie and his squad can again find themselves in a relatively comfortable position heading towards the end of the season.
Despite Surrey United being in last place and not seeming to be threatening anyone for a playoff position, the Wildcats would very much enjoy owning the tie-breaker advantage over them with a repeat impressive home win.
Surrey United have undergone a significant roster transformation in the past two months since their 101-57 loss. After beating the Wildcats in the second go-around, Surrey was able to sneak past EBL foe Essex Leopards in the BBL Trophy. New additions to the squad have benefited Surrey’s defensive capabilities by a small, yet noticeable, margin. In the teams’ first meeting, The Wildcats want to continue to use their highly efficient two-point field goal shooting to their advantage. Behind only the Newcastle Eagles, Durham shoots 53.31 percent from the field. Davie and the Wildcats recognise that this strength of theirs needs assistance from the defensive end of the court, and they have since made adjustments to help give them more opportunities to score. The new defensive formula was implemented versus Worcester in the BBL Trophy match up and provided the Wildcats plenty of scoring opportunities as they battled toe-to-toe with one of the league’s best teams. It held Glasgow Rocks in check last Sunday before they began drilling three-point shots late in the game.
The Wildcats continue to show optimism and poise through each practice. As they welcome Surrey United to the Leisure Centre this Sunday 1st February, Durham will be eager to get another win in the column to boost their position and confidence.Tickets are now available through the Wildcats’ website www.godurhamwildcats.com or when the door opens at 3:00pm. Tickets for the 4:00pm tip-off this Sunday are £8 for adults and £6 for children with £20 family options available