DrinkWise Preview: NBL23 - Preseason v Brisbane Bullets

Written by Melbourne United Media

Melbourne United are set for their first taste of NBL competition on Thursday night when they face the Brisbane Bullets in Ballarat at 7pm.

The contest will bring an exciting close to United’s four day training camp in the regional hub, and will be the first time for a number of the side’s new additions to suit up for Melbourne.

This will be the first of two games United and the Bullets will play against each other this week, with the second coming on Saturday evening in Casey.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting their new NBL23 home jerseys, all eyes will be firmly locked on Melbourne’s fresh faces as they run out with their teammates for the first time.

Perhaps the most intrigue will be around former NBA highlight-machine Rayjon Tucker, who has turned heads with his elite athleticism and toughness.

With 39 games of NBA experience to go along with a stellar career in the G-League, ‘Tuck’ is hoping to provide an elite scoring punch and energy boost to what was already one of the league’s most formidable defensive teams.

KEY MATCHUP

Despite some key names missing for the Bullets, fans are set for a big-time matchup between two of the game’s best shooters in United’s Chris Goulding and Brisbane’s Jason Cadee.

Fresh of an NBL1 North championship with the Gold Coast Rollers, where he averaged 29.5 points and 10.5 assists over two games, Cadee will be aiming to maintain his hot form.

He will however have his hands full going up against CG43, who has used this pre-season to continue sharpening his skill as one of the game’s most deadly shooters.

Goulding will look to build off another strong campaign, which saw him knock down more triples than anyone else in the league, while averaging over 15 points per game.

THE OTHER GUYS

Without big name stars like Aron Baynes and Nathan Sobey, the responsibility will fall on Brisbane’s young players to lift the team to a strong pre-season performance.

Returning forward Tanner Krebs will look to use the chemistry he built in the NBL1 playing with Cadee and new addition DJ Mitchell, while Kody Stattmann will get his first taste of NBL action after a strong college career.

GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets

Tip off: 7pm (AEST), Thursday 8 September, 2022

Where: Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat

Tickets: Available here

Watch: Melbourne United Website and YouTube channel

Melbourne United

#1 Zac Triplett - Guard (Development Player)
#4 Brad Newley - Guard/Forward

#5 Josh Duach - Guard (Development Player)

#7 Isaac Humphries - Center

#9 Malith Machar - Forward (Development Player)

#11 Xavier Rathan-Mayes - Guard

#13 Makuach Maluach - Guard/Forward

#15 Ariel Hukporti - Center (Next Star)

#20 David Barlow - Forward (Non-rostered player)

#24 Jordan Caroline - Forward

#35 David Okwera - Forward

#43 Chris Goulding - Guard

#59 Rayjon Tucker - Guard

#61 Lachlan Barker - Guard

Brisbane Bullets

#88 DJ Mitchell - Forward

#96 Gorjok Gak - Forward/Center

#85 Lual Diing - Guard/Forward

#95 Devondrick Walker - Guard/Forward

#82 Jason Cadee - Guard

#81 Kody Stattmann - Guard

#93 Tyler Johnson - Guard

#87 Harry Froling - Forward/Center

#80 Tanner Krebs - Guard/Forward

#91 Rasmus Bach - Guard