DrinkWise Preview: NBL26 - Play-In Qualifier v Tasmania JackJumpers

The postseason is here!

Our season will be on the line this Thursday evening when we take on the Tasmania JackJumpers inside of John Cain Arena from 7:30pm.

Carrying some strong form, which includes a momentum-building Throwdown will to close the regular season, we come into the matchup full of confidence.

For the JackJumpers, injuries and a pair of heavy defeats have caused many to write off the sixth-seed, however the team from the Apple Isle thrive when underestimated.

WHAT’S THE WORD?

With the team’s defence back to its suffocating best, United Head Coach Dean Vickerman said he is pleased with how the team has performed leading into Thursday.

“The last eight games of the year, we got back to statistically being the best defensive team,” Vickerman explained. 

“So that's always a good place and a good base for us. We’ve been really working on our offensive confidence and how in big moments we space the floor.”

Previewing the matchup, Tasmania Head Coach Scott Roth knows what sort of challenge stands before his team.

“They’ve got a great group of players over there,” Roth said of United.

“We're going to have to be obviously on point. We don't have much room for error, but we still feel like we can go in there and cause some problems.”

WHO’S HOT, WHO'S NOT

With the JackJumpers missing their best rim-protector in Will Magnay, Jesse Ewdards could be poised for a big performance in the Play-In Qualifier.

Going against Tasmania in Round 17, Edwards was dominant, scoring 21 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, blocking two shots and coming away with two steals.

One of those blocks came against JJ’s star Josh Bannan, who has played some of his best basketball of the season in Magnay’s absence.

Across his final seven games, Bannan averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.

DETAILS

Who: Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers

Tip-off: 7:30pm AEDT, Thursday 5 March, 2026

Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Watch: ESPN 

Tickets: On sale now!

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