DrinkWise Preview: NBL26 - Round 15 v Tasmania JackJumpers

We will be looking for a measure of revenge on Saturday evening when we head on the road for our first game of 2026 against the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Having gone down to the team from the Apple Isle in the Open Air Game, the game will be an opportunity to re-take the advantage in the season series, which is currently squared at one game apiece.

In our previous game this season at MyState Bank Arena, we were able to come away with a thrilling four-point victory thanks to the late-game heroics of Milton Doyle.

WHAT’S THE WORD?

Sitting in second on the competition ladder going into Saturday, Head Coach Dean Vickerman said his side is still working on coming together to make up for absence of Shea Ili and Finn Delany.

“We’re building right now,” Vickerman said.

“We’ve got to try and win games without Finn (Delany) and Shea (Ili) at the moment and that's going to build really good depth within our squad.

“Once we get those two back, obviously our defence goes to another level.”

Set to play their fifth game in 12 days, Tasmania Head Coach Scott Roth touched on his team’s mindset going into the upcoming clash.

“The grind is real and we can’t do anything about it.” Roth explained.

“I feel very unfortunate that as a player in this league you’re put in a position to play that many games in a short amount of time… It’s quite stressful.

“I think all the teams are going through some patch of this in the coming weeks with a bunch of games on their doorstep and we’re just kind of getting to the end of that one.”

WHO’S HOT, WHO'S NOT

Suiting up in his 100th NBL game, Kyle Bowen has stepped in big moments across his tenure with us.

This was on full display in our last game, where the Vice Captain entered the starting lineup for the first time this season with Finn Delany out.

The versatile forward was pivotal in the win, tallying a season-high in points (14) and rebounds (8).

Bowen will likely spend extended time guarding JackJumpers forward Josh Bannan, who is coming off a strong performance of his own in their narrow New Year’s Eve loss to the Illawarra Hawks.

Bannan poured in 25 points and pulled down six rebounds in the two-point defeat.

DETAILS

Who: Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers

Tip-off: 8pm AEDT, Saturday 3 January, 2026

Where: MyState Bank Arena, Tasmania

Watch: ESPN

‍