Weekend Basketball preview

Ulster Elks' search for their first win of the season continues at home to Moycullen in the latest round of Nivea For Men's SuperLeague fixtures, while Neptune will be bidding to maintain their good form of late away to HOOPS.

UCC Demons welcome DCU Saints for the second time in a fortnight and the Southern Conference leaders UL Eagles are set for a trip to Belfast Star.

Ulster Elks' Irish international Ian O'Boyle is hoping Sunday's clash with Moycullen marks the end of their miserable start to the season.

'We are at a loss to how we haven't won a game yet,' said O'Boyle. 'We have to turn things around quickly. We have been working hard in training and we have to keep believing that we can get back on the right track.

'Sunday is going to be a really interesting game,' he added. 'They have proved they can compete at this level and will travel in confidence after getting their first win at home to UCD/Marian last weekend.'

Dylan Cunningham's three pointer on the buzzer last weekend was enough to signal Moycullen's first scalp of the season, a result which sparked huge celebrations in front of a packed NUIG.

'They (Ulster Elks) seem to have it all on paper and they are far better than their record suggests and we are under no illusions about the task ahead,' said Byrt. 'It was great to get the win against UCD/Marian but the players never lost confidence, kept working and got the result they deserved.'

Moycullen are still without the services of Garnett Griffin (knee injury) but Head Coach Byrt is hopeful the player will return before Christmas.

Neptune, who currently sit third in the Southern Conference, will be looking to thwart HOOPS this weekend by restricting their star duo Carlton Aaron and Phil Taylor.

'HOOPS have won two of their last three, and we'll have our hands full with Carlton Aaron and Phil Taylor, who pose an excellent inside-outside combination,' said Neptune Head Coach Pat Price.

'We are pleased with our improvements on the defensive end in the past three weeks and our bench has made valuable contributions. We are hoping for a very big performance from our forwards on Saturday night.'

A full strength HOOPS saw their recent revival halted at the hands of UCD/Marian but their Head Coach Ahmad Smith is pleased with his side's improvement after a dismal start.

'Two out of three wins is not bad and at least we are heading in the right directon,' said Smith. 'We are getting a little bit of consistency and we are not turning the ball over as much as we were doing at the start of the season.

'Neptune are on the rise,' he added. 'They didn't start too well but they have momentum with them and have the likes of Juwann James playing extremely well.'

UCC Demons will be looking to inflict more woe on DCU Saints after disposing them out of the National Cup in recent weeks.

'In our last match, they demonstrated that they are an excellent physical team,' said Demons Head Coach Luke D'Alessio. 'We must rebound well against them and limit our turnovers throughout the match. In order to win this game we have to play even better than our last game and our bench has to provide a spark for us.'

DCU Saints are sweating over the fitness of Eoin Quill, while Martins Provizors may also miss out again due to family commitments.

'Possibly missing Eoin and Martins doesn't make our task any easier as we work hard to get things right for Sunday' said Saints Guard Emmet Donnelly. 'Demons were the better team two weeks ago in the cup and we'll have to step up our game in order to give ourselves a chance.

'We have to believe we are capable but it's a matter of showing it on the day,' he added. 'We feel we left the Limerick game behind us a little bit so we're itching to get back on court.'

Rob McMurrin remains doubtful for Belfast Star's clash at home to UL Eagles, the only unbeaten side remaining in the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague.

UL's latest success came at home to DCU Saints but their Head Coach Tony Hehir was relived to come through their toughest test this season.

'DCU were very good but great team work saw us through in the end and thankfully we got the win,' said Hehir. 'We are by no means getting carried away as we face some of the toughest sides in the country over the next couple of weeks.'

Meanwhile, in the IrishSport.TV Women's SuperLeague, unbeaten duo UL and Team Montenotte Hotel Cork face Killester and Meteors respectively, while DCU Mercy make the short trip to Tolka Rovers.

UL are boosted by the return of April Cahalane, but the league leaders will be without the services of Lorraine Scanlon and Rhiannon McNulty as they face a potentially tricky clash in the shape of Killester.

Tolka Rovers continue to be without the services of experienced campaigner Emma Dyer ahead of their clash at home to DCU Mercy.

Meteors are without long term injury absentee Nicky O'Brien (Achilles), while Lorraine Scully is a doubt (back injury) ahead of Sunday's tough clash with Team Montenotte Hotel Cork.