Ireland's men coach Mark Keenan is hopeful of a bright future for basketball in the country as his side prepares for two crucial games in their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifiers campaign.
On Thursday, the Irish play Switzerland in Fribourg, followed by a home game against Cyprus at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin next Sunday.
Austria are also in the four-team group, with the winner of each and the best runner-up across the three groupings qualifying for the next phase.
Keenan's troops began their campaign with a win away to the Cypriots, before a loss at home to Austria.
The head coach is hoping that the Ireland will give it a "good rattle" against the Swiss ahead of a home date and the support of a vocal crowd for the return clash with Cyprus.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "We're slowly getting everybody back and trying to build momentum and positivity within the squad for these games.
"It was a great start to the campaign (against Cyprus), we played particularly well that night. We were then a little bit flat against Austria. There are lessons to be learned in that type of international window, recovery from the Thursday is huge.
"We need a win to keep ourselves in the hunt to qualify out of the group. That's our focus.
"The Swiss have had one win and one defeat.
"They were the top seed before any game was played. Top tier in Europe. Austria had a good victory against them. We can certainly go and compete against the Swiss. We're confident in our own ability and the players that we have. We're going to give it a good rattle.
"If we can play to our top level we'll push those teams all the way. We believe we have a chance of winning but we have to perform though."
The Ireland men's basketball team are preparing for a busy week in which they'll take on Switzerland and Cyprus in FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers games. #RTESport pic.twitter.com/OHnmpWnYt4
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 22, 2022
In the years 2010-2015, the Ireland's men side, because of financial difficulties, did not compete internationally. But with the domestic game on a high and success in last year's European Championship for Small Countries, there is a positivity around the men's game again.
"It's a good time again and we're trying to build momentum," Keenan added.
"The senior men's team need to be a shining light for young players that can aspire to come up through the age groups.
"[The Small Countries] was super. The team performed really well and outperformed all those teams in the summer. We put pressure on the association to move us up to the next level. It is a big challenge going up against Austria and Switzerland. We can't be making up the numbers, we have to have a real go at it.
"We've never had Irish guys playing professionally abroad before. There is a great crop of U-20 players coming through. The future is very bright if we manage it well and put resources behind the team. This is the start of something hopefully better to come."
