Eight decide fate: No surrender for undermanned JackJumpers

Ever since they first entered the Hungry Jack’s NBL competition during the 2021-22 season, the Tasmania JackJumpers have embraced the ‘Defend the Island’ slogan.

That ‘us against everyone else’ is ingrained in their culture and helped them win their maiden Championship in NBL24.

Now entering the NBL26 Finals, the injury-hit sixth-seeded JackJumpers are embracing that mindset ahead of their Play-In Qualifier against Melbourne United.

“Right now we have eight [players],” JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said during Monday’s Finals Launch.

“Anthony Drmic is one of those guys that we'll see his day-to-day as we go, and that's the way it’s been for a while.

“[But] our strength is [and always has been] our culture.

“We built that on day one, and your culture is very easy to fall on when you're winning, but really, culture for us is when the standards are going to be maintained, and accountability is 'when it's not so good, what do you do?'

"A lot of teams will just give in and go their different ways or complain, but our culture is the foundational thing that we do down there, and that's what we maintain, whether it's a good day or a bad day.

“We built this team on having some bad days and some bad weeks and being able to fall back on our standards, and my job is to hold them accountable, and that's what I do.

“[I wouldn’t say we’re underdogs], I just know, we’re going show up, and give it a swing.”

Further to that, despite missing the likes of Will Magnay, Bryce Hamilton, Sean Macdonald and Ben Ayre for the Thursday, March 5 Play-In Qualifier, Roth admits his side is only worrying about themselves and not opponents Melbourne United.

“I'm sure they're going to want to play fast, as that's what they've tried to do against us [previously],” Roth said.

“Ultimately, no offence to United, but I'm not worried about them at all. We have to just worry about ourselves and how we show up and what we do these next five days of practice before we get to this game.

“My mission is to make sure that our guys are as on point as possible and do what we can with our own guys, because we’ve played them enough [to know what they’re about].”

Echoing his coach’s sentiments, in short and sharp terms, was big man Josh Bannan, who said “no matter [who we play], wherever or whenever, [we back ourselves]’.

Along with the culture and belief in the squad, Bannan’s confidence against United stems from the strong play of Sixth Man of the Year finalist Majok Deng, who stepped up in Magnay’s absence.

“It was definitely tough losing Mags (Will Magnay), but Majok has stepped into that starting role, and now everyone is seeing what he can do,” Bannan said.

“He's a special basketball player and special human.

“People don't see him on a day-to-day basis and how much he does, pumping up his teammates, putting belief in all of his teammates.

“He's one of the best people I've ever been around, and then the basketball success he's having comes as no surprise to anyone in our locker room.

“He can shoot the ball and do a lot of things on the court. I love what he's been able to continue to do for us.”

Thursday, March 5’s Play-In Qualifier against United tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.