Preview: Melbourne vs South East Melbourne (Round 1)

Thursday, September 28 at 7:30pm AEST at John Cain Arena.

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

One of the hottest rivalries in the NBL will open the brand new NBL24 campaign, and local bragging rights are on the line in Throwdown XXI.

Current Melbourne assistant and former star forward David Barlow spoke in depth about the local rivalry over the off-season on United’s Extra Pass podcast, and believes ever since the sides matched up in the semi-finals of NBL21, the heat in the contest has been turned up to the maximum.

Both sides have re-tooled after what were, in all honesty, disappointing NBL23 campaigns.

Melbourne has added the likes of Luke Travers and Matthew Dellavedova to assemble one of the most star-studded local cores in NBL history for the new season, while South East Melbourne have retained just four fully-rostered players from NBL23 as they look to take another step forward.

The sides met in a pre-season clash before the Hungry Jack’s NBL Blitz, where Melbourne ran out as three-point winners behind 28 points from former Sydney and Adelaide guard Ian Clark.

*Hungry Jack’s NBL Blitz fixtures used for recent form

Melbourne
105-87 win over Sydney
85-71 win over Illawarra
96-92 win over Brisbane

South East Melbourne
100-95 loss to Cairns
93-86 win over Sydney
97-84 loss to Tasmania

Matthew Dellavedova
The return of Dellavedova has been heralded as one of the biggest free agency moves heading into the new season, and the Boomers legend and former NBA champion will enter the first round of the new season with a World Cup-sized chip on his shoulder.

Dellavedova has hit the ground running in his return to the NBL and was a strong contender for the Ray Borner Medal at the recent pre-season Blitz, where a 28-point offensive obliteration of the Brisbane Bullets was one of the tournament highlights.

“He had a setback with the Boomers; how some people would have dealt with that is obviously very different to how Delly’s going to deal with that… that’s good for us at Melbourne in the way he comes out and competes and pushes himself.” – United guard Chris Goulding to ESPN.

Reuben Te Rangi
The captain of the New Zealand Tall Blacks has returned from an exceptional debut World Cup and – as one of the remaining players from last season’s Phoenix roster – is likely to play a crucial role for his side in the early weeks of the new season.

Te Rangi was one of New Zealand’s top performers at the World Cup, and such strong showings on the world stage will only have given him even more confidence to come back into the NBL and put his best foot forward.

He played over 25 minutes per game in all three of South East Melbourne’s games at the Blitz, and caught fire against Tasmania with 17 points in the 13-point defeat.

“It was amazing, one of the biggest basketball tournaments in the world and I got to compete against some of the best players in the world. I can’t complain, I learnt a lot, and I’m looking forward to bringing it into the NBL.” – Te Rangi to Phoenix Media.

Ariel Hukporti vs Tyler Cook
In another world, this matchup doesn’t happen – or isn’t nearly as important as it looks set to be, however injuries to likely starting centres Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Alan Williams means Ariel Hukporti and Tyler Cook look set to battle in the paint.

Cook has come onto the Phoenix roster as an injury replacement player for star centre Williams, and dominated at the recent Blitz to be named the tournament MVP. According to former NBL champion Lanard Copeland the ex-NBA big was “a man amongst boys”.

United, on the other hand, look set to throw their support behind returning Next Star Ariel Hukporti – who will likely be ably backed up at the centre position by replacement player Rob Loe.

The clash will mark the Next Star’s first appearance in the NBL since the side’s semi-final defeat to Tasmania in NBL22, after missing the entirety of last season with an Achilles injury.

It’s the story of a young player trying to be drafted into the NBA, in Hukporti, coming up against someone trying to get back, in Cook. This clash will not only be a great individual test for each of the inside stoppers, but will prove crucial to the outcome of the upcoming game.

Melbourne United guard Chris Goulding averages 18.1 points per game against South East Melbourne – which is the highest average the star veteran has posted against any opposition in his NBL career.

Chris Goulding puts up a shot against South East Melbourne in 2021.

Melbourne 
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – wrist (TBC)
Ian Clark – hamstring (one game - TBC)

South East Melbourne
Alan Williams – knee (TBC)
Gorjok Gak – ankle (TBC)
Matt Kenyon – back (available)
Gary Browne - hip (test)