The new BBL season tips off next week with 12 clubs all set to do battle.
Newcastle Eagles reigned supreme once again last season, claiming the clean sweep of the league, BBL Cup, BBL Trophy and Play-off crowns. But can anyone break the dominance of Fab Flournoy's charges?
After taking a look at the BBL teams from Bristol Flyers through to London Lions, here is the second part of The Chronicle's Dave Powell's predictions for the forthcoming campaign and what could be in store for Cheshire Phoenix's rivals.
MANCHESTER GIANTS
Head coach: Yorick Williams
Venue: Lucozade Powerdome
Finish last season: 9th
Ins: Stefan Gill, Ingus Bankevics, Ryan Lewis, Anthony Purcell, Callum Jones (all re-signed), Reiss Haggith (Loughborough Student Riders), Olu Babalola (Sheffield Sharks), Usman Baba (unattached), Arnold Emelone (Sheffield Hallam University), Chris Hodkin (Lancashire Spinners II) Nathan Schall (Guadeloupe)
Outs: Rob Marsden (Leeds Force), Connor Murtagh, Mike Bernard (both Lancashire Spinners), Ben Eaves (Worcester Wolves)
Chances: The Giants have brought back numerous faces from last term, with the signings of Jones and Gill particularly important. But Eaves' move to Worcester and the departure of veteran Bernard are big losses. The Giants have a local feel to their squad and have few imports. But this season will likely be one of real struggle for the Giants.
Prediction: 11th
NEWCASTLE EAGLES
Head coach: Fab Flournoy
Venue: Sport Central
Finish last season: Champions, BBL Cup, Trophy and Play-Off winners
Ins: Rahmon Fletcher, Scott Martin, Andy Thomson, Darius Defoe, Charles Smith, Stuart Thomson, Drew Lasker (all re-signed), Joe Chapman (Shimane Susanoo Magic, Japan), Danny Horta-Darrington (returning)
Outs: Eddie Matthew
Chances: The Eagles were superb once more last season and retained their crown as the kings of British basketball. And they show no signs of letting up this season as Flournoy has pulled it out of the bag again and retained their championship-winning squad. Veteran Smith, last season's MVP, will be a focal point this season while Fletcher was arguably the best point guard in the BBL last term. And the return of Chapman to Eagles on serves to make an already strong roster, even stronger. It's hard to look past them being crowned champions again this season. They're the ones to beat.
Prediction: Champions
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY RAIDERS
Head coach: Jay Marriott
Venue: Plymouth Pavilions
Finish last season: 10th
Ins:Josh Wilcher (re-signed), Daryl Corletto, Auryn MacMillan (both Melbourne United, Australia), BJ Anthony (Super City Rangers, New Zealand), Michael Vigor (Perth Wildcats, Australia) Bennie Lewis (Geraldton Bucanners, Australia), Dante Williams (Oakland University, NCAA Division One)
Outs: Emile Hopkins, Brent Benson, Jordan Clarke (all not returning), Gareth Murray (Angers, France), Ben Mockford (Caceres, Spain), Louis Sayers (Leeds Force)
Chances: Coach Marriott has gone for an Aussie feel this time around, recruiting no less than five players from Down Under to add to the one existing Australian, Josh Wilcher. Raiders were strong scorers from beyond the arc last season and will likely adopt a similar tactic this season. They have lost Murray and Clarke, arguably their two best players last season, and it will be interesting to see how the new group comes together. As was the case last season, a play-off push will likely be beyond them.
Prediction: 10th
SHEFFIELD SHARKS
Head coach: Atiba Lyons
Venue: EIS Sheffield
Finish last season: 7th
Ins: Mike Tuck, Patrick Horstmann, Mike Cook, Colin Sing, George Brownell, Eddie Brownell, Marco Backovic (all re-signed), Jerrold Brooks (unattached), Kyle Odister (unattached), Reggis Onwukamuche (Prairie View A&M University, NCAA Division One)
Outs: Nick Lewis, Zach Gachette (both London Lions), Olu Bablola (Manchester Giants), BJ Holmes (not returning)
Chances: The Sharks made the play-offs last season but were dogged by inconsistency. Coach Lyons has brought back key men such as Tuck, Cook, and Horstmann to give them some continuity, but whether the new additions can offset the loss of Lewis, Gachette and Holmes remains to be seen. A good start will be key to them doing well but making the play-offs will be harder than some might envisage.
Prediction: 8th
SURREY SCORCHERS
Head coach: Creon Raftopoulos
Venue: Surrey Sports Park
Finish last season: 13th (as Surrey United)
Ins: Tayo Ogedengbe (Glasgow Rocks), DJ Felder (Jacksonville State, NCAA Division One), Nick Schlitzer (Philadelphia University, NCAA Division Two), Andreas Schreiber (Zornotza, Spain), Desmond Lee (NC State, NCAA Division One), Will Neighbour (LF Basket, Sweden), Henry Wilkins (Villarrobledo, Spain), Elvisi Dusha (returning), Jacob Loveridge (Thames Valley Cavaliers)
Outs: Dominque Coleman, Donatas Visockis, Kramer Knutson, Anthony Downing, Patrick Manifold (not returning)
Chances: It's all change down in Surrey. The club have re-branded and have a new coach and pretty much brand new roster, packed with talent. Hiring Coach Raftopoulous, who replaces Jack Majewski, is a shrewd move and they could surprise a few this season. They have new owners who have invested in talent on the court and they should have enough to banish the memory of last season's wooden spoon under their previous guise and make the play-offs.
Prediction: 5th
WORCESTER WOLVES
Head coach: Paul James
Venue: Worcester Arena
Finish last season: 3rd
Ins: Disraeli Lufadeju (returning), Javier Mugica (Forca Lleida, Spain), Malik Smith (Iowa Energy, NBA D-League), Perris Blackwell (Osorno, Chile), Ashton Khan (Tiffin Univeristy, Miami, NCAA Division Two), Jay Couisnard (La Rochelle, France), Pavol Losonsky (Leicester Riders), Ben Eaves (Manchester Giants)
Outs: Alex Owumi, Kalil Irving, Robertas Binitas (all not returning), Robert Thurman (Union Tours, France), Paul Guede (Cognac, France), Jamal Williams (London Lions)
Chances: The Wolves finished third last season but had a horrible end to the campaign and imploded early in the play-offs. Such was the manner of their end-of-season capitulation that Coach James decided to ring the changes, released all of last season's squad bar one. They have recruited well during the summer and the return of Couisnard to the BBL is a major coup. They'll be up their challenging again but hoping that they don't tail off so terribly this time around.
Prediction: 4th