Friday 08 November 2013 – Sheffield Sharks vs Worcester Wolves

This Friday evening (tip off 7.30pm), Worcester Wolves will have their first chance to bounce back from a double of defeats last weekend, when they travel to face in-form One Health Sharks Sheffield.

Wolves had been unbeaten in their opening seven contests prior to Championship and Cup reverses against Plymouth University Raiders and Leicester Riders.

Those results leave them with a 6-1 league record, identical to the Sharks, who last week beat Cheshire Phoenix in the Championship and London Lions in the Cup.

But for Wolves coach Paul James it’s all about how his team reacts in this top-of-the-table clash in front of the BBL TV cameras.

He said: “At some point we were always bound to lose a game. It is now how we deal with that which will determine where we are as a team. I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond to this minor setback.

“These games I hope will serve as a lesson to us and we can get back to doing what we have done very well leading up to these defeats.”

And there appears no greater test of that currently, than high-flying Sharks.

“Sheffield have not gone under my radar,” James added.

“They have been going about their work really well and are not to be taken lightly.

“Mike Tuck is, personally, having his best start to a season. It looks like he has been given more responsibility on the team and is playing really well.”

Wolves’ Molten BBL Player of the Month for October, Will Creekmore, feels teams are starting to adjust for his presence, commenting: “It seems like teams have begun to ‘gameplan’ for me a little bit by fronting me with a centre and bringing help from the weak side.

“For me, that just means that someone else is going to be open so I am going to continue posting up hard and trying to make the right play when I get the ball, whether that be an extra pass or making a strong post move.”

Meanwhile Sharks forward Olu Babalola said: “Worcester a very good team with an even better coach in PJ, so a win on our floor will be huge for us mentally. We respect everything they’ve done up until this point and look forward to having them come to Sheffield and playing an exciting game. We will come out focused and ready.”