Courtesy of Melbourne United Media
Basketball is finally back!
Melbourne United will hit the court for the first time this preseason in an exhibition matchup with storied American college basketball program St Mary’s.
Featuring a lineup full of a mix of new and familiar faces, United will aim to get their season off to a great start on Tuesday evening in Keilor.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
A number of players will suit up for Melbourne for the first time on Tuesday, including NBL1 standouts Makuach Maluach and Malith Machar, both of which signed contracts with United over the offseason.
Newly signed development player Joshua Duach will also make his debut, while non-rostered guard pairing Lachlan Barker and Campbell Blogg will both take the court after getting buckets across the NBL1 South season.
NBL22 MVP finalist Jo Lual-Acuil Jr will also feature in the game. JLA has remained with United across much of the offseason as he prepares for the next step of his basketball journey in China.
KEY MATCHUP
We’re set for a battle of Boomers past, present, and potentially future at the forward spots when United clash with the Gaels, as Brad Newley and David Barlow go up against young Aussie stars Alex Ducas and Kyle Bowen.
St Mary’s pair of Perth natives started all 34 games for the Gaels last season, helping their squad to a 26-8 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Ducas, alongside United’s David Okwera, recently represented Australia at the FIBA Asia Cup, helping propel the Boomers to a Gold Medal in the tournament.
Going up against Newley and Barlow, it will be an interesting clash of experience vs youth.
THE OTHER GUYS
Ducas and Bowen won’t be the only Aussies on the court for the Gaels, with young seven-footer Harry Wessels also on the team.
Led by senior point guard Logan Johnson, St Mary’s will look to play their tight brand of defence in hopes of slowing down United’s run-and-gun offence.
GAME INFO
Who: Melbourne United vs St Mary’s Gaels
Tip off: 7.30pm (AEST), Tuesday 9 August, 2022
Where: Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium, Keilor
Watch: Melbourne United Website and YouTube channel
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MELBOURNE UNITED:
#0 Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – Center (Non rostered)
#1 Zac Triplett – Guard (Development Player)
#2 Lachlan Barker – Guard (Non Rostered)
#3 Campbell Blogg – Guard (Non Rostered)
#9 Malith Machar – Forward (Development Player)
#15 Ariel Hukporti – Center (Next Star)
#20 David Barlow – Forward
#35 David Okwera – Forward
#61 Shea Ili – Point Guard
#62 Josh Duach – Guard (Development Player)
#63 – Makuach Maluach – Guard/Forward
#64 – Brad Newley – Guard/Forward
ST MARY’S GAELS:
#0 – Logan Johnson – Guard
#1 – Harry Wessels – Center
#3 – Augustas Marciulionis – Guard
#5 – Joshua Jefferson – Forward
#11 – Mitchell Saxen – Center
#12 – Cade Bennett – Guard
#14 – Kyle Bowen – Forward
#15 – Chris Howell – Guard
#20 – Aidan Mahaney – Guard
#22 – Matt Van Komen – Center
#23 – Leemet Böckler – Guard
#24 – Kevin Gad – Forward
#25 – Mason Forbes – Forward
#33 – Luke Barrett – Guard/Forward
#44 – Alex Ducas – Guard/Forward
