NBL27 Round 1 Game Preview: Wildcats vs Phoenix

The Perth Wildcats begin their NBL27 campaign under the lights at RAC Arena on Saturday night, hosting South East Melbourne Phoenix in a highly anticipated season opener.

Game-day information

The return of the Red Army March will help launch the new season, with fans invited to join the pre-game journey from Murray Street Mall to Pirate Life Perth and on to RAC Arena.

• 6:00pm: Band begins playing at the Murray Street Mall train station exit; box office opens
• 6:25pm: Band arrives at Pirate Life Perth
• 6:30pm: RAC Arena doors, Y Fan Zone and merchandise outlets open
• 6:40pm: Red Army March departs Pirate Life Perth
• 7:10pm: In-arena entertainment begins
• 7:30pm: Tip-off
• Post-game: Members function in the Granite Room

After a pre-season that took the Wildcats from the Pilbara to Bendigo and Japan, attention now turns to the first game of the Hungry Jack's NBL27 season, and the return of the Red Army to RAC Arena.

Perth enters the season with a strong core retained from last year, led by Kristian Doolittle, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Dylan Windler, Elijah Pepper and captain Jesse Wagstaff.

They are joined by a group of new additions offering different options across the floor, including returning championship Wildcat Angus Brandt, Australian Boomer Anthony Dell’Orso, Alex Higgins-Titsha and Jimmy Whitt.

Head coach John Rillie believes that continuity gives Perth an important foundation, while acknowledging the group will continue to develop throughout the season.

“I like how we’ve retained a nice group of the core from last year, so we’ve got a good baseline,” Rillie said.

“I think it’ll take us a little time to evolve with the way our season has unfolded.”

The Wildcats will begin the campaign without recently signed point guard Brandon Knight, who is yet to arrive in Perth, while Jaron Rillie remains unavailable.

Rather than placing the responsibility on one player, Rillie wants the Wildcats to share the playmaking load and lean into the strengths of the available group.

“Just like you’ve seen all pre-season, it’s going to be by committee,” he said.

“The style of play we’ve played so far, we’ll just lean into players’ strengths.

“Everyone is going to have that responsibility. The beauty is we have Jimmy Whitt coming back, so he adds a different dynamic to the backcourt for us. It’s not just one or two guys.”

Composure will be important against a Phoenix side known for applying pressure and playing at a frenetic pace.

“It’s a player’s responsibility to make the right decisions, play with poise and not get caught up in their frenetic pace,” Rillie said.

“That’s on every individual, not just one position.”

Whitt’s return adds another option in the backcourt, while Higgins-Titsha is also in line for an opportunity.

“He’s been really good in practice for the last 10 days and he’ll bring a different dynamic,” Rillie said of Higgins-Titsha.

“He’s athletic and he’s slashing, whereas some of the other guys are more perimeter oriented.”

Brandt also brings experience, physicality and a different look alongside Lual-Acuil Jr. in Perth’s frontcourt.

“For him to want to come back and be part of this, the group was excited and he was excited,” Rillie said.

“The experience in the frontcourt is really important. He understands what being a productive player every day looks like.”

South East Melbourne arrives in Perth after recording five wins from seven pre-season games, but will be without star guard Nathan Sobey due to back tightness. Development player Pat Ryan comes into the Phoenix line-up, while Daniel Foster is expected to return from a low-grade groin injury.

Phoenix head coach Josh King expects another tight encounter after the teams produced several close contests last season.

“They’re very well coached and they’ve got good players,” King said.

“They’re a little different, we’re a little different, but I expect a close game on Saturday night.”

King identified Doolittle as one of the primary challenges for his defence after the All-NBL First Team forward averaged 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season.

“He’s very good,” King said.

“He’s going to get a lot of touches and he’s going to be targeted a lot. He’s going to score some baskets and hit some tough shots, but we’ve got to make them tough and not give him anything easy.”

The focus for Rillie remains on the Wildcats’ preparation and performance rather than the expectations surrounding the beginning of a new season.

“We’re all aware of the success the Wildcats have had, but we’ve just got to worry about who we are,” he said.

“We’ll evolve over time, there’s no doubt about that. All I can worry about is how we got better today, how we do better tomorrow and then, when we show up Saturday, how we perform.”

Teams

Perth Wildcats: Brandon Knight is yet to arrive in Perth and will not play. Jaron Rillie remains unavailable. Jimmy Whitt returns to the line-up.

South East Melbourne Phoenix: Nathan Sobey will miss the game with back tightness and will be replaced by development player Pat Ryan. Daniel Foster returns after recovering from a low-grade groin injury.

History

Head-to-head: Wildcats 17, Phoenix 11

Last meeting: South East Melbourne Phoenix 111 defeated Perth Wildcats 94 in the NBL26 Seeding Qualifier.

Leading scorers

• Phoenix: Nathan Sobey 24, Owen Foxwell 18, Matt Hurt 16
• Wildcats: Kristian Doolittle 22, Dylan Windler 13

Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
When: Saturday 19 September, 7:30pm AWST
Where: RAC Arena
Entertainment begins: 7:10pm
Watch: 9Go!, 9Now, ESPN, Disney+ and Kayo Sports