It’s been a season to remember already for UWE Jets; in their second season in the Premier South, they’ve improved on last years finish to grab third place in the league and a spot in this year’s playoffs.
It’s been a tough season full of hard-fought performances, resulting in five wins and five losses. From a narrow overtime defeat to second place UEL to an emphatic 81-46 victory over Oxford, it’s been a real rollercoaster.
UWE Sport chatted to captain, Alex Dehaan and coach, Guy Coles to get their thoughts on a successful season.
In which game do you think you saw the best team performance from the Jets this season?
ALEX: That’s a tough one, I would say defensively our best performance was Essex away as we really put the clamps on and showed what we can bring to that end of the floor. Offensively, I’d say the match away at UEL; although it ended in an overtime loss, we really came together in that game.
GUY: It wasn’t the most complete basketball performance, but like Alex said, last week the game against Essex stands out. It was impressive how the players approached the fixture, we were late due to traffic on the M4 and only had 10 minutes to warm up. Despite that, the boys produced a clinical defensive performance and it’s a real credit to the team’s chemistry and identity.
What area of the team’s game has improved the most since last season and what are you looking to improve next season?
ALEX: The one area we’ve really improved is our fluidity on offence, we’re at the point where we’re making smart reads, smart plays and letting the offence come to us which is encouraging. I think a lot of that’s down to our increase in squad depth this season.
GUY: For me, the biggest improvement has been off the court. Having Kieran Hopkins, the Performance Officer, supporting the programme with athlete monitoring software, more developed strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports psychology has given the team a holistic experience. Next season we want to improve the amount of contact time we have with our athletes as well as bringing all the teams together more often so that every Jet feels like part of one club.
Do you have a specific standout/memorable moment of the season?
ALEX: There’s been some really great moments this season; a win away to Oxford with a depleted roster was a highlight, as was finishing in our highest ever position in the BUCS Premier but I think our biggest moments are yet to come with the play-offs around the corner!
GUY: For me, the most positive memory from this season is seeing the players relationship develop beyond basketball. They are all high character individuals and this shows in their interactions with each other.
“… finishing in our highest BUCS position ever…”
What have UWE Sport offered the Jets to help them develop this season?
ALEX: I think UWE Sport have been so key in helping us grow and reach our potential. The support and advice through our strength and conditioning programme, nutrition seminars and sports psychology has allowed us to perform at this high level. Having the team behind us gives us confidence and I’m personally very grateful for all their support.
GUY: Again, it’s everything I mentioned earlier really; having a Performance Officer, athlete monitoring software, sports psychology… All of that is key in performing at a high level.
And finally, do you have any last words on what’s been a great season for the Jets?
ALEX: Even though the regular season is completed, the hard work definitely isn’t over and we’re really determined to make some noise in the BUCS play-offs. I have a lot of faith and belief that this team can continue to make history for the club and perhaps surprise some people with how far we can go.
GUY: Yes I have one last thing… I’d like to make a special mention for outgoing club president Alex Dehaan. He has been phenomenal in his role, has left a real legacy and along with other alumni, he has truly made his mark on the club. I hope he is as proud as I am of his contributions to the programme because they far exceed anything I’ve done.
UWE Jets are next in action against the University of Bristol in this year’s Varsity match. Get your tickets and head to the SGS WISE College Campus this Sunday (18 March) for an evening of fierce competition and hopefully, glory.
Jamie Hore – B.Sc. Journalism