Experienced coaches Rob Roberts (left) and Bob Mann (right) have recommitted to coach the University’s men’s and women’s teams respectively in the re-booted University Basketball League (UBL), due to start in April.
Mann and Roberts were locked in to coach in the inaugural 2020 season until COVID-19 saw the new competition cancelled before game was even played. Both men already had ties with University basketball as recent coaching appointments with the Melbourne University Basketball Club’s Big V teams. Mann is again set to coach the men’s Big V Division 1 team in 2021, while Roberts will also be coaching the women’s Big V Division 1 team this season.
“It’s been a difficult 12 months for everyone, and I just pleased that we’re getting closer and closer to playing some basketball”, said Mann
“We’ve worked hard to align our men’s UBL and Big V programs this year, which will hopefully see us have some success in both competitions in the years ahead”, he added.
Mann lives and breathes basketball and is the founder of the Bob Mann Basketball Academy. He comes to Melbourne University having spent some 31 years in the sport, founding McKinnon Basketball Association back in 1990 and later leading the Oakleigh Basketball Association. Roberts too, has extensive Big V experience with Pakenham and Sherbrooke teams.
The 2021 UBL season will see the University’s men’s and women’s teams take on the University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of the Sunshine Coast, the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University (men’s team only) and local rivals Victorian University and LaTrobe University.
The season is due to tip-off on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 April with games played mid-week through until a four-team finals series between 24 – 26 May. The University of Melbourne will play its home games in the Nona Lee Sports Centre. The 2021 UBL Draw will be announced shortly.
For more information, visit the intervarsity basketball webpage here.