Scottish Rocks

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Scottish Rocks
Scottish Rocks logo
Main Sponsor SAMG Verve
League British Basketball League
Established 1998
History Edinburgh Rocks
1998-2002
Scottish Rocks
2002-present
Arena Braehead Arena
(Capacity: 5,300)
Location Paisley, Renfrewshire
Head Coach Flag of the United States Flag of the United Kingdom Sterling Davis
Ownership Flag of the United Kingdom Ian Reid
Colours Navy Blue and White
Website
Uniforms
 
Home jersey
Home jersey
 
Home shorts
Home
 
Away jersey
Away jersey
 
Away shorts
Away
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The Scottish Rocks, officially the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks by sponsorship, is a basketball team which plays in the British Basketball League. The Rocks are one of the leading sides in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Braehead Arena in Paisley, near Scotland's biggest city Glasgow. Its current player-coach is American Sterling Davis. Their traditional arch rivals are the Newcastle Eagles.

Contents

[edit] Franchise history

Formed as the Edinburgh Rocks in 1998 by a consortium of businessmen, the team debuted at Meadowbank under the helm of American coach Jim Brandon. In its second season, it effectively went bust before it was purchased by one of its existing directors Ian Reid.

The club's third campaign saw controversial American coach Greg Lockridge take charge but he was fired after less than two months following a series of bust-ups with players and poor results. Scotland and Great Britain legend Iain MacLean stepped up as player-coach but saw the side finish bottom of the BBL.

In 2001-02, another American, Kevin Wall was placed in charge but it was another switch 12 months later which proved more significant, when the franchise moved to Glasgow's Braehead Arena, becoming the Scottish Rocks.

While few fans followed the club west, the first season there provided a high point as Wall led the Rocks to their first ever trophy, the BBL play-off crown.

Wall's exit saw the arrival of former Brighton Bears assistant Steve Swanson, who guided the club to three major finals. Twice they finished runners-up in the BBL Cup and in 2005-06, there was a best ever league placing of second and a further second place in the play-off final.

Swanson's departure to college basketball brought the arrival of the league's first ever German playcaller, Thorsten Leibenath.

On April 30th 2007, the Rocks announced Leibenath was leaving the club to take over head coaching duties at his previous club Giessen 46ers of Germany. Davis was named as his successor.

[edit] Home arenas

Meadowbank (1998-2002)
Braehead Arena (2002-present)

[edit] Season-by-season records

Season Div. Pos. Pld. W L Pts. Play Offs Trophy Cup
Edinburgh Rocks
1998-1999 BBL 9th 36 12 24 24 DNQ 1st Round 1st Round
1999-2000 BBL N 3rd 36 19 37 38 Semi-final 1st Round Semi-final
2000-2001 BBL N 7th 36 5 31 10 DNQ 1st Round 1st Round
2001-2002 BBL N 4th 32 13 19 26 1st Round 1st Round Quarter-final
Scottish Rocks
2002-2003 BBL 6th 40 22 18 44 Winners 1st Round Winners
2003-2004 BBL 4th 36 23 13 46 Quarter-final Semi-final Runner-up
2004-2005 BBL 6th 40 19 21 38 Semi-final 1st Round Runner-up
2005-2006 BBL 2nd 40 29 11 58 Runner-up Semi-final Semi-final
2006-2007 BBL 4th 36 22 14 44 Runner-up 1st Round Runner-up
2007-2008 BBL 5th 33 18 15 36 Quarter-final Group Stage Semi-final

Notes:

  • From 1999-2002 the BBL operated a Conference system. Rocks competed in the Northern Conference.
  • DNQ denotes Did Not Qualify.

[edit] Players

[edit] Current roster

The numbers are established according to the official websites of the team (www.scottishrocks.co.uk) and Britain's top professional league, the BBL (www.bbl.org.uk).

As of January 30, 2008

4 Flag of the United States Flag of the United Kingdom Sterling Davis Forward
6 Flag of Germany Moritz Wohlers Forward/Centre
7 Flag of Denmark Bilal Clarance Guard/Forward
10 Flag of the United Kingdom Scott Russell Guard
11 Flag of the United States Robert Yanders Guard
14 Flag of the United Kingdom Julius Joseph Guard/Forward
15 Flag of the United Kingdom Gareth Murray Forward
20 Flag of the United Kingdom Daniel Donnelly Forward
21 Flag of the United States Maurice Hampton Guard
22 Flag of the United Kingdom Neil Fraser Guard
25 Flag of the United Kingdom Andrew Sanders Centre

[edit] Notable former players

[edit] Retired numbers

[edit] Scottish Rockettes

The Scottish Rockettes are the UK's top pro-sports dance team and support The Scottish Rocks. They also perform at home games for Glasgow Rugby.

The dance team is made up of twenty-one women who are all over 18 years of age from backgrounds as diverse as IT, nursing, finance, dance and sales. Each year the dance team train in the USA alongside the NBA and NFL dancers, learning material from the world's best choreographers.

Every year the team release a charity swimsuit calendar[1].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Make it a date to remember | The Sun |HomePage|Sport

[edit] External links

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