Leicester Riders host Sheffield Sharks in their Championship home opener, hoping to improve to 2-0.
The Riders, undefeated in their first seven games of the season, will take on northern opposition for the first time after establishing themselves as the premier outfit in the Trophy’s South Group to start the season.
Meanwhile the Sharks, who narrowly missed out on qualification from the North Group, hope to improve to above .500 on the season after beating the Bristol Flyers last time out.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
Friday, November 8, 7:30
Mattioli Arena Leicester
Riders take Trophy form into Championship
The Riders have started a season 7-0 in all competitions only three times before in the top flight of British basketball, the least successful of those seasons seeing the club win the 2015/16 double.
It’s the first time in eight years Leicester have achieved this feat, and this time around they have done so convincingly.
The Riders have given up 80 points only once this season- an overtime victory on the road to the Bristol Flyers. They have won all but the Flyers game by double figures, their defence allowing the fewest points of any team in British basketball’s top flight.
Leicester continued in the same vein as they got their Championship campaign underway last time out in Surrey. An 82-66 win saw Leicester hold the 89ers to 22 points across the second and third quarters, while knocking down threes in the second half to blow the game open.
The Riders hit threes at the second highest rate on the most attempts in the League, and despite missing on a number of open looks last week, fell back on their deep shooting prowess to start their Championship campaign with a win.
Action Jackson
Leicester’s Zach Jackson 20 point outing against Surrey saw him jump to the top of the League’s scoring charts with 19 points per game in all competitions.
The American wing has found no match so far this season, and is leading Leicester to a historic start to their season upon his return to the East Midlands.
Jackson, who suited up in Japan last year, spent three seasons with the Riders between 2020 and 2023. He played an integral role in the Riders’ 2022 treble, winning four trophies during his time in the East Midlands.
During the 2022-23 season, Jackson averaged 16.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, shooting 55% from the field and 43% from three. He led the Riders in points, rebounds and steals during the 2023 Playoffs, making the final at the O2 Arena with 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Jackson is now back with a bang, and making his name once again as one of the elite ballers in British basketball.
Dangerous Sharks look for consistency
It’s been an up and down start to Super League Basketball for Sheffield, who have come up with impressive wins in their 5-5 start to the season.
Their hopes of progressing to the Trophy semi-final came down to a head-to head against Newcastle Eagles which they lost 84-82 at home in heartbreaking fashion, but a win on the road in Cheshire and a convincing blowout last time out against Bristol have shown them capable of winning on any given night.
That’s, in part, thanks to their star scorer Rodney Chatman, who is right behind Jackon in the season’s scoring charts. The third year pro put up 24 and 9 against the Flyers, and has three 20 point games to his name so far.
Sheffield, like Leicester, have been red hot from three, leading the League at 37.6%. But performances such as their season opening 92-68 loss to London Lions has shown a lack of ability to guard the three ball, as the Lions hit 53% of their looks that night.
With red hot shooters and a star scorer, Sheffield pose a dangerous threat to the Riders undefeated record however, so expect an intensely fought battle in Leicester.
