Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod will resist the temptation to rush new import Ayinde Ubaka into the starting five for tonight’s battle with Melbourne at WIN Entertainment Centre.
Signed last Sunday as a replacement for Showron Glover, Ubaka has all the tools to help the last-placed Hawks break their horrific run of seven straight home losses - the longest losing streak in club history.
The 25-year-old guard was fired by the Tigers after a January 15 home loss and will be stinging for a crack at his former club.
He will have to play understudy to Rhys Martin and Mat Campbell in the backcourt tonight, but the role will only be temporary.
Full coverage of the Hawks Ubaka will almost certainly get the nod to start in next week’s round 18 road clash with the Gold Coast.
‘‘We’ll probably stay the way we’ve been and we’ll work it from there,’’ McLeod said.
Ubaka can play both guard positions, though he is best suited as the lead playmaker.
That would mean Martin might have to make way as the starting point guard - a sacrifice he said he would be prepared to make.
To a man, the Hawks are convinced Ubaka has already had a positive impact on the practice court.
They can’t wait to show off their renewed confidence against the Tigers.
‘‘We feel the skill package he’s got will complement our team,’’ McLeod said.
‘‘He’s fitted into the group really well. Chemistry-wise they seem to be complementing each other quite well.
‘‘We’ve always had a high respect of him as a player and now the challenge is to get him as comfortable as possible. It’s a very difficult process because you have systems with the group, and trying to jam those into a few [training] sessions is pretty hard.
‘‘He’s played against us for a few years now and he’s got a bit of an idea of what we run; now it’s just getting up to speed with the calls and getting used to his team-mates.’’
McLeod believes Ubaka will be salivating at the prospect of sending the slumping Tigers to a sixth consecutive defeat.
‘‘The guy’s a professional, but players are also human beings, and there’s always going to be an emotional side of things when you go up against a group of guys that he started to have a working relationship with and friendship off the court,’’ he said.
‘‘It might be a difficult game for him to play, but when it comes down to it, when you step over the line, everyone knows what their job is.’’
One of the most intriguing head-to-head match-ups tonight will be that between Ubaka and new Tigers import Myron Allen.
Taking on the Blaze last week in his NBL debut, Allen tallied 13 points and eight assists.
‘‘We watched the Gold Coast game, and for someone who got off the plane that morning and have the impact that he did was very impressive,’’ McLeod said.
‘‘He looks like he’s got good quickness and can break people down.
‘‘He’ll obviously be someone we have to get a feel for very quickly.
‘‘Every team in the league is under pressure.
‘‘You only have to look at the closeness of the league and look at the week-to-week results, and how one win or a loss can have an impact on where you sit.’’
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