Nov 21,2024
Ireland men's basketball captain Sean Flood is confident the squad is in a much stronger place ahead of a pivotal international window in their 2027 World Cup qualification campaign.
After two losses from two in the February window, Mark Keenan's side host Azerbaijan on Thursday and then Kosovo on Sunday, needing to win both games to maintain any realistic hope of progressing to the next round of the qualification process.
Ireland sit bottom of Group A in pre-qualifiers after an 83-76 defeat against Kosovo in Pristina, subsequently losing 86-63 to Switzerland in the National Basketball Arena three days later.
Azerbaijan, who Ireland face in Tallaght tomorrow, pipped the Kosovons by a single point in Baku, while the Swiss sit comfortably top after two wins from two. The top-placed team from the three pre-qualifier groups will progress to the second phase, alongside the best performing second placed team, meaning Ireland need to emerge from this week with maximum points.
However, Flood, currently playing with London Lions, is bullish ahead of the two must-win encounters, arguing that the squad has been bolstered by a number of returning players, notably Sligo's John Carroll, whose international retirement proved short-lived.
"To progress in this competition, we'll have to win both these games heading into the February window.
"We're 0-2 in the group, both Kosovo and Azerbaijan are 1-1. And Switzerland are top of the group at 2-0. It's really do-or-die time where we need to come out with two wins in this window.
"It's known that we can play and compete at that level. We started the game maybe a little bit slow. They came out there quite physical and (we) weren't necessarily used to the level of physicality. The Kosovo league would be a lot more physical than the Super League here, where most of our guys are playing.
"It was just (a question of) taking a second to get used to the level and I think once we did, we were more than comfortable.
"We've added a few pieces for different reasons. Players are available now who graduated from college. John Carroll is returning after a very brief retirement.
"We think we're a lot stronger going into this window."
First up tomorrow in Tallaght are the Azerbaijanis, who edged out Kosovo but were outclassed by the Swiss in their opening game.
Flood feels that concentration and adherence to the gameplan will be pivotal for the hosts.
"We know their American Jordan Davis is very talented. He's playing in the top league in Spain and has had quite a successful career in Europe.
"And we've seen some of their local players, they've got good size and ability to shoot the ball from three (point range).
"It'll be about sticking to gamplans that Mark (Keenan), Puff (Summers) and Fulty (Adrian Fulton) have put together. Small details will be important in a game like that."
Flood is one of three members of the squad playing elsewhere, with Matt Treacy playing for Tarragona in Spain, while Neal Quinn is with Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket in France. Killorglin's Jordan Blount, who impressed with a 27-point haul in Pristina, has been included again.
"We've had a really good vibe in camp," Flood said. "We all got together on Monday, people returning from different countries and their clubs.
"We've had a couple of meetings, a good few on-court sessions. Mark has preached the importance of spending time together this week and gelling as a unit.
"We keep talking about how we need to win two games. But we can't win two games without winning the first one first.
"Everyone is laser focused and locked in on beating Azerbaijan. There's not been any mention of Kosovo on Sunday. We've honed in on the task at hand tomorrow."
