Basketball: Arlidge giving little away on Nuggets

Otago Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge is planning to keep his cards close to his chest at a pre-season tournament in Christchurch.

The Nuggets are playing at the grandly-titled Southern Showcase and are scheduled to face the Christchurch Cougars tonight and the Southland Sharks and Nelson Giants tomorrow.

It is a low-key return to the hardwood for the Nuggets, who took a year out last year to regroup but hope to steadily re-establish their position in the national league.

Rookie coach Arlidge has a thin, import-less roster but is relatively relaxed about what he wants to see from his squad in Christchurch.

"We're not planning to show much.

"It's too close to the season," he said yesterday.

"As long as we play really good defence, I'm not too worried about anything else.

"We've got a young team and we want to try to sneak up on a few people.

"I'm quietly excited about this weekend but it's more just a chance to see what others are up to."

The Nuggets' two American players, Antoine Tisby and Tyler Amaya, are scheduled to arrive in Dunedin on Wednesday.

Sam To'omata captains a green-looking squad that features two players with some experience, Matt Gillan and Steven Robinson.

Arlidge knows the first season back is going to be tough which is why he is staying grounded and concentrating on developing a strong team culture.

He said there was general excitement in the Nuggets camp but did not think the reality of their NBL return would really hit until the opening tip-off.

Arlidge was disappointed Auckland was booted out of the NBL this week because of its financial problems.

There will now be some extra players on the market but Arlidge said the Nuggets were sticking to their policy of signing only players who wanted to play for Otago.

Otago Nuggets pre-season tournament squad: Sam To'omata, James Ross, Riki Buckrell, Tom Rowe, Mitch McRae, Matt Gillan, Steven Robinson, Matt Trueman, Luke Aston, Josh Kidston.