Forget their emotional returns to Perth, two of Australia’s best basketball minds Shawn Dennis and Rob Beveridge have another momentous occasion this week when they do battle in the NBL as opposition coaches for the first time.
Dennis’s Townsville Crocodiles will host Beveridge’s Illawarra Hawks at The Swamp on Wednesday night and despite having known one another for 20 years – having worked together in the NBL for five seasons and been good friends – it will mark the first time they battle one another.
Dennis and Beveridge first crossed paths in the mid-1990s when Dennis was at the Newcastle Falcons in his first taste of coaching on the back of his NBL playing career. Beveridge was conducting a remarkably successful run at the NSW Institute of Sport.
The pair then joined forces at the West Sydney Razorbacks with Beveridge the head coach and Dennis his assistant before they remained together at the Sydney Spirit going through a remarkably tough 2008-09 season with no money, resources or staff.
Beveridge took over as coach of the Perth Wildcats for the 2009-10 season winning a championship straight away before having Dennis join him for his final three years for three playoff appearances, and two grand finals.
Beveridge and Dennis left the Wildcats together after the 2013 grand final loss to the New Zealand Breakers, but had the blocks in place where they won the 2014 title with largely the same group with the addition of imports James Ennis and Jermaine Beal.
Dennis was snapped up by the Townsville Crocodiles and is now in his third season as head coach where, despite the comparable lack of resources, he continues to lead a competitive young group who scored a remarkable win in Perth over the Wildcats last Friday night.
Beveridge spent two seasons out of the NBL conducting a number of different roles, including his own coaching academy and jobs throughout Asia, but when the Hawks were looking for a coach there was no better option in Australia.
And now Beveridge has put together a team including former league MVPs Kirk Penney and Kevin Lisch along with possible winner AJ Ogilvy to rejuvenate basketball for the renamed Illawarra.
With Dennis coming off his first win in Perth with Townsville and Beveridge having just lost his first game to the Wildcats at home and preparing for his return to Perth this Saturday night, there is another occasion to savour.
Both have a remarkable competitive spirit and there’s no doubt having the bragging rights over the other in their first encounter as opposition coaches means a lot.
It’s a special week for Dennis, not only because he’s facing Beveridge for the first time but the Crocs are playing their first game at home following five road losses. He also just happens to be celebrating his 50th birthday on Tuesday.
“I am looking forward to playing against Bevo and he gets here for my 50th birthday as well so it would be nice for him to give me that as a present, but I don’t think he will,” Dennis said.
“He knows what I’m going to do, I know what he’s going to do so there’s no real secrets. They’ll most likely have their full squad playing with Lisch playing even though (Rhys) Martin is out for a while.
“It will be a good challenge. They play up-tempo, they play very confident and we’ve got to find a way to not get caught into that and we’ll be fine.”
Beveridge is just focused on having his Hawks bounce back from losing to Perth at home on Sunday and putting in a strong showing in Townsville before taking on the Wildcats on Saturday.
“We accept that we blew the game and we have to turn it around now because we’ve got Townsville. We can feel sorry for ourselves or we can get off the canvas and that’s what we will do,” Beveridge said.
“Every single one of the players in the group after hurting after that loss and they want this to be a great ball club. Unfortunately it was a game that did get away and we should win games like that, but I’m confident that we will be better for that experience.”
Round 4 NBL fixtures (AEDT)
Wednesday
New Zealand Breakers vs Cairns Taipans (Vector Arena) – Fox Sports News 5.30pm
Townsville Crocodiles vs Illawarra Hawks (Townsville Entertainment Centre) – Fox Sports News 7.30pm
Thursday
Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats (Hisense Arena) – Fox Sports News 7.30pm
Friday
Sydney Kings vs Townsville Crocodiles (Qantas Credit Union Arena) – Fox Sports News 7.30pm
Saturday
Adelaide 36ers vs Cairns Taipans (Titanium Security Arena) – Fox Sports News 7.30pm
Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks (Perth Arena) – Fox Sports News 9.30pm
Sunday
Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings (Hisense Arena) – Fox Sports News, GO! 3pm
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