Basketball On The Internet.

*FLASHBACKS, a weekly "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe whatever I find for you.

It's uncanny but I was rummaging to find something for this week's "Flashback" and wham, I pulled out the "Basketball Week" issue of March 18, 1992, ironically the basketball paper for the week of the NBL Preseason finals 20 years ago!

NBL Notebook:

Adelaide 36ers: Sixers bosses were pleased with the form of "Wild Thing" Brett Wheeler during the K-Mart Classic, his three super rejects against Knox and double figure points return augurs well for 1992 ... Guard Michael Corkeron is not far away from returning after missing the Classic with his injured knees. Corkeron last week played club ball with West but was not risked for the Classic ... The 36ers raised their 1986 championship flag at their new Clipsal Powerhouse in time for Friday's match with Newcastle but still had to wait for Saturday's game with Canberra to record their first win at their new home.

Brisbane Bullets: A stunning debut performance for import forward Adrian Branch who scored 49 points in the Bullets' opening night K-Mart Classic loss to the South East Melbourne Magic in Melbourne ... Don't believe that the Bullets will be too concerned about missing the finals of the K-Mart Classic this week. Already this month the Bullets have spent more than a week on the road playing a series of matches against Victorian clubs, while Leroy Loggins and Shane Heal were also involved in a six-match series against the visiting Chinese national team.

Canberra Cannons: The Cannons are set to sign a lucrative sponsorship deal with a government department later this week. The deal is believed to be worth almost $1.3 million ... Veteran guard-forward Herb McEachin has completely shaved his head in readiness for his return to the Cannons' line-up for a trial game against the Rollers at Carrara on March 28. McEachin has not played since breaking his leg against the Melbourne Tigers on June 29 last year. The result of the new look? "Jordanish," according to Cannons beat writer Gary Scholes.

Geelong Supercats: The Supercats, who were scheduled to play North Melbourne in Hamilton next weekend, were hastily making arrangements for a replacement game after the Giants qualified for the finals of the K-Mart Classic. "They certainly put a spanner in the works," said general manager Ron Dawson, who was waiting for word from Hamilton earlier this week ... The Supercats will hold their season launch at Berkeley Lodge in Geelong West on April 1.

Gold Coast Rollers: Coach Dave Claxton says his team may be a little ahead of schedule after their successful 3-0 sweep of the Sydney division of the K-Mart Classic last weekend. "It is pretty close to the way I wanted it, perhaps a little better," Claxton said. "It didn't surprise me that we were able to get through." Larry Sengstock, Mike Mitchell and Andre LaFleur led the Rollers, while former Adelaide forward Matthew Reece was an impressive contributor ... The Rollers meet the white-hot North Melbourne Giants in the K-Mart Classic semi-finals on Friday. The winner of that game will meet either South East Melbourne or Newcastle in Saturday's final.

Hobart Devils: A rousing reception from those at the Perth Entertainment Centre greeted Cal Bruton's return as an NBL player with the Hobart Devils last weekend. Bruton opened the tournament impressively with a team-high 23 points in a loss to North Melbourne but had a poor shooting night against his old team on Saturday, scoring just four points ... By the way, the new Devils''  logo is ferocious.

Illawarra Hawks: Impressive for the Hawks in Sydney last weekend were imports Melvin Thomas and Doug Overton. Thomas averaged 21ppg over the three-game series while Overton, who blasted the Kings for 41 points in the opening game, drew praise from rival coaches. "He's a very good organiser who will be a good player for them," said the Rollers' Dave Claxton. "They're going to surprise a lot of people."

Melbourne Tigers: The newest of the Tigers, import Lanard Copeland, arrived in Melbourne last week, direct from the World Global League. Through March 1, Copeland, playing with Fayetteville, was averaging 25.4ppg, second best in the WGL. Just behind him was former playground star Lloyd Daniels ... News of Hawthorn's Foster's Cup triumph has made its way to Italy where ardent Hawks' supporter Andrew Gaze was preparing to relate Alan Joyce's five-out-of-five success to his Udine teammates. "What about those Hawks? They'll (his teammates) be doing backflips," spouted Gaze whose optimism is matched only by his enthusiasm ... Brisbane recruit Rob Sibley looked in good shape during a state league game against Nunawading last week, leading the Tigers with 43 points ... The Tigers hope to wrap up their preseason with a curtain-raiser clash against the Sydney Kings before Saturday's final of the K-Mart Classic at Homebush.

Newcastle Falcons: The Falcons will be chasing the second leg of a unique double when they fly to Sydney next weekend for the semi-finals of the K-Mart Classic. Already this year, the Falcons have won the $20,000 first prize at the Reebok 3-on-3 Classic ... Everette Stephens, Terry Dozier and Al Green enjoyed good form in Adelaide, while veteran guard-forward Michael Johnson found some touch from the perimneter.

North Melbourne Giants: The champagne was flowing freely in the Giants' dressing room at the Perth Entertainment Centre last Sunday, but it wasn't just in celebration of the team's march into the finals of the K-Mart Classic. The occasion was the 21st birthday of forward Pat Reidy ... An untimely groin injury to guard David Graham has again opened the door for Tonny Jensen to push his claims for a roster position. Graham carried the injury to the tournament and was able to get through games one and two but was sidelined for the clash with Geelong. In his absence, Jensen stepped in to score 15 second-half points.

Perth Wildcats: Not so rosy in the champions' camp with injuries to key players causing concern on the eve of the season-opener. Power forward Andrew Vlahov had ankle surgery in California last week while Tiny Pinder will have an arthroscope this week. Coach Murray Arnold has taken to inviting players from the state league just to make up the numbers at Wildcats training ... Feel like talking hoops? Well the Wildcats have hit on just the thing for their fans. Every second Tuesday morning, Wildcats fans are invited to join Arnold and assistant coach Dave Hancock for "Coffee with the Coaches" at the Perth Entertrainment Centre. Arnold will talk with fans from 7.30am while Hancock will show an edited video segment. Only in Perth!

South East Melbourne Magic: Winning the Melbourne division of the K-Mart Classic last weekend has done nothing to unravel the mystery of the Magic's guard rotation. Darren Lucas, Darren Perry, Scott Ninnis, David Close and Andrew Parkinson all made telling contributions as the Magic ruthlessly swept aside Brisbane, Wellington and the Melbourne Tigers ... Notice to Australian selectors, the aforementioned Perry deserves a recall to the national squad. Perry, 23, is in the best shape of his career and is shooting the ball better than at any time in his career ... "Spotty" is how coach Brian Goorjian described the performance of import Milt Newton in Melbourne last weekend.

Sydney Kings: Shock losers in Sydney last weekend, the Kings have scheduled a trial game against the Melbourne Tigers as a curtain-raiser to Saturday's K-Mart Classic final at State Sports Centre. Tip-off is 4pm ... Perhaps the Kings' failure to reach the finals was not so surprising after all, consdering their preparation, or lack of. Centre Dean Uthoff, who is nursing a back injury, has had an interrupted preseason, while Ken McClary and Tim Morrissey both carried knee complaints into last weekend.