What's On
Your Guide to U.S. College Basketball in Melbourne
Posted by Larissa Falls
06. Aug, 2018
Block out August baller fans because basketball is heating up this month when four US colleges touch down in Melbourne town.
Drexel Dragons, University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, St. Mary’s Gaels and Loyola Marymount (LMU) Lions will each square off against Dandenong Rangers’ SEABL side, with the latter two colleges also playing against Victoria’s NBL team, Melbourne United.
The fortnight-long goodwill tour will feature high-profile college programs staring top-quality players and including a coast-to-coast list of promising Australian talent. It’ll also be the first opportunity for United supporters to catch a glimpse of the 2018/2019 squad as they begin their championship defence with these two pre-season friendlies.
For the University of Hawaii team, it’ll be their first trip to Australia (and their first foreign trip since China 2011). The successful Divisional 1 Rainbow Warriors 2018–2019 roster boasts a trio of Aussies: Owen Hulland, a 7ft, 230-pound power forward freshman from Adelaide; and two Melburnians, Redshirt freshman Mate Colina, who’s a 6ft11 220 pound centre, and senior forward Jack Purchase, who graduated from Carey Grammar and recently transferred to Hawaii from Auburn University.
Alley-oop over to a familiar college name to Aussie basketball fans: St. Mary’s. Since 2001, it is a program that has become a pipeline for potential Australian athletes making the leap to NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Basketball. Both Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova are recent NBA slam-dunk successes who have progressed via this pathway.
The upcoming season is no different for the Gaels as they travel to Melbourne with no less than five Australians in their squad.
Tickets are already selling quicker than LeBron James’ Lakers jerseys, so hit the bucket and beat the buzzer by purchasing soon. These are seven games from down town you just don’t want to miss!
Fixture
- Melbourne United vs. St. Mary’s Gaels
- Thursday, 9 August, 7pm
- State Basketball Centre, 291 George Street, Wantirna South
- Dandenong Rangers vs St. Mary’s Gaels
- Friday, 10 August, 7pm
- Dandenong Stadium, 270 Stud Road, Dandenong North
- Dandenong Rangers vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Monday, 13 August, 7pm
- Dandenong Stadium, 270 Stud Road, Dandenong North
- Dandenong Rangers vs. LMU Lions
- Tuesday, 14 August, 7pm
- Dandenong Stadium, 270 Stud Road, Dandenong North
- Diamond Valley SEABL vs. Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (Women’s)
- Tuesday, 14 August, 7pm
- Parade College, 1436 Plenty Road, Bundoora
- Tickets, TBC
- Melbourne United vs. LMU Lions
- Thursday, 16 August, 7pm
- Casey Basketball Stadium, 04 Terry Vickerman Building, 65 Berwick–Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East
- Dandenong Rangers vs. Drexel Dragons
- Monday, 20 August, 7pm
- Dandenong Stadium, 270 Stud Road, Dandenong North
Food and Drink
INDU Dining – Conscious Vegan Night
INDU Dining, one of Melbourne's most delectable hidden gems, has been offering up a contemporary twist on Sri Lankan cuisine since 2021 – and is now running a monthly Conscious Vegan Night that cannot be missed!
Stella Restaurant and Bar
Do you need to find a restaurant to make a lasting impression for that romantic date or a group of friends for your festive end-of-year dinner? Then look no further than Stella Restaurant and Bar. Situated in the hustle and bustle of Chapel St, Stella is offering both Christmas Day and NYE celebrations galore.
15 Years of 400 Gradi
400 Gradi's recent 15th birthday celebration, hosted in the beating heart of Brunswick, was a grand spectacle of tantalising Italian delicacies, free flowing drinks and was wrapped in an atmosphere of sheer jubilation.
Photo & Video
The 10th Whitelion Bail Out Charity Fundraiser
Bail Out's plans to help out Melbourne's disadvantaged youth.
The Fox Darkroom
Snap away with The Fox Darkroom, a mecca for photography aficionados to learn all about the traditional methods of black and white photography.
Somewhere Else video sings of summer
It almost sounds like the premise of a reality TV show: pile a bunch of artists in a bus for seven days, send them across Mexico and see what happens.