Worcester Wolves

2012/13: 5th place

The Worcester Wolves are a professional basketball team from Worcester in England. The team was founded in 2000 abolished in 2006 the leap into the professional league closed the British Basketball League, after among others, the Birmingham Bullets had withdrawn from the West Midlands from the BBL.

History

Beginning in the English leagues (2000 to 2006)

Having had a unterklassige team named Chiefs in Worcester exist in the 1990s, which was, however, migrated in 1996 to Solihull near Birmingham, the desire arose after the construction of the Worcester Arena at the University of Worcester to formation of a new basketball team. The Wolves took place in 2000 included in the third division of the " National Basketball League " ( NBL ). After a second place in the first season they managed directly promoted to the second season. At the start of the following season one was then upgraded directly in the highest class of NBL Division One after the withdrawal of the Doncaster Panthers. After the founding of the " English Basketball League " ( EBL) 2003, it first played in the second division, but managed in the first season of the EBL in 2004 as second in the regular season and won the play-offs and the League Cup Patrons Cup promotion to the EBL Division One. In Division One they finished in fourth place twice and won in 2006 in the League Cup National Trophy.

British Basketball League (since 2006)

After the 2005/ 06 season, the BBL again suffered the loss of three franchises with the London Towers, Birmingham Bullets and Brighton Bears. Looking for regional possible replacement, the choice of BBL to London United, Worthing Thunder fell, and in the West Midlands to the Worcester Wolves. While the Worthing Thunder until two years later took up their game operating in the BBL, the Wolves were already represented in the 2006/07 season in the BBL and there occupied by only four wins this season in 36 league games last among ten teams. At this balance shall also Nachverpflichtung of the German - American Mark Hallgrimson changed nothing. The London United had indeed made ​​it to eighth place to jump into the play- offs, but were replaced for the following season by London Capital. The following season, the Wolves won athletic ground, while the newly added regional rivals Birmingham Panthers turn took the last seat and withdrew after one season.

On the eighth place in the final table of the 2007/08 season, the Wolves, who had been reinforced with the experienced German - American Chuck Evans could qualify for the play- offs, while reaching the semi-finals in the League Cup BBL Trophy. While one was eliminated in the Trophy to eventual winners Guildford Heat, they lost in the first round of the play -offs against defending champions Newcastle Eagles. In the following season was a setback when one of the tenth and third last place missed the final round in the final table. We then sought Chuck Evans as manager back, who took his first coach job with the Wolves. Two months after the start of the season did not make the headlines Wolves, but in sporting terms, as the self- colored Neutrainer Evans sweeping the work ethic of his players criticized fair-skinned. The so- criticized players, including former Canadian player-coach of the Wolves Skouson Harker, felt racially insulted and refused further cooperation with Evans, so the schedules of the Wolves were moved in December 2009 initially. Evans finally stood back while the getratenen on strike players were dismissed from the club. Successor to Evans was also the end of the colored Paul James, the six new players in December and committed to the end of the season reached its budget balanced. But in a triple comparison with two other teams had it the worst record and finished ninth, so you missed the final round.

At the end of the 2010/11 season, the Wolves again occupied the ninth place final, where they this time had a negative record this season with more defeats than won games. In the following season, however, came the sporting breakthrough, as not only the first time had a positive season record in the BBL, but as a third party with only eight defeats in 30 games, only one defeat was worse than the table first Newcastle Eagles, all of that season to titles awarded the BBL won in the end. The end of the season was disappointing for the Wolves, because despite the good position they lost on his second play-off participation in the first round against the Cheshire Jets. In the 2012/13 season could confirm the sporting success of the previous season and reached fifth again a place in the top half of the table. In the first round of the play -offs to win his first final -round match, but in the addition of round-trip game would retire with three points difference against the fourth-placed Surrey Heat again to kick off the play- offs.

In the season 2013/14, the Wolves get the new franchise Birmingham Knights again a regional rival.