WORCESTER Wolves’ start to the season should not have come as a surprise to anyone.

The team have got steadily better and better with every season that I’ve been here and we are bearing the fruits of that now.

Steadily over the years I think we have been getting gradually more respect for what we’re doing here. I think other teams understand that we are going to be prepared, be tough defensively and play a good style of basketball.

Winning 80-71 at Newcastle Eagles last Friday to keep our unbeaten run going was a fantastic result because the north-east is a tough place to go and win.

We didn’t execute our plays as well as we would have liked in the first-half, defensively we weren’t as tough as we have been in the past and allowed them way too many offensive rebounds.

The whole pre-game talk was about not allowing them second-effort shots but they dominated the boards. Once we tightened that up in the second-half and only allowed them one shot per possession we made life easier for ourselves.

I think a lot of people felt that if we were going to lose a game, that would be the one, but it does send out a statement of intent.

We are a tough team and are going to play hard to the bitter end. I think teams are expecting us to fade during games but, if anything, towards the back end of them we’re getting stronger. That’s testament to the work we’re doing with our strength and conditioning coaches.

Away from the British Basketball League, once again there are several Wolves players involved in University of Worcester team who are defending their British Universities and Colleges Sport crown.

Will Creekmore, Caylin Raftopoulos, Disraeli Lufadeju, Harry Turner, Kalil Irving and Daniel Belgrave are among those in the squad so it is a bit of a juggling act because we still want both teams to be successful.

It’s a situation I will need to manage and make sure players get a rest otherwise guys will be playing 40 to 50-game seasons and we don’t want anybody burning out towards the end of the campaign.

We have got some really good talent in the BUCS team and with some also playing in the BBL, they’re getting good experience there. I like what I’ve seen from the BUCS boys so far this year and we have got to continue moving that forward.

This week also saw the ladies team kick off their season with a good 73-50 home win against Bristol Storm.

I am really pleased for player-coach Shantrell Moss because she’s been putting a lot of work in behind the scenes.