Due to one of the quirks of the league schedule, the Toyama Grouses won¡¯t face the reigning champion Ryukyu Golden Kings during the regular season. But they¡¯ve fared quite well against other elite clubs.
Toyama is a combined 8-2 against a quartet of title contenders: 4-0 against Eastern Conference-leading Iwate (35-9), 2-0 vs. East No. 2 Akita (34-10), 1-1 against West No. 3 Hamamatsu (34-10) and 1-1 against West-leading Kyoto (37-7). What¡¯s more, they are 16-6 on the road, tied for the second-fewest away defeats among the East¡¯s Dirty Dozen.
Over the past two weeks, the Grouses (31-13, third in the East), guided by third-year bench boss Bob Nash, reminded the league of its mettle and moxie, sweeping the Big Bulls, 81-68 and 81-79 on March 14 and 15 on the road, followed by 91-82 and 94-82 home decisions over the Northern Happinets last weekend.
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