Jets coach relaxed over team's tight time frame

New Manawatu Jets coach Ryan Weisenberg says the team only needs a month to be ready for the National Basketball League this year.

Weisenberg arrived in New Zealand last Friday bringing with him two American players. The Jets had their first camp at the weekend.

Some NBL teams have been training since December but Weisenberg said a month was plenty of time to have them in gear before they host the Wellington Saints on March 6 at Arena Manawatu.

"It's way more time than we need," he said. "In the NBA you only have a month and we have a month.

"In college in the States you only have three weeks and in high school you have two weeks. If I can't give them the information in that time, I shouldn't be coaching."

Last weekend's camp at Masterton was a positive environment, Weisenberg said, and the team have set big goals.

"Our three biggest goals are one, to win a championship; two is to make the Jets the classiest organisation in the NBL and three is to really just to up the NBL into a world-class league.

"I know they're all lofty goals but we want to work hard for that."

Weisenberg will be assisted by fellow American David Craig and former Jets captain and New Zealand player, Kent Mori.

Strength and conditioning coach, Kyle Chapman, has been working with some of the Manawatu-based players for the past two weeks.

The pre-season Blitz tournament has been cancelled because some South Island teams couldn't afford to attend. The Jets hope to play the Bay Hawks in a pre-season game on February 28, possibly at Waipukurau.

- © Fairfax NZ News