Ireland 197
And you will know them by the trail of dead
Nobody was expecting a close run thing between Ireland and San Marino but the sheer barbarity the hosts put on display in the opening quarter set the tone for an utter rout. Emmet Ryan witnessed the carnage up close The first few days of action had shown that San Marino appeared to be the weakest […]
Small countries but a big deal
Ireland opened their account on night one of the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries by winning a lively encounter over Andorra. Emmet Ryan would have settled for a damp squib of a game, he was just happy to be back courtside in person. The second half of Malta’s win over San Marino was well […]
The long wait for something real
Ireland’s senior sides return to competitive action for the first time in three years this summer. With the women’s European championships for small countries tipping off in Nicosia on 20 July and the men’s a few weeks later in Dublin, Emmet Ryan spoke with Dayna Finn and Ciaran Roe of the Irish senior teams about […]
The last game
A year on from sitting courtside, Emmet Ryan reflects on basketball, coincidence, and hope We knew it was coming, we just had little idea when it was going to happen. The past weekend saw memories pop up in my social feeds from this time a year ago, the last game I was at in person […]
CJ Fulton is happy to focus on the present
With his decision on where to go next very much up in the air, CJ Fulton is a prospect who is just working on his game for now. Emmet Ryan caught up with the Belfast Star point guard, for whom basketball runs in the family It’s the middle of the third quarter and Belfast Star […]
Even in defeat, Shrita Parker is impossible to ignore
Shrita Parker is not your regular baller. She’s all of them. Emmet Ryan was enraptured by the game of the Glanmire import as she brought the full buffet with her but it wasn’t enough as Killester forced their way into the Irish women’s cup final Shrita Parker is not your normal US import in Ireland. […]
Sometimes you win ugly
This was not a good basketball game by any stretch but at least history was guaranteed no matter what. Tralee Warriors and Éanna were both looking for a first ever trip to Irish men’s cup final and Éanna were good for their win in a game where the only thing they’ll want to remember is […]
The secret dynasty of Liam Printer
He’s the most dominant coach you’ve never heard of. In four seasons, he’s won two European championships and finished second in the other two. Not bad for a guy who was originally focused on coaching snowboarding. Emmet Ryan chats to Liam Printer, for whom basketball has sent him on some odd journeys Reasonably speaking, going […]
BiE’s best of the decade
We have a couple of treats in store next week but before that, we’ve taken the time to select the best writing on the site over the past 10 years, join us on a journey through the highs, the lows, the deep dives, and the tearful goodbyes Between game analysis, player profiles, addressing big issues, […]
“The NBA’s face is European” – Francisco Elson
2007 NBA champion Francisco Elson has no doubts, the face of the NBA is European now. The Dutch legend and former San Antonio Spurs big man talked to Emmet Ryan on a visit to Dublin about his career, the game today, and working with young people Francisco Elson stands tall in most rooms but the […]
The tightest league in Europe just got tighter
Any run of results would guarantee chaos in the Irish Super League. It was going to take something special to make things absolutely bonkers at the mid-point of the season and we got just that. Emmet Ryan on how December to Dismember is living up to its billing It began in rather drab fashion. Templeogue […]
The way of the Warriors
The race was over, then it was alive again, then it was decided. Over the course of 2 games, starting 24 hours apart, the Irish Super League championship was decided in a combination of both the height of drama and the calm of a coronation. Emmet Ryan hit the road to take in all the, […]