BOTH the Joondalup Wolves men's and women's SBL teams enter the 2015 season with expectations of contending for the respective championships and with the rosters assembled, there appears to be good reason for their optimism.

The Wolfpack men's and women's teams have both been able to keep most of their groups together, have a good blend of youth and experience, and have made strong signings that make each of them real chances at taking out the titles in 2015.

Coming off winning the 2011 championships and playing off in the 2013 grand final, the men's Wolfpack team surprisingly missed the playoffs altogether last year.

Despite still recording a solid 14-12 record over the course of the season, it wasn’t quite enough for the Wolves to finish in the top eight and they have reacted swiftly putting together a tremendous array of talent in response for the 2015 season.

Championship-winning coach Ben Ettridge is back at the helm of the Wolves replacing Craig Friday in 2015. However, Friday will remain one of his assistants for the season along with Luke Brennan and Ryan Benson.

And the coaching group has been able to lure a strong group of players to join them at the Wolfpack for the 2015 campaign.

Former league MVP Damian Matacz returns to the Wolves while former Kalamunda Eastern Suns captain Joel Questel is on board. Questel has captained the Eastern Suns the past three seasons, led the league in steals in 2014, and will bring his strong all-round game with him to Joondalup.

Young big man Louis Timms also joins the Wolves from the Suns and with new import Kevin Davis having exciting wraps on him, then the Joondalup team for 2015 appears to have recruited well.

On top of that, Seb Salinas, Trian Iliadis, Rob Huntington, Doug Gates and Sean Easther remain so it is a squad that if it remains together and healthy, should be a serious contender.

Ettridge is excited by the coaching and playing group he will now be working with in 2015.

"My family and I are excited to be back with the Wolfpack. I thank the Wanneroo Basketball Association and all involved in the SBL program for the opportunity and faith they are placing in my staff and I," Ettridge said.

"I cannot wait to work with Craig, Luke, Benno, Cambo, Donna and the boys. We have quality veterans in Seb Salinas, Trian Iliadis and Robbie Huntington and some great kids in Ben Ironmonger and Jordan Wellstead.

"We have an exciting group, and I think we will give it a good crack again in the near future. We are now looking for a couple of quality individuals to round out our roster."

While the Wolves men look strong, the women are looking to be an equally imposing force coming into the 2015 SBL season.
The Lady Wolfpack finished the 2014 regular season in third position with a 15-7 record before beating the Stirling Senators in the quarter finals but losing to the Lakeside Lightning in the semi finals.

Coach Vlad Alava led the team to the women's SBL championship in 2013 and now has assembled a group that he will be hoping can get back in the mix in 2015.

With the majority of the group from 2014 back again to give it another crack, the Wolves have made some terrific signings with Casey Lockwood, Rebecca Mercer and Antonia Edmondson all on board for the season.

Edmondson joins the Wolves having played with the Willetton Tigers the past two years where she averaged 14 points, five rebounds and three assists a game.

Edmondson has been captain of the New Zealand Tall Ferns and has been playing in the WNBL with the West Coast Waves the past three seasons now after previous stints with Christchurch, Dandenong, Bendigo and Adelaide.

The veteran guard brings enormous experience to the Joondalup back court in 2015.

Lockwood averaged 11 points and six rebounds a game in the Wolves championship-winning season in 2013 and now the 183cm forward is back for 2015 and like Edmondson, she has played with the Tall Ferns while also having WNBL experience with the Townsville Fire.

Then there is another returnee with Mercer back with the Wolfpack. Having won the 2010 and 2011 club MVP awards, Mercer left the Wolfpack to play both in the WNBL and SEABL over the past three years, but she is now back with the Wolves looking to win a championship.

With the returns of Lockwood and Mercer, and addition of Edmondson on top of a group that wasn’t far off the mark in 2014, then the Lady Wolfpack appear to be a force that will take some beating in 2015.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
MEN

STEPHEN CHARLTON
Return Salinas, Huntington Iliadis from last year's team and add Questel, Matacz, Timms and Import. Well coached with Ettridge returning and this is the pre season favourite without a doubt.

My Prediction: 1st

MATT CECINS
The Wolves have the deepest frontcourt in the SBL with Huntington, Timms, Matacz and the new import Kevin Davis. They have an abundance of scoring avenues now inside and out, with Salinas and Iliadis on the wings and former Sun Joel Questel, who is a deadly three-point shooter running the point. The Wolves bench has talent including Doug Gates and Sean Easther. Ben Ettridge was the last head coach to win a title for the Wolfpack, and he returns this year to develop the right playing style and blend the plethora of talent available to him in 2015.

My Prediction: 1st

CHRIS PIKE
Take Salinas, Iliadis and Huntington, add former SBL championship winning coach Ben Ettridge, former league MVP Damien Matacz, two solid recruits in Joel Questel and Louis Timms from Kalamunda, a high quality athletic 6’10 import and you have a recipe for a championship.

My Prediction: 2nd

WOMEN

CRAIG MANSFIELD
Have all positions covered and are absolutely stacked on paper with the additions of Edmondson, Mercer and Lockwood to go with almost everyone from last year. Had injury issues in 2014 otherwise they could have been repeat champions. This will also be the third season of them running the offensive system that Kareama brought over when he took the Waves job. Team chemistry, minutes and shots for all will be a big problem but look for them to win a lot of games by large margins which generally keeps everyone happy.

My Prediction: 1st

MATT CECINS
They have an excellent blend of youth and experience on their roster. The pick up of athletic Tall Fern Toni Edmondson from the Tigers is a massive coup. The return of WSBL Champion Casey Lockwood puts the Wolves into the category of title contenders.

My Prediction: 3rd

CHRIS PIKE
This team is stacked and if Coach Alava can get the chemistry right, they will no doubt be the team to beat in 2015.

My Prediction: 1st