Basketball: Scots facing tough start

Led by their German-American captain Michael Kirkpatrick - the 28-year-old Edinburgh vet student who inspired Edinburgh Kings to a grand slam of Scottish basketball honours this season - the Scottish Universities open against the holders England in the Four Nations Championship at the University of Ulster later today.

Scotland finished only third on home ground in Edinburgh last year, losing also to Northern Ireland, whom they face in the final game on Thursday.

But coach Iain Maclean, the former Rocks and Scotland captain, is convinced his squad is stronger this year and has a good chance of beating England tonight before going on to face Wales tomorrow. The Lithuanian forward Zbynch Kubusz (Glasgow) has replaced injured Falkirk Fury guard Bryan Munnoch (Edinburgh) but two more Edinburgh players, Tom Hutchinson and Liam McCabe, give the Scots a lot of height.