With the 2025 University Basketball League season fast approaching, Curtin’s players and coaches are locking in.
After a strong 2024 run, the team is back with new faces, returning talent, and a hunger to go even further this year.
After a strong showing in 2024, excitement is building as players and coaches prepare for the challenges of a new year on the national stage.
For men’s Head Coach Juan McCauley-Foo, the focus is on raising the bar and building a team that can meet any moment.
“I am most excited about coaching these incredible players,” McCauley-Foo said.
“We have many players returning for another season, coming off injury, and new players being added in. I have a really good feeling about this team.”
He’s especially eager to see how the group responds when the pressure is on.
“I’m most excited to see how they rise to the challenges we are bound to face along the way as the season progresses.”
According to McCauley-Foo, this year’s squad has depth, flexibility and the ability to adapt to any moment.
“This year, we have a great balance of players being able to fill multiple positions and meet the team’s demands,” he said. “Our extended roster is also filled with talented players who can come in and support the team if necessary.”
During the off-season, McCauley-Foo took his own development seriously. While completing his Master of Sports Coaching, he studied elite training methods from major US college basketball programs including Duke, Florida, and Iowa.
According to him, the goal is to “raise our training standards and adopt college practices that could give us an edge.”
He has also brought in veteran WABL coach Bob Andrzejewski to add another layer of experience to the program.
McCauley-Foo said the UBL provides valuable exposure for student-athletes on the rise.
“The University Basketball League provides a valuable opportunity for players to step outside of their usual competitive environment and test themselves in a high-level national competition where the depth of the talent is greater.
For returning men’s player, Caleb Power, coming back was an easy decision.
“I really enjoyed the experience of playing UBL and you make good memories with the team,” he said. “My biggest personal goal is to do everything I can to assist the team in making it to the finals.”
Piper Hearn, a returning player from the women’s team, also said, “The girls, the coaches and everyone involved made playing with the team last season such an amazing and enjoyable experience.”
Hearn said the mix of returning players and new faces has added excitement to the squad.
“It’s really exciting to see how we’re all going to come together and play on game day.”
After making the finals last year, Hearn’s goal is to help the team go even further.
“Striving for finals again this year and doing what I can to help the team aim to make it even further would have to be a goal.”
Balancing elite sport with university life comes with its challenges, though.
“It would have to be time management,” she said. “Organising time around trainings, games and interstate trips to study and work on assessments.”
For Stephen Phipps, one of the first-year players joining the Curtin squad, the chance to be part of something bigger was too good to pass up.
“It feels great,” he said. “I came in backing myself and what I could bring, so getting selected feels like I’m heading in the right direction.”
Phipps hopes to push himself and grow both on and off the court.
“UBL’s a great opportunity to test myself in a new environment and be part of something competitive and meaningful.”
What surprised him most was how well the league is run.
“Everything’s really well organised. The team’s got a strong sense of unity and it’s making the whole experience enjoyable.”
To stay on top of it all, he said, “Planning ahead and making sure I am organised helps with my time management.”
He added, “I make sure I’m on top of university work so that I still have time for all my basketball commitments.”
