While Ballarat Miners coach Brendan Joyce was pleased with his team's performance in their round one NBL1 win over the Nunawading Spectres, a key injury remains looming over his head.
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Marque import combo-guard Marqueze Colmen missed Saturday nights game at The Graveyard due to a hamstring injury.
His timetable for recovery remains unclear until results of a scan come through.
"We'll probably know more today," Joyce told The Courier on Monday.
"He wanted to play but after our physio did some testing it would have been a risk to play him. If he tore it or damaged it more, he could be out for months."
Joyce added Colmen could miss more time but is hoping to have him available for the Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners home opener this Saturday.
"I'm hoping he's back this week but it might be another week or two, we really won't know until we get the results of the scan."
Joyce was pleased with how his team was able to perform following the loss of Colmen, praising fellow combo-guard Sam Short for his impressive display against the Spectres.
"With Marqueze out (Sam) had a lot of responsibility to shoulder. I thought he did a really good job, he showed a lot of maturity in the way that he played."
The Miners used their youth and athleticism to overpower Nunawading on both ends of the floor, something Joyce noted would be a key aspect of their game-plan going forward.
"We've got a really young, athletic team - we want to play at a high tempo for long periods and we've got the players to do it.
"I don't like slow players as a coach, these days the game is about speed and endurance so guys like Deng - he had a big influence on the game defensively."
The Miners other American import Jerry Evans Jr produced 20 points in 22 minutes off the bench however Joyce said his role will change throughout the season.
"He's still finding his feet with what we do, at some stage I have no doubt he'll be a starter."
Former Miner highlights NBL free agency class
Ex-Ballarat Miner Nathan Sobey heads the list of free agents for the 2019-20 NBL season.
Sobey, who is currently playing in Europe after the conclusion of this past NBL season, will be entering his fifth year in the NBL, four of which have been spent with the Adelaide 36ers.
The combo-guard is a two-time member of the All NBL team (2017, 2019) and a former winner of the Most Improved Player award.
Other former Miners who are part of this free agency class include Shaun Bruce, Peter Hooley and Craig Moller as well as current Miners Kuany Kuany and Deng Acouth.
NBL1 LADDER: See where every team stands after round 1
Kilsyth 2 wins, 0 losses
NW Tasmania 1 win, 0 losses
Ringwood 1 win, 0 losses
Hobart Huskies 1 win, 0 losses
Ballarat 1 win, 0 losses
Eltham 1 win, 0 losses
Bendigo 1 win, 0 losses
Albury 1 win, 0 losses
Waverley 1 win, 1 loss
Nunawading 1 win, 1 loss
BA CoE 1 win, 2 losses
Knox 0 wins, 1 loss
Melbourne Tigers 0 wins, 1 loss
Diamond Valley 0 wins, 1 loss
Frankston 0 wins, 1 loss
Dandenong 0 wins, 1 loss
Geelong 0 wins, 1 loss
Southern Sabres 0 wins, 2 losses