Despite a unremarkable record from the opening two months of the campaign, Brighton Bears head coach Nick Nurse believes his side are now the third best team in the BBL. 

But the Iowan has warned his rivals that the south coast team are only going to get better from now on.

The Bears are currently nestled in fifth spot in the Southern Conference, out of the play-off berths as has been the norm in recent season in Brighton.

However with a spot in the quarter-finals of the Trophy all but secured, and an exciting side, their coach and co-owner thinks the potential is huge.

"We're a pretty good team," states Nurse, who was quick to distance himself from early reports linking him with a return to London.

"Right now, I'd rate us as third in the league. I think we can close down on Towers but I don't know if we can catch up with Chester.

"If you look at the games, we've lost, we've given up two to Towers, two to Chester and two to Thames Valley. That's no disgrace, especially for Brighton."

With a solid starting rotation led by Albert White and Sterling Davis, it is already apparent that this year's Bears side wil not suffer the same fate of mediocrity as its recent predecessors.

Nurse reveals however that he might add further reinforcements to his roster - if the right personnel become available.

"I don't want to add people just for the sake of it. But we will juggle things around. Potentially, we have two spots to fill, one non-permit and one British. So will see who is around before we make any moves."

Nurse is enjoying the responsibility of his activities off the court also. After enjoying the luxury of well-funded organisations in Manchester and London during his previous three campaigns in the BBL, many expected the drop down to previously unfashionable Brighton to be a challenge.

Not so, he insists. Living on the south coast is an upgrade from residence in Crystal Palace, and his hands-on role at the club has made a refreshing change.

"I'm loving it here," he enthuses. "It's been going well in building things up. We had a nearly full house a few weeks ago for the TV game and people seem to know who we are in the city. There's always been a lot of potential here." 

He adds, laughing: "I'm now out in the real world but I could see myself staying on here for a long time."
 

Click here to discuss this story