The Rizing Fukuoka have always been one of the most colorful, interesting teams in league history.
It started when the Kyushu-based club hired septuagenarian Howie Landa, an accomplished American college hoops mentor, as its first coach, but he stepped down without ever coaching a game due to a family member's illness. Then John Neumann, a one-time NCAA scoring leader (40.1 points per game for Ole Miss in 1970-71) stepped in to run the show for two memorable seasons, including an improbable run to the Final Four in the Rizing's inaugural 2007-08 campaign.
Above all, Fukuoka has been consistent. Exhibit A: Six consecutive playoff appearances. But that appeared in jeopardy during a rocky start this season.