Due to one of the quirks of the league schedule, the Toyama Grouses won't face the reigning champion Ryukyu Golden Kings during the regular season. But they've fared quite well against other elite clubs.

Toyama is a combined 8-2 against a quartet of title contenders: 4-0 against Eastern Conference-leading Iwate (35-9), 2-0 vs. East No. 2 Akita (34-10), 1-1 against West No. 3 Hamamatsu (34-10) and 1-1 against West-leading Kyoto (37-7). What's more, they are 16-6 on the road, tied for the second-fewest away defeats among the East's Dirty Dozen.

Over the past two weeks, the Grouses (31-13, third in the East), guided by third-year bench boss Bob Nash, reminded the league of its mettle and moxie, sweeping the Big Bulls, 81-68 and 81-79 on March 14 and 15 on the road, followed by 91-82 and 94-82 home decisions over the Northern Happinets last weekend.