Vancouver, BC – The UBC Thunderbirds men's basketball teams is exactly where we have come to expect them under
Kevin Hanson's reign, atop the Canada West Pacific Division and ranked third in the nation. As cliché as it may sound, it's all about team this season. There is no go to guy, no 30 point scorer, just 11 guys working hard on a daily basis with one common goal…. Winning a national championship.
Playing with an unusually small roster this season, just 11 players, the biggest challenge heading into the 2012-13 campaign for head coach
Kevin Hanson and his staff was getting everybody comfortable with each other as only four players were returning from last year's roster.
“With seven of our 11 players being new, we weren't quite sure where we would be at this stage of the season, but obviously we are pretty happy to be in top spot in our division,” said Hanson in his 13
th year at the helm on the Point Grey campus. “Everybody has had the opportunity to play and thankfully we have been able to gel in a short period of time, putting us in a good spot heading into the second half of the season.”
The Thunderbirds epitomize the team motto. Of UBC's 11 players, 10 average over ten minutes a game and their leading scorer (
Doug Plumb) is ranked 17
th in the Canada West. In their 10 regular season games so far this season, eight different players have been the leading scorer at the end of the night.
“The sign of a true team is when different guys can step up on any given night,” said Hanson. “It is a little strange not to have a go to guy, but it also proves just how good our team play has been this year. Every player is unselfish, which in turn makes us harder to defend because so many guys can contribute.”
That includes a trio of true rookies,
Isaiah Solomon (Richmond, BC),
Jordan Jensen-Whyte (Calgary, AB), and Connor Morgan (Victoria, BC), who have made an immediate impact at the CIS level, not exactly the easiest thing to do coming right out of high school.
“It's a true credit to them and shows the level they are able to play at,” said Hanson. “This is tough league to adapt to for anyone, let alone a freshman. The learning curve is steep as the competition and coaching demands ramp up, but these guys have fit in well with the team both on and off the court and maybe even more importantly they have brought in some fun. Just young kids playing a game they love, which rubs off on all of us.”
UBC is the second highest scoring team in the conference averaging 82.8 points per game. They are also the best free throw shooting team in the conference (76%) and the top rebounding team as well, led by the best rebounder in the Canada West,
Brylle Kamen (Paris, France).
“Solid defensive rebounding starts everything we want to do offensively and Brylle is the key to that,” said Hanson. “He works above the remain and when healthy has shown he can absolutely dominate on the boards as he did against Lethbridge, pulling down 21 rebounds in the game.”
A 100% healthy Kamen will be important for UBC in the second half of the season. He has been battling a hamstring injury, but hopefully the six weeks off between regular season games will be exactly what he needs to get back to full strength.
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the development of second year forward
David Wagner (Kamloops, BC). The 6'9 product has benefitted from the departure of
Mike Lewandowski and an early season injury to
Jared Casey (Maple Ridge, BC) to play major minutes and contribute offensively. In the final two games before exams against Calgary and Lethbridge, he had 21 and 28 points respectively.
“David's improvement has been incredible,” said Hanson. “Last year he was just running around, setting screens and trying not to screw up. This year he is a focal point of our offense and if he continues to improve at this rate good things will continue to happen. Nothing seems to bother him. He is the perfect guy to have on your team, a pleasure to coach and his teammates love him.”
Before returning to Canada West regular action January 11, 2013 in Winnipeg against the University of Manitoba, the Thunderbirds will head to Hawaii just after Christmas for 10 days of fun, sun, and basketball.
“This is the tenth time that I have gone to Hawaii with a team I have coached and I think it is great,” said Hanson. “We will get the opportunity to practice every day, play three games against tough competition, as well as have some team bonding. Every trip I have gone on to Hawaii, I have noticed personality changes for the better in the second semester. Guys are happier, have more energy, and are revitalized.”
