OTTAWA (CIS) – The UBC Thunderbirds earned the wildcard entry into the CIS men's basketball Final 8 and will be heading to Ottawa this weekend as the No. 3 seed in an attempt to improve on their second-place finish from 2009.
The T-Birds missed out on automatically qualifying after they were upset by the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West semi-finals, however, UBC's strong 2009-10 campaign (which saw them ranked either first or second in the CIS for the entire year) was enough to earn them the lone at-large berth into the tournament.
The T-Birds meet the No. 6 seeded Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA bronze medallists) in the quarterfinals this Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. PST at Scotiabank Place.
The defending national champion and tournament host Carleton University Ravens are the top-ranked team heading into the weekend.
Rounding out the list of participating teams are the No. 2 Cape Breton Capers (AUS champions), No. 4 Windsor Lancers (OUA finalists), No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West champions), No. 7 Calgary Dinos (Canada West finalists), and No. 8 UQAM Citadins (QSSF champions).
The OUA champions Ravens, who have captured six of the past seven W.P. McGee trophies as CIS monarchs, begin their title defence against UQAM Friday at 8 p.m. (TSN2), in the last quarter-final duel.
The other first-round match-ups pit Cape Breton against Calgary at 12:30 p.m., and Windsor against Saskatchewan at 6 p.m. (TSN2).
The CIS all-Canadians and major award winners will be unveiled at a reception on Thursday evening.
Note: A complete championship preview will follow on Tuesday.
SEEDINGS
1. Carleton Ravens (OUA champions: 20-2 regular season / 3-0 playoffs)
2. Cape Breton Capers (AUS champions: 18-2 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
3. UBC Thunderbirds (Wildcard: 17-1 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
4. Windsor Lancers (OUA finalists: 17-5 regular season / 2-1 playoffs)
5. Saskatchewan Huskies (CWUAA champions: 14-6 regular season / 4-0 playoffs)
6. Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA bronze medallists: 17-5 regular season / 2-1 playoffs)
7. Calgary Dinos (CWUAA finalists: 15-5 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
8. UQAM Citadins (QSSF champions: 11-5 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 18
19:30 All-Canadian Awards Reception (Marriott Hotel – Victoria Room)
Friday, March 19
12:30 Quarter-final #1: No. 2 Cape Breton vs. No. 7 Calgary (SSN Canada)
14:30 Quarter-final #2: No. 3 UBC vs. No. 6 Lakehead (SSN Canada)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Saskatchewan (TSN2)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 1 Carleton vs. No. 8 UQAM (TSN2)
Saturday, March 20
11:30 Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2 (SSN Canada)
13:30 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (SSN Canada)
17:00 Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (TSN2)
19:00 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (TSN2)
Sunday, March 21
16:00 Consolation final (5th place) (SSN Canada)
18:30 Championship final (TSN2)
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