VANCOUVER - With the top seed already locked up throughout the conference playoffs, the No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds wrap up the regular season with a split series against the Victoria Vikes. Each team will host one game this weekend before they both move on to the crossover playoff round.
TICKETS /
WEBCAST
GAME TIMES
Friday, Feb. 15
8 p.m. - Victoria at No. 2 UBC
Saturday, Feb. 16
7 p.m. - No. 2 UBC at Victoria
No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds (18-2)
Last Week: W 93-69, W 93-61 at UNBC
The T-Birds have a four-game lead in both the Pacific Division and overall Canada West standings, so these final two games of the regular season can't hurt their playoff seed. But if they need motivation, they need only look back to last year, where they were again finishing the regular season with a home-and-home series against Victoria. Except the division crown was on the line in that series, with UBC needing to win both games to capture it. They won at home on Friday but lost in Victoria the next night, and subsequently lost on the road in the crossover playoffs the next round.
They also have a 12-game win streak to protect, and as the only Canada West team ranked in the top eight nationally, they can't hide from the fact that they will be heavy favourites heading into the conference playoffs. Keeping the level of play at a consistent, high level is easier than just trying to turn on your A-game in crunch time, and they can count on getting the Vikes' absolute best shot this week.
Second-year post
David Wagner has been red-hot for the T-Birds, leading them in scoring in four of the past six games. Even with four of UBC's top seven players in terms of minutes averaged being new to the team this year, Wagner has to be the surprise of the season so far. He went from averaging two points per game as a rookie to over 12 this year, stepping into a starting role when
Jared Casey went down with an injury early on. He leads the team with 56 per cent field goal shooting, giving coach
Kevin Hanson that consistent scoring presence in the paint he's been looking for.
While Wagner takes care of filling the basket, his partner in the low post,
Brylle Kamen, is responsible for cleaning the glass. The 'Birds are the top rebounding team in the conference by a wide margin, and that has a lot to do with the talented big man from France by way of San Jose State. He is averaging 10.6 boards this season, good for second in the conference, and has two 20+ rebound games under his belt already. He's also a skilled scorer, able to pound it down low and hit the occasional perimeter shot, and his free throw shooting has been steadily improving all season to the point where he's now one of the most consistent T-Birds from the stripe.
Victoria Vikes (14-6)
Last Week: W 74-69, L 69-68 at Mount Royal
Although the Pacific Division was already out of reach, the Vikes have to be a little concerned about losing to 4-14 Mount Royal last weekend with the playoffs approaching so quickly. They shot just 31 per cent as a team in that game, which has been an issue for Victoria this season. They don't average many points, thanks in part to a slower style of play and strong defence, but the Vikes are also one of the weaker teams in the conference in terms of shooting percentage despite their solid record.
A strong turnover ratio and excellent rebounding (second only to UBC) has helped the Vikes overcome their offensive deficiencies for the most part, but when the playoffs start and the opponents get tougher, you can't count on giveaways and free boards to make up for bad shooting.
Terrell Evans is a legitimate scoring threat, averaging 17.4 points on 53 per cent shooting, which is a nice percentage given how inconsistent he's been from three-point range. Overzealous three-point shooting seems to be the downfall for a lot of the Vikes, as they have four players who are attempting at least two shots per game from long distance while converting less than a third of their chances.
Michael Acheampong is second on the team with 13.2 points per game, but he is almost exclusively a perimeter scorer, shooting 38 per cent on the season. To keep up with the 'Birds, the Vikes are going to need a consistent source of offense from the paint like UBC has. Chris McLaughlin could be that guy, as he averages ten points shooting 50 per cent from the floor. He also pulls down over eight rebounds per game, and the Vikes will need production from him in both areas this weekend and going forward into the playoffs if they want to be competitive.
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