The Matchup
After an exhibition season that saw them travel to Taiwan, play a game against an NCAA team coached by a Cleveland Cavaliers legend (Charlotte 49ers, Mark Price) and sweep a pair of game versus OUA teams, the Thunderbirds are poised to get their Canada West season underway. Pre-season U Sports rankings have the 'Birds pegged at number three in the nation, behind only perennial champions Carleton and last years national silver medalists, the Calgary Dinos.
This weekend the 'Birds will open their league play on the road in Kamloops against the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack. The two teams will hit the court Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5 at 8pm and 7pm respectively. Both games will be played at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops.
This match-up is particularily intriguing when you think back to the Canada West semi-finals of a year ago. UBC swingman
Conor Morgan's three-point attempt rimmed out in the final seconds and TRU walked away with a 70-69 victory. UBC ended up third in Canada West, while TRU dropped the final to Calgary and took second.
Last Action
UBC was firing on all cylinders in two convincing defeats of OUA teams at the UBC Invitational. The 'Birds started with a 96-63 beat down of the Laurier Golden Hawks followed by a 107-75 drubbing of Lakehead University.
Thompson Rivers is on a two game winning streak heading into Friday's clash with UBC. They defeated Trinity Western 92-78 and Lakehead University 71-66 in their final two tune-ups.
By the Numbers
96.2 – the average points per game for the 'Birds in their five exhibition games versus CIS competition. Numbers like that will make UBC a tough team to beat.
76.6% - that's not a misprint. It's actually
Conor Morgan's field goal percentage in exhibition play. Combine that with
Luka Zaharijevic's
63.4% and you would have to think the T-Birds will be able to find high percentage shots in crunch time, something they struggled with in 2015-16.
Players To Watch
Jordan Jensen-Whyte (#6, G) – the oil in the 'Birds engine, expect the fifth-year Thunderbird to have a monster season as he chases that U Sports crown that has eluded him in his career.
Taylor Browne (#5, G) – a spark off the T-Birds' bench in 2015-16 as a true freshman, Browne is looking to expand his minutes and role for the upcoming season. He's made a good case for both thus far, leading the 'Birds in steals in the pre-season and averaging seven points per game.
Coach's Take
"There is lots of emotion going into it. We've talked to our guys as it's their home opener and it will be our first league road trip," says UBC Head Coach
Kevin Hanson. "There are lots of peripheral variables including what happened last year in the Canada West final four, so there are a lot of different things but we are just really trying to focus on playing our style of game."
Hanson hinted his team and coaches have a somewhat different outlook for this season, as opposed to last.
"What we are trying to do a bit differently this year is let teams focus on matching up against this, instead of us worrying about how we match up with them. We are really excited about getting going. We've played fewer exhibition games than previous years, hoping to keep that hunger and really focus on the league."
