The Matchup

 
The No. 4 UBC Thunderbirds (15-3) get set for a unique home and home Canada West rivalry meeting with the University of Victoria Vikes (10-8) this Thursday and Friday February 1 and 2.
 
It will be the first meeting between the two teams since just over a year ago in late November of 2016 when the 'Birds swept the weekend home and home series, first in Victoria by a score of 82-69 followed by a closer 93-89 overtime victory on home court two days later.
 
This weekend's action gets going on Thursday night at 8 p.m. PT at Carsa Performance Gym in Victoria while the return engagement goes the next night at 8 p.m. PT where there will be an awesome atmosphere in the War Memorial Gym for the annual COURTSIDE Basketball festival.
 
http://gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2017/1/23/2018-courtside.aspx
 

 

Last Action

 
The T-Birds won their fourth and fifth straight games with a weekend sweep on the road against the UBC Okanagan Heat with scores of 73-47 on Friday night followed by a 84-63 decision on Saturday.
 
The Vikes split their weekend series on home court against the Mount Royal Cougars beginning with a 100-97 win on Friday night followed by an 85-79 loss on Saturday.
 

By the Numbers

 
93.3 – The average number of points scored per game by the 'Birds which ranks first overall in Canada West.
 
48.6 – The 'Birds field goal shooting percentage which also ranks tops overall in the conference thanks to the T-Birds hitting on 626 of their 1289 attempts to date.


 

Players to Watch

 
Phil Jalalpoor (#7, G) – The fifth-year guard combined for 37 points and eight rebounds helping the 'Birds to back to back wins in Kelowna last weekend.
 
Conor Morgan (#9, F) – The fifth-year forward ranks second in average points scored per game in Canada West with 23.8 while also ranking second in the conference in average rebounds per game with 10.1.
 

Coach's Take

 
Thunderbirds head coach Kevin Hanson was pleased with his team's effort in decisive wins in Kelowna last weekend.
 
"Overall it was a really good weekend for us, I thought the Heat came out with a really good game plan to try and take some of things that we do away but I was happy with how we responded," said Hanson. "The welcome we received especially for the three Kelowna Secondary School graduates was pretty special and the reception we had post game on both nights was really great and memorable for those guy's. All of them played, which included Parker Simson playing his first minutes of the season meant it was a real positive weekend for us."
 


Hanson is also looking forward to finishing off the regular season with a rivalry matchup that will ensure his players are fully engaged.
 
"I think it's a great way to have a rival game and even since my days as a player UVic was the matchup you highlighted to look forward to," Hanson continued. "Certain games automatically you don't have to really say anything to motivate the players, myself and the rest of the coaching staff. We're always excited to play against UVic, they're going to be excited to play against us and it will be a couple of great atmospheres in front of two packed gyms. The emotion, the intensity it's going to be playoff basketball despite being regular season games so we're really looking forward to it."