VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds are all set to open the 2022-23 Canada West men's basketball regular season when they host the UNBC Timberwolves for back-to-back games this Saturday and Sunday November 12 & 13, each tipping off at 4:00 p.m. at historic War Memorial Gym.
 
The T-Birds always enter with high expectations and look to build off a 2021-22 campaign that saw them finish second in the west division with a 16-2 record before dropping a heartbreaking one-point 88-87 decision to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the conference quarterfinals. UBC, who last claimed the Canada West championship in 2020 will also aim to prove some people wrong after being ranked third overall in the preseason conference coaches' poll behind Alberta at number two and UVic ranked number one.


 
With every off season there's inevitable roster turnover and the key graduating departures included the teams second leading scorer in Grant Audu along with starting point guard and fourth leading scorer Kyle Foreman. While they'll be missed the blue and gold have many standout returners including guard, James Woods the team's leading scorer who averaged 19 points per game last season and athletic big man Sukhman Sandhu, who sat third in scoring averaging 15 points per game. Rounding out the projected starting lineup includes fifth-year sweet shooting forward Triston Matthews, fourth-year physical presence Brian Wallack and third-year slashing guard Jack Cruz-Dumont.


 
"Over the summer time I really thought we were going to have to focus on two guys that would have to provide the majority of the scoring in James Woods and Sukhman Sandhu," said UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. "However, as our preseason has progressed, I've really been pleasantly surprised by impressed by different players who've stepped up and taken advantage of the opportunities they've earned including second-year six-foot - ten forward Nikola Guzina who is among those that have room to grow into bigger roles."


 
The Thunderbirds have enjoyed a rewarding preseason that has spanned nearly three months of preparation while amassing a 7-0 record. It dates back to August, 16 for a special game one where they hosted the world-famous University of Las Vegas Running Rebels for a summer showcase at a packed War Memorial Gym. The T-Birds executed well for it being their first competitive action in downing the surprised Rebels 79-72. A month and a half later saw an equally as charged atmosphere on home court and another emotional win as the 'Birds got past the cross-town rival SFU Red Leafs 79-73 to reclaim the recently reignited legendary Buchanan Cup matchup that dates back to 1965.


 
"I think it was very important for us to intentionally schedule a bit more of a challenging preseason," added Hanson. "Anytime you're able to play a division one program, you never know when those opportunities will present themselves but obviously a great team for us to play and the outcome was important for us in terms of a positive start and program statement win. We were very fortunate to play that and have guys step up and have those special games against a storied program like UNLV. Then we're on the road against three regularly top 10 ranked teams (U of Calgary, Regina & Brock) and being able to win in a variety of different ways with different in game challenges along the way and we saw the same with the SFU game. I'm really happy that the rivalry game is back in place, just from the standpoint of giving the student-athletes some real flavor, the players might not remember every league game but that exhibition game is a piece of history and with the intensity and all that is at stake. I've been involved in that game from every angle as a player and coach from both sides and I had been thinking about that game for a year. It was important for our team, we treated it like a playoff game in front of big crowd so it really feels like we've had some good tests getting prepared for the regular season."
 
Coach Hanson is entering his 23^rd season in charge of the T-Birds and already holds the record as the all-time leader in Canada West regular season coaching wins with 336 and counting. Just last month Hanson entered another milestone stratosphere after the 'Birds defeated the Brock Badgers 81-79 in Calgary, the result saw the veteran coach record his five hundredth career U SPORTS win. The two-time U SPORTS coach of the year is the leader in U SPORTS wins among current coaches across the country and occupies fifth place on the all-time U SPORTS wins list (Hanson's 502 wins has him just six behind Jerry Hemmings in fourth spot).  Hanson has no hesitation in saying he still just as excited as ever to ply his trade on a daily basis while admitting he also hasn't stopped learning and adapting over the course of his journey.


 
"It makes me smile, it makes me laugh," explained Hanson. "It really is, I have a rejuvenated energy level in me, I'm absolutely loving it now winning games obviously puts the positive spin on it but I do think I've really changed as a coach, I think I've grown as a coach, I think I'm more of a player's coach than I ever have been. I'm really enjoying this group of guys, they're very close knit and I'm most impressed with how they've accepted their roles whether a starter or coming off the bench. The bench guys have been tremendous, they know what they have to work on and love getting their opportunities, I appreciate the positive energy coming from the bench and hopefully we can continue playing for each other."
 
The T-Birds began the season with a bye-week and will welcome a Timberwolves team that split their weekend home series against TWU with a pair of lopsided scores for each team, UNBC dropped an 85-68 decision to the Spartans last Friday before responding with a 85-69 win the next night.
 
"Their coming off a split and we were able to watch their games as a team," commented Hanson in pre-scouting the visitors. "They have some serious talent and some experienced guys that have been around the league for a little bit and picked up a new American guard who's a very dynamic player and getting a lot of shots. They're playing a lose style and something we haven't done this year is play a team back-to-back and that always brings a psychological dynamic to the game, you saw in scores this past weekend normally there's one lopsided game followed by a closer one or vice versa. So, lots of splits in the first weekend, some surprising scores but it shows you we have a perception of what a time could be like can be different than what it is and history has no bearing on how a team is in any given year. We're taking it as a top challenge and even know we're focusing on ourselves I think we've done a great job of being prepared against the teams we're playing and the guys are buying into what we're emphasizing as coaches which includes trying to be better defensively."
 
The last time the T-Birds and T-Wolves met was in mid-January of this year in Prince George where UBC got past the hosts 93-74.
 
All the weekend action can be seen on Canada West TV.