VANCOUVER – Riding a four-game winning streak, the U SPORTS No.4-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (8-4) continue their homestand this weekend with a tough test against the U SPORTS No.6-ranked Manitoba Bisons (10-2). The teams will square off on back-to-back nights at War Memorial Gym, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday and 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.
The T-Birds have not dropped a game since a loss to the U SPORTS No.1-ranked Victoria Vikes in November, with the team taking care of business against rival Trinity Western twice last weekend in its first test out of the winter break. UBC now sits tied for second in wins in Canada West, with a chance to match Manitoba's conference-leading mark this weekend.
"It was great to be able to win in different ways last weekend, I think that's the sign of a good team," said UBC head coach
Kevin Hanson. "We're still trying to build up to call ourselves an elite level team, but we're not there yet. Playing games like that though, being able to finish them, that's going to help. The fourth quarter of the Saturday night game, that's a sign of what we're capable of doing."
Coming out of the break, Coach Hanson challenged his players to pick up their offence in the season's second half, looking for more tempo, better three-point shooting, and fewer turnovers. After a lethargic start to the series against the Spartans, where many of those offensive issues persisted, the 'Birds suddenly found their form and exploded for 57 points in the second half of Saturday's win by shooting a blistering 58% from beyond the arc. They also held Trinity Western to just 14 points in the fourth quarter, putting away their rivals comfortably after playing seven close quarters up to that point in the series.
"It's tough to say what clicked for us down the stretch," mused Hanson. "I think it's a combination of things and if I knew what that magic formula is we'd be using it all the time. I think things started turning when (James) Woods hit that three, he had been struggling from deep and then he hit that deep one and I saw this bolt of energy go through him and then the entire team. Really the guys just started clicking. It's hard to get into flow as an individual, when a whole team gets it going like we did late on Saturday, it's a very pretty thing to watch."
The blue and gold are now set to face their third nationally ranked opponent already this year in Manitoba. The Bisons are riding an eight-game winning streak and have not lost a series yet this season. Further adding to the importance of these games, Manitoba is set to host the Canada West playoff tournament this year, meaning there is a good chance that this is a team UBC will have to go through in order to bring home a banner at season's end.
Remarkably, the 'Birds and Bisons have not clashed since 2018, making it an unusually unfamiliar in-conference showdown. If the numbers are any indication, the two teams will be battling strength on strength when Manitoba is on offence, as the Bisons have the second-best field goal percentage in Canada West while UBC is holding opponents to the lowest mark in the conference.
"Manitoba is a very good team, well coached, excellent spacing, a lot of familiarity between their top guys who have been playing together for a while," noted Hanson. "They have a group of very talented basketball players who not only play well together, but also fit well within their system, which is a potent formula. It's going to be some great basketball. I think the whole conference is going to be focused on what happens in our gym this weekend."
With students now back in class, it's expected to be a spirited atmosphere at War Memorial Gym, but tickets remain available
here. Stream all UBC regular season basketball live or on demand on
Canada West TV.
