November games don't get too much bigger than this weekend, as the UBC Thunderbirds, ranked #2 in the country, welcome the #1 Victoria Vikes to War Memorial Gym. The two-game weekend series runs on Friday, November 15th, and Saturday, November 16th.
The T-Birds are riding a 4-0 start to the season, with all of their last three wins being by 20+ points. UVic are the only other undefeated team in the Pacific Division, and will provide a strong early season test for a UBC team gearing up to host U SPORTS nationals in March.
"I'm really looking forward to these games," said Thunderbirds head coach
Kevin Hanson. "They're the ones you circle on your calendar that you know are going to be key matchups for you…it's one of those games that makes both teams better."
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The Thunderbirds have shot 52% from the field in the early going, which leads Canada West. They've also allowed just 67.8 points per game, which is the fourth-best mark in the conference.
UBC boasts plenty of depth, and it's been utilized through the first couple weeks of the season. Nine players are averaging over ten minutes a game, with
Adam Olsen the only one averaging more than 25 minutes.
"I think our guys have done a tremendous job of accepting their roles," added Hanson. "They are very unselfish and it's incredible to have a group of guys that sincerely cheer for each other on their successes."
Nikola Guzina has been a force, averaging 17 points and seven rebounds on 64% shooting in just 24 minutes a night. The fourth-year forward is coming off a career-high 24 points against Thompson Rivers last time out, as he aims to assert himself as one of the top big men in the conference.
On the perimeter, Olsen has scored in double figures each game while shooting 50% from deep.
Micah Jessie has provided a spark off the bench, averaging 10 points and nearly two steals a game.
Looking at the visitors, the Vikes also come into this weekend off of blowout wins in their first couple weeks of play. The defending Canada West champs boast a high-powered offence led by Diego Maffia, who's averaging 23 points, three assists and over two steals a game. Renaldo Robinson is also off to a strong start, averaging 14 points and three steals while shooting 43% from three-point range.
UVic has been a bit of a bogey team for UBC in recent seasons, with their cross-water rivals winning the last seven matchups between the two sides. Five of those games have been decided by just eight points or less, and the T-Birds will hope that fortune favours the blue and gold this weekend.
"This is a tough stretch for us," said Hanson, reflecting on these two games followed by two against the #3 nationally-ranked Calgary Dinos next week. "I think it's great for us. We wanted a tougher schedule having the March automatic berth to nationals…I'm super excited about it."
The pair of games also serve as a potential milestone marker for Hanson. The UBC bench boss currently sits at 599 career wins, fifth all-time in U SPORTS. He'll have two cracks to make it 600 against the top-ranked team in the country.
The first game between the Thunderbirds and Vikes is set for 7:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday night. The rematch begins Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (PT) in War Memorial Gym.
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