VANCOUVER – The U SPORTS No.4-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (13-5) are hosting the U SPORTS No.5-ranked Calgary Dinos (14-4) in a playoff tune-up for both teams that will likely determine whether the T-Birds secure a first round bye. Tip-off for UBC's final games at War Memorial Gym this season is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday and 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.

The 'Birds and Dinos have already booked their tickets to Winnipeg for the 12-team Canada West playoff tournament. What's on the line this weekend is securing a top four seed and first round bye, with seeding determined by RPI, a metric that combines winning percentage with strength of schedule and gives added value to road wins. Currently, Calgary is in a comfortable second place in RPI and will clinch a top-four seed and bye with just one win over the weekend, or quite possibly without winning at all. The T-Birds are on the bye-bubble in sixth, but there is little separation between third and ninth in the conference, meaning the weekend's results could lead to anything from a first round bye to being the lower-seeded team in every round of playoffs, greatly affecting the difficulty of a potential championship run.
 

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With playoffs at a neutral site this season, these games are the last chance for fans to see this version of the T-Birds play at War Memorial Gym, where the team has a sterling 6-1 record and a chance to better their 8-3 mark from last year.

"Our fans have witnessed some incredible individual performances and incredible dunks this season," commented an enthused UBC Head Coach Kevin Hanson. "Our home crowds have been amazing this year! Certainly a diverse group of fans ranging from young kids to our loyal alumni that played here as far back as the 60's. War Memorial Gym is an amazing place to play and when we get the big crowds out, there is nothing better."
 
The games against Calgary are also the final home games for two longtime T-Birds who continue to lead this year's resurgent, young squad. James Woods and Brian Wallack are set to be honoured on Seniors Night, after Saturday's game.
 
"Brian Wallack and James Woods are the two seniors who we will be recognizing because they have used up their 56 years of eligibility," joked Hanson. "Brian has been with us for a long time because he redshirted his first year and went through the covid non-season. James was a transfer from a JUCO in Wyoming.  Both have been incredible players for us and have provided many highlight reel moments. They are our top two scorers and have been integral in our team successes over the years."


 
Wallack, the team captain and face of the program, is set to leave UBC after his best-ever season. The forward is averaging 19.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, both fourth best in Canada West. With a strong showing on the glass this weekend, Wallack has a chance to become the sixth ever T-Bird to average a double-double over the course of an entire season and the seventh to average double-digit rebounds; his mark of 9.5 would already be a top 10 single season in program history. The chiseled big man is 12^th on the Thunderbirds' all-time rebounds list and needs just four points this weekend to become a top 25 scorer in program history as well.
 
For more on Wallack's remarkable rise over his seven years at UBC, check out this Varsity Letters feature.
 
As he wraps up his time playing in Point Grey, Woods also finds his name all over the Thunderbirds' record books. The point guard's career mark of 17.8 points per game is good for sixth in school history. He also has two separate seasons in the 'Birds' top 10 for three-pointers per game, while ranking sixth in that category over his career. The heady veteran is fifth in all-time T-Birds free throw percentage, buoyed by his best ever clip of 86.4% this year, which would be a top 10 single season mark in UBC history as well. Perhaps most impressive and indicative of Woods' workhorse contributions over the years is the fact that he has started all 56 regular season games he's played in a UBC uniform and sits third in program history in minutes per game.
 

 
The 'Birds are in for a tough battle to finish their regular season on a high note, as the Calgary Dinos come to town riding a 12-game winning streak. The T-Birds and Dinos don't see each other often either, as the two teams have not met in a regular season or playoff game since UBC defeated Calgary in the 2019-20 Canada West semi-final en route to winning the conference championship.
 
"Calgary has always been a top team in our conference," remarked Hanson. "Their coach Dan VanHooren and I came in to Canada West the same year. We are the two longest serving current coaches in CW. We also coached together in the FISU games so we know each other very well.  This rivalry goes back to the early years when basketball was first played at the university level. It is a shame that we don't play each other every year because the players and the coaches certainly remember the long standing rivalry. The fans should be treated to a great weekend of basketball."
 
Tickets for the final Thunderbirds basketball games at War Memorial gym for the 2023-24 season are still available here. Stream the games live or on demand on Canada West TV.