The U SPORTS No.5-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (3-0) have their first full home weekend of basketball this season, welcoming the UNBC TimberWolves (0-4) and the Thompson Rivers WolfPack (2-0) for back-to-back games at War Memorial Gym. The T-Birds take on the TWolves at 7:30 p.m. (PCT) on Friday, before facing a bigger test in the 'Pack at 6:00 p.m. (PCT) on Saturday.
The T-Birds have proven to have an explosive offence so far this season, averaging over 90 points a game to sit near the top of Canada West. UBC scored 95 and 98 points in its two road wins since the thrilling 79-76 home opener victory over Trinity Western. Perhaps more impressive, in a year where offence is so far up across the conference, the 'Birds have allowed just over 74 points per game thus far, second best in Canada West.
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"I think our defence has been leading to offence," said UBC head coach
Phil Jalalpoor. "The guys have been getting out and running. A key point of emphasis is to be good in transition, especially early in the game. We always want to be great playmakers, move the ball, and be variable in having a lot of guys who can bring the ball up and push the pace.
"Our base targets involve attacking what the defence gives us and staying aggressive within actions. We're hard to scout, because we don't even know how we'll attack on offence in a given night, it depends on what you do. We're looking for advantages, and when we find them, we attack using them."
The reigning conference silver medallists have maintained their attacking mentality despite being far from full strength, as multiple members of the team's starting lineup have been out for every game this year.
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"I'm proud of this group, because it hasn't been the easiest start for us with some injuries as the first big piece of adversity that we've faced," reflected Jalalpoor. "We've always been outnumbered so far, haven't had as many players available as our opponents, so I'm really proud of how the guys have come together. Some have embraced playing different positions, and our success is a credit to those guys figuring it out on the fly."
Friday's opponent, the TimberWolves, have yet to win a game this season, but they have proven to have teeth. UNBC started the year with a close loss to Thompson Rivers, before putting up 102 points in a road defeat at UBCO and then holding their own in a tough road trip to Victoria. The TWolves were just two points down to the defending conference champion Vikes in the fourth quarter of their last game.
"They returned almost everyone and got a key player back who was injured all of last year in Evgeny Baukin. He's a dynamic scorer," noted Jalalpoor. "They've played a lot of basketball together and they're coached really well. They can be a dangerous team."
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Thompson Rivers is the only other unbeaten team in the Pacific Division, having played just two games over the season's first three weekends thanks to a staggered schedule and an early bye. The 'Pack appear frisky this season and seem to be a team on the upswing, having picked up double-digit victories over UNBC and UBCO to earn the No.20-ranking in U SPORTS early in the campaign.
"They've very good this year," praised Jalalpoor. "They returned everyone they had, exact same rotation, and they have a lot of chemistry. They know where they get their points from and their style has been consistent that way. I think they're a very solid team who nobody wants to play against. They're going to be really good throughout the year."
Tickets for this weekend's action can be purchased
here. Stream both games, live or on demand, on
Canada West TV.
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