CALGARY, Alta. – It's back-to-back appearances at the U SPORTS Final 8 for the No.7-seed UBC Thunderbirds (15-5, 2-1), as the blue and gold fly to Calgary to try to win the third national basketball championship in program history and first since 1972. The 'Birds will open the entire tournament with their quarter-final matchup against the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold (17-5, 3-0) at 11:00 a.m. (PT) on Friday at Jack Simpson Gym.
On the surface, this T-Birds team profiles quite similarly to last year's group, which finished sixth in the first-ever double U SPORTS Final 8 Championships, hosted by UBC. Both teams were 15-5 in the regular season and earned their spot by being a Canada West finalist.
One could argue that the most salient differentiating factor between the two teams is the fact that this year's 'Birds defeated the defending national champion Victoria Vikes to snap their two-year long regular season win streak in the fall, before going to Victoria to beat the No.1-seed Vikes again at the end of the regular season. It marked the first time anyone had defeated the Vikes twice in the same season since the Thunderbirds last did it in 2018.
Yet, last year's team was made the No.3-seed at the tournament and this year's team is seeded No.7. It is what it is.
The puzzlingly low seed is not dampening the enthusiasm of T-Birds first-year interim head coach
Phil Jalalpoor, who is embracing the challenge with open arms.
"We're very excited! Super proud of the guys, they've helped us as a coaching staff by really buying in and getting us to this point," said an enthused Jalalpoor. "For us coaches, it's so hard to make a national championship, so to do that in our first year it's super cool.
"We can't wait for this opportunity, and want to be coaching until the very end of the year, we weren't ready to be done any earlier. We're very excited, very proud of the group that got us here, and now it's just finding the right buttons to push."
While the results have been remarkably similar to the season before, the team itself could not look more different. Every guard in the rotation is new since last season, as well as half of the forwards. At least as important is the change in leadership and approach. After 25 years of success under Kevin Hanson, the Thunderbirds have adopted a new philosophy under former star T-Birds guard Jalalpoor, who brings a European-inspired mentality to the game. The 'Birds are playing faster, looser, and mixing in creative zone defences to try to maximize their blend of physical veterans and youngsters brimming with raw talent.
"There are only three guys from our rotation right now who have been to nationals before," noted Jalalpoor. "Plus, it's a completely different experience going on the road for it.
"You have different styles you're facing because you're not just playing Canada West anymore, where certain patterns to repeat. Playing teams from further east, they play a different style, which is a cool part about Canadian basketball, that every conference has its own style and you need to be ready to adjust to each one.
"Flying somewhere, single game elimination, it's a high-pressure situation, and should be fun!"
The 'Birds are three wins away from a national title. None will be easy. The journey begins with a clash with the OUA Champion and No.2-seed TMU Bold on Friday morning. TMU held its opponents to an average of 67.9 points per game, trailing only Carleton in the OUA, and sitting at a far lower mark than anyone in Canada West. Jalalpoor says the Bold's 66-56 OUA Final win over the aforementioned Ravens is a great example of the stylistic difference of U SPORTS basketball in western Canada versus Ontario and further east.
"With the OUA, I think there's a bigger focus on defence," mused Jalalpoor.
"They get after you with ball pressure, picking up early, are super physical, and rebound the ball well. We have to match that physicality and be ready for that ball pressure and to play through the first line. It's hard to go against, but if you break through that initial pressure then opportunities open up.
"We have a lot of size in Canada West, especially our team, and it's more up-tempo basketball in the west versus more of a grind to win in the east. But they have very good players too, just different player profiles. A guy like (two-time reigning OUA Player of the Year) Aaron Rhooms on TMU doesn't really exist out here, a guard who's built like a power forward. He'll be a problem for sure."
Win or lose, the T-Birds will play their second game of the tournament on Saturday, in either a championship or consolation semifinal. The consolation final is set for 10:00 a.m. (PT) on Sunday, followed by the Bronze Medal Game at 12:00 p.m. (PT) before the National Championship Game at 4:00 p.m. (PT).
All games from the U SPORTS Final 8 will be streamed on
CBC Gem,
CBC Sports.ca, the
CBC Sports Youtube Channel and in French on
ICI TOU.tv.
