The #3 ranked UBC Thunderbirds are eyeing the rest of the Canada West field as they soar high above, with what looks like a friendly path to a 6-0 finish (at home to Brandon, UNBC, at TWU), and the top spot in the play-off draw. The nuances of the RPI system of ‘fairly balancing’ an un-balanced regular season schedule could throw a curve, but the ‘Birds are #1 now.
Jordan Jensen-Whyte and the UBC T’Birds look like a lock for #1 seed. photo – UBC Athletics Rich Lam
Calgary Dinos didn’t make their lives any easier in losing at home to Saskatchewan on Saturday, and the ratings system may affect them, especially with any more losses. 2 road series at Regina and TRU will require their full attention. They finish at home vs MacEwan . At 16-4 they should be 2nd . (*** RPI ?)
Alberta Golden Bears, who also were tripped up on home court by UFV, need sweeps at Saskatchewan and then home to Lethbridge in their 2 weekends remaining for a shot at 2nd, but the Huskies are re-energized, and the ‘Horns still have their eye on a high finish. U of A – 14-6 ? Saskatchewan are on home hardwood vs Mt. Royal this coming weekend, then Alberta the following. The Huskies finish at UNBC, and a 6-0 string could vault them into the 2 or 3 spot at 15-5. Maybe 14-6 with a split vs Alberta?
Can the Wesmen and senior guard, Denzel Lynch-Blair stay ahead of the Manitoba Bisons? photo – Wesmen Athletics
Winnipeg were swept by Manitoba, and split with both Saskatchewan and Lethbridge. The Ws can still finish at 15-5 by sweeping their remaining series’ at MacEwan, home to Regina, and at Victoria. The odds aren’t entirely rosy, if you look at the difficulty of winning on the road. Wesmen maybe 14-6 ? The Bisons are chasing a 6 game win streak, and look determined to complete the string in their remaining games at home vs UNBC, at Brandon, and home to finish vs Mt. Royal. 14-6 ?
Lethbridge Pronghorns have 10 wins, and will host Okanagan this week, then get a bye before traveling to Edmonton to finish up against the Bears. Best case scenario, we guess 13-7. The Pronghorns , Manitoba, Winnipeg, and Saskatchewan have a slim chance of becoming mired in an epic tie-breaking calculation. ( If tied – Record between the 2 teams, record vs common opponents, then the dreaded RPI)
Can hot-shooter Manny Dulay help the Cascades into the play-offs? photo – UFV Athletics
Fraser Valley is a team on the rise, as they win at Alberta and played Calgary close as well. This coming weekend’s home games with Thompson Rivers could be the crucial pair, if the Cascades are to catch and pass MRU and the ‘Pack. To finish the season UFV are in a home series vs Victoria, then on the road at UBC-O. 11-9?
MRU’s road games at Saskatchewan and Manitoba give them an uphill battle to finish at .500, but their chances are good for a playoff spot, with 9 wins. Similarly, TRU are on the road in 2 of 3 series (at UFV, at Regina) plus they host a tough Calgary team in Kamloops. The Wolf Pack may be tied with both Cougars when all the dust settles. RPI ! 8-12, 9-11?
Regina are in a 5 game swoon, and return home to play a slightly ‘miffed’ Calgary Dinos squad this week. They also play at Winnipeg and are at home to TRU. Somewhere the Cougars need to get ‘off the schneid’ with 1-2-3 wins. 8-12 ? Brandon has 4 games left, and they will be huge under-Cats at UBC, and need at least a split with Manitoba, who visit Brandon on Feb 3-4. 7-13?
UVic has a mathematical shot, but need maybe 3 or 4 wins in their 6 games vs Trinity W and Winnipeg at home, and their road set at TRU. UNBC’s finish at Manitoba, at UBC, home vs Saskatchewan is too tough for them to move up. MacEwan needs 5 wins in their last 6 outings, at home to Winnipeg, home to UBC-O, and at Calgary. Also a tough ask.
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In the East –
AUS – Sunday at Memorial 98 St. FX 91
Upcoming games – Wednesday we have #10 McMaster at #4 Ryerson
Thursday sees – 2 games in Quebec … Bishops at Concordia, UQAM at Laval
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Overtime –
- Canada West Women’s standings – Winnipeg 13-1, Alberta 14-2, Regina 12-2, Saskatchewan 10-4, Victoria 10-4, UBC 10-4, Trinity Western 9-5, Calgary 8-6, Fraser Valley 8-6, Brandon 7-9, UNBC 5-9, MacEwan 4-10 (There’s the top 12, in play-off position) … Lethbridge 4-12, Mt. Royal 3-11, UBC-O 2-12, Thompson Rivers 2-12, Manitoba 1-13.
- The RPI is a bit ‘unsettling’, when you look at changes from last week, for example – The Manitoba Bisons win 2 games at TWU, but suffer a huge drop in their RPI rating. Ditto for the Lethbridge Pronghorns, although not quite as severe. You can win your way into the play-offs, but the RPI formula has who you beat, and where you win or lose playing a big role.
- Most Outstanding Player ? Here’s a 4 stat composite total … of points per game, rebounds, steals, and assists – Top 8 – 1. Thomas Cooper, Calgary – 35.4 2. Conor Morgan, UBC – 34.5 3. Josh Ross, Mt. Royal- 33.8, tied in 4th. Shane Osayande, Sask – 32.4, Volodymyr Iegorov, TRU – 32.4 , 6. Elliott Sentance, Lethbridge- 30.1, 7. Brett Layton, Mt. Royal – 30.0, 8. Dejon Burdeaux, Lethbridge – 29.6
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