VICTORIA - The University of Victoria Vikes men's and women's basketball teams will leave for Winnipeg tonight for a weekend double-header against the Wesmen. Already, with the playoffs over four weeks away, the games have enormous playoff implications.
Jan. 14 and 15: UVic at Winnipeg, women at 6 p.m., men at 8 p.m. (4 and 6 p.m. PST)
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For the Vikes men (7-7, in a three-way tie for fifth spot with Manitoba and Regina who both have two games in hand), it's a battle until the end of the season not only to qualify for playoffs (the Top 8 teams in the conference qualify for the post season) but also to play at home. With double-headers against Winnipeg, Lethbridge (3-11), Brandon (4-8), Thompson Rivers (2-12) and second-place UBC (12-2) remaining, the Vikes have a favourable schedule.
However, their next opponent Winnipeg (2-10 conference, 6-16 overall) is improving under first-year head coach Mike Raimbault with three wins in their past five games (including exhibition). At their holiday tournament, the Wesmen beat crosstown and Canada West rivals Manitoba and OUA West perennial powerhouse McMaster. They also won their last game, 108-99 in overtime, over Thompson Rivers in Kamloops, B.C.
Noel Gooding, who is averaging 14.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game,has been playing very well as of late for the Wesmen men. Meanwhile, the Vikes had a great weekend from
Michael Berg (Burnaby, BC) who was particularly effective late in the pair of tight losses to first-place Trinity Western. This season he is averaging 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and has a 61.6 per cent average from the field. He finished last weekend with 38 points and 17 rebounds on 74 per cent shooting.
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Ryan MacKinnon# continues to lead the Vikes in scoring with 214 points on the season, averaging 15.3 points per game. He also has a team-high 26 steals.
On the women's side, Winnipeg is ahead of the Vikes in winning percentage with a 10-2 record, and an unblemished 5-0 home record. They have also won their last five games.
Although the No. 8 nationally ranked Vikes (11-3) have a 4-2 road record, they are finding their new identity and have been preparing hard for the Wesmen women. Freshman #
Jessica Renfrew# had a terrific weekend for UVic in both wins over Trinity Western last weekend and finished with 35 points along with four steals.
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Debbie Yeboah# makes her return to her hometown Winnipeg and is the leading active scorer on the team averaging 13 points per game.
The Vikes women are in a dog-fight at the top of the Canada West in the fight for home-floor advantage through the playoffs. Alberta (12-2) leads the way, while Regina, Saskatchean and Winnipeg all sit at 10-2. UBC is on UVic's heels at 9-5 and in sixth place, with Thompson Rivers and Fraser Valley occupying the final two playoff spots at 7-7.
