After last year's COVID-19-impacted basketball season, things are looking more familiar heading into the winter. We're celebrating the return of varsity hoops with a list of 10 reasons to be excited about the 2021-22 basketball season. The Vikes tip-off for the first home game of the season this Friday, Nov. 5, at 6:00 p.m. in the CARSA Performance Gym.
 
1. Fans are back

Vikes basketball fans rejoice, indoor sports are back, and thanks to recent Provincial Health Orders, events are back to full capacity.

Take note: patrons must be fully vaccinated to access all events and services covered under the current Provincial Health Order, and mask-wearing is still in effect when indoors.
 
2. The return of the student section

At the heart of the home-court advantage is the Vikes student section, the anchor of the university basketball atmosphere.
 
The home opener taking place on Nov. 5, is also Days of Thunder, which means a packed house with Vikes Nation energy out in full force.
 
3. New coaching staff

The Vikes picked up head coach Carrie Watts and assistant coach Diane Schuetze on the women's side. Watts joins the Vikes from her alma mater, the University of British Columbia, where she was the full-time lead assistant women's basketball coach for 14 seasons. She helped coach the Thunderbirds to a U SPORTS National Championship and three Canada West banners. She's also a member of the UBC Sports Hall-of-Fame as an athlete.
 
Schuetze spent three seasons in Kelowna as an asst. coach with the UBCO Heat and was one of eight participants in the 2020-21 Coaching Association of Canada's (CAC) University Female Coach Mentorship Program (UFCMP). Graduating from Thompson Rivers University in 2013, after a five-year career with the WolfPack, the Vernon Secondary grad earned two CIS (Now U SPORTS) All-Stars. Following her playing career in Kamloops, she played professional basketball for three years overseas.
 

4. Super seniors' last dance

One of the unique quirks of this season will be the fifth- and sixth-year players using their extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic. This should have two main effects: raising the talent level of the sport across-the-board and seeing plenty of career records broken.
 
Island athletes Aleah Ashlee and Calli McMillan, both return to the court for a final season, hoping to lead a relatively young Vikes squad to playoff contention.

For the men, it's Kellum, Scully and Ellis looking to put a cap on their careers and bring home some hardware.
 
5. Exciting new talent 

Newcomers Ethan Boag, Elias Ralph and Sergio Pereira make up one of the most exciting freshman classes in the conference. Claremont Secondary grad Boag brings a Eurostyle flare to the game helping the Vikes to stretch the floor, while Ralph and Pereira bring size and depth to the roster.

The newcomers to watch on the women's side include forwards Mimi Sigue of St. Albert, AB, and Parksville's Abigail Becker. Both coming off successful provincial team runs, the Vikes will look to their freshman for help this season.
 
6. All-stars

The Vikes men kick things off ranked third in the preseason coaches poll. Watch for 2019-20 Rookie of the Year in Mafia to make a splash alongside veterans Kellum, Ellis and Dominick Oliveri.
 
Ashlyn Day returns to the court after an all-star season in 2019-20. Expect the scoring-ability of Day combined with the sharpshooting of Abbotsford's Tana Pankratz to be a hard-to-stop combo. Just one weekend into the season and both Day and Pankratz have shown their all-star status with a buzzer beater win over the UBC Thunderbirds.
 
7. Hometown heroes

Hometown favourites Scully, Maffia, and Jaden Touchie are returning to the court this season, bringing the local fanbase out. Joining the squad this year are island-based talents Boag, Jakob Neufeld and Levi Timmermans.
 
McMillin and Ashlee are sure to draw a crowd for their final year, joined by newcomers Sierra Reisig (Camosun transfer) and Becker on the women's side.
 
8. Lockdown defenders

Everyone's heard the adage offence sells tickets, and defence wins games. While there is no doubt that the Vikes possess an offensive threat in 2021-22, some excellent defence is sure to be on display.
 
Locking it down on the defensive end for the men is Aaron Tesfagiorgis, who led the team with steals (30) in 2019-20, and Ellis who leads the team in blocked shots. Day and Ashlee are just as tenacious, bringing energy and steals for the Vikes women.
 
9. Prizes 

Expect chances to win great prizes at every game this season. Is there something awesome under your seat? You don't know until you check. One lucky student will have the chance to walk away with a tuition credit.  
 
10. Two words: jock jams

Life hasn't been the same without the familiar sounds of pump-up jams pulsing through the speakers. Come out, support Vikes basketball and bring your best dance moves.

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