PREVIEW: 2010 CIS championship: Top-seeded Ravens looking to keep McGee trophy

OTTAWA (CIS) – The Carleton University Ravens host the CIS men’s basketball championship for the last of three consecutive years this week, and they would love nothing more than to win yet another W.P. McGee trophy before the event moves back to Halifax in 2011.
 
Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mbkb
 
The CIS tournament gets underway Friday at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa with the quarter-final round and concludes Sunday at 6:30 p.m. with the gold-medal final, live on TSN2.
 
TSN2 will also broadcast the last two opening-round duels Friday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., as well as both semifinals Saturday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
 
SSN Canada will have live webcasts of the first two quarter-finals and the three consolation matches.
 
Joining OUA champion and top-seeded Carleton in the nation’s capital are the No. 2 Cape Breton Capers (AUS champions), No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West bronze medallists), No. 4 Windsor Lancers (OUA finalists), No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West champions), No. 6 Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA bronze medallists), No. 7 Calgary Dinos (Canada West finalists), and No. 8 UQAM Citadins (QSSF champions).
 
Friday’s first-round match-ups will see Cape Breton battle Calgary, UBC square off against Lakehead, Windsor take the floor versus Saskatchewan, and Carleton open its title defence against UQAM.
 
Only three teams return from last year’s championship that saw the Ravens claim a remarkable sixth McGee trophy in seven years thanks to an 87-77 win over the Thunderbirds. The affair was the highest-scoring national final since 1985.
 
The Dinos also made the trip to Ottawa last winter, falling 79-74 to the T-Birds in the semifinal round. 
 
The Lancers are back after a two-year absence, the Capers, Huskies and Citadins all return after a three-year hiatus, while the Thunderwolves last competed on the national stage in 1977.
 
Carleton’s domination of men’s basketball over the last eight years under head coach Dave Smart – now in his 11th season - is well documented.
 
Since 2003, when they captured their first national title, the Ravens have posted a mind-boggling 19-1 record at the CIS championship. Their lone loss came in the 2008 semifinals when they fell 82-80 in double overtime to Acadia.
 
The reigning champs are once again enjoying a spectacular season in 2009-2010. They finished first in the OUA East for the ninth straight campaign with a 20-2 mark, claim the OUA banner for the third consecutive year thanks to a decisive 71-52 defeat of Windsor, and won 29 of 31 overall duels against CIS opponents.
 
The Ravens’ only losses of the season came at Lakehead on Nov. 27, by a 76-73 score, and at York on Feb. 5, a surprising 80-74 setback against the 6-16 Lions.
 
In typical Carleton fashion, the ‘09-10 Ravens are getting the job done by committee.
 
Six-foot-eight forward Kevin McCleery was their leading scorer in conference play with 16.8 points per outing, good for 10th in the OUA and 26th in the country. Carleton still managed to finish third in CIS scoring as a team with 86.4 points per game, while holding their opponents to a CIS-low 63.1 points per contest.
 
Friday’s duel versus UQAM will mark the second time in five years the two teams meet in the opening round of the national tourney. In their only previous appearance in 2006, the Citadins gave the then three-time defending champ Ravens all they could handle before falling 62-59.
 
Second-seeded Cape Breton is also enjoying an outstanding season. The Capers, who finished atop the AUS standings with an 18-2 record, were especially convincing at last weekend’s conference Final Six where they outscored 2008-09 Atlantic champion Dalhousie 76-60 in the semifinals before dominating StFX 94-77 in the title match.
 
Led by guard Jimmy Dorsey, who scored 16.1 points per contest in his first season with the team after transferring from Howard Community College in Maryland, the high-flying Capers topped the nation with a whopping 95.0 point-per-game average in league play.
 
CBU is looking for a first CIS title. No AUS team has claimed the banner since StFX’s second of back-to-back triumphs in 2001.
 
Third-ranked UBC received the wildcard entry for this week’s tournament. It was a relatively easy decision for the committee comprised of CIS coaches, considering the Thunderbirds were ranked either first or second all season in the weekly national poll and had only one loss in conference play before being upset by Saskatchewan, 104-87 in overtime, in the Canada West semifinals.
 
Making their seventh championship appearance in eight years, the T-Birds finally broke through last winter when they reached the CIS final, after falling in the quarter-finals in their previous five trips to the event.
 
Alberta, in 2002, is the only Canada West team to have hoisted the McGee trophy since a string of four straight titles by Western schools (including the now-defunct GPAC conference) from 1994 to 1997.
 
“The eight teams took eight different paths to reach this stage of the season,” said Canada West coach of the year Kevin Hanson, in his 10th campaign leading UBC. “We are fortunate that we had a solid season and that there was a wildcard opportunity. “Hopefully, the path we had to take will make us tougher come game time. We will take it one game at a time.”
 
While Carleton has been the dominant force in recent years in CIS basketball, it was Windsor which was the team to beat back in the 60s, when the first national championships were contested. After winning the inaugural tournament as Assumption College back in 1963, the Lancers added four titles over the next six years, while also reaching the 1965 final.
 
Windsor has not enjoyed the same kind of success lately on the national stage and will be making only its second tourney appearance since 1982. Three years ago in Halifax, the Lancers were downed 82-64 by Brandon in the opening round before losing 79-62 to Concordia in consolation action.
 
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of playing the best teams in CIS,” said five-year Windsor head coach Chris Oliver. “Saskatchewan has had a great end of season stretch and is an impressive team. We will have to defend and rebound, while continuing our confident offensive play to be successful.”
 
Saskatchewan may indeed be the hottest team going into the championship.
 
The Huskies are riding a 10-game winning streak and have won 14 of 15 since early January, including upsets of UBC and Calgary at the Canada West Final Four en route to the first-ever conference title in program history.
 
In his second season with the team, Showron Glover, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound guard from California, led the nation with 28.1 points per game as Saskatchewan finished second in the country to Cape Breton averaging 89.5 points per contest.
 
In four previous appearances, the Huskies have played in the national semifinals only once, in 1986, when the tourney was a four-team affair.
 
It is safe to say not many experts picked the Thunderwolves to advance to the CIS championship back in October. Lakehead was coming off a 6-16 campaign, good for last place in the OUA West, and had not had a winning campaign since 1993-94, when they went 7-6. The T-Wolves had missed the playoffs for straight seasons and finished with a 1-21 mark only three years ago.
 
The ‘09-10 T-Wolves proved they were for real early in the schedule when they edged top-ranked Carleton 76-73 back on Nov. 27, and capped off their breakthrough season last Saturday with a 78-73 win over No. 6 Ottawa in the OUA bronze-medal game.
 
“I think that throughout the year our fourth-quarter comebacks were viewed more as a weakness early in the game but tonight we had the confidence knowing that we could win after going down early,” said Lakehead head coach Scott Morrison after his team outscored Ottawa 30-18 in the final 10 minutes to claim the last OUA berth into the CIS tourney.
 
“There is no question that was a huge win for us,” Morrison said four months ago following the victory over Carleton. “While it only counts for two points in the standings, our team now believes we are capable of beating any team with the right type of focus, intensity and execution.”
 
Like top seeds Carleton, Cape Breton, UBC and Windsor, the Calgary Dinos have been ranked in each of the 14 national polls this season. They enter the competition as Canada West finalists following a 96-83 gold-medal loss to Saskatchewan last Saturday.
 
The Dinos had punched their ticket to Ottawa the night before thanks in large part to fifth-year forward Robbie Sihota, who grabbed a conference playoff-record 22 rebounds to go with 19 points in an 82-69 semifinal defeat of Simon Fraser.
 
The UQAM Citadins, who joined CIS in basketball in 2003-04, erased a 15-point third quarter deficit to edge Laval 78-75 in the Quebec final and capture their second QSSF banner. Co-captain Jules Diagne, a native of Rome, Italy, was the hero with a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double.
 
“We struggled in the first half but the guys showed character and strength to come back,” said QSSF coach of the year Olga Hrycak, the only female head coach of a men’s university basketball team in North America. “I’m so happy for them. It’s a very special moment.”

 TEAM PROFILES

No. 1 Carleton Ravens
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Dave Smart (11th season)
Regular season record: 20-2
Regular season standing: 1st OUA East (1st overall OUA)
Playoff record: 3-0
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 29-2
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 3-1 (2-0 vs. Windsor, 1-0 vs. Saskatchewan, 0-1 vs. Lakehead) 
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 1 (6 weeks at No. 1 / 6 weeks at No. 2 / 2 weeks at No. 3)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 14
Conference award winners (OUA East): Cole Hobin (defensive MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Kevin McCleery (forward)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): Elliot Thompson (guard)
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 13th 
CIS championship all-time record: 23-9 (.719)
CIS championship best result: 6-time champions (2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)
CIS championship last appearance: 2009 (champions)
CIS championship sequence: 8th straight appearance (9th in 10 years)
 
No. 2 Cape Breton Capers
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Jim Charters (8th season)
Regular season record: 18-2
Regular season standing: 1st AUS
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 28-3
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 1-0 (1-0 vs. UQAM)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 3
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 3 (2 weeks: polls 12 & 14)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 14
Conference award winners: Phillip Nkrumah (defensive MVP), Jim Charters (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Jimmy Dorsey (guard)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Phillip Nkrumah (forward), Paris Carter (guard)
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 4th
CIS championship all-time record: 5-3 (.625)
CIS championship best result: Semi-finalists (2006, 1995)
CIS championship last appearance: 2006 (semi-finalists)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 3-year absence (2nd appearance since 1995)
 
No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Kevin Hanson (10th season)
Regular season record: 17-1
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West Pacific Division (1st overall Canada West)
Playoff record: 3-1
Playoff finish: Canada West bronze medallists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 23-2
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams:  3-1 (1-0 vs. Windsor, 1-1 vs. Saskatchewan, 1-0 vs. Calgary)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 2
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 1 (8 weeks at No. 1 / 6 weeks at No. 2)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 14
Conference award winners: Josh Whyte (MVP), Kevin Hanson (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Josh Whyte (guard)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 18th
CIS championship all-time record: 21-20 (.512)
CIS championship best result: 2-time champions (1972, 1970)
CIS championship last appearance: 2009 (finalists)
CIS championship sequence: 5th straight appearance (7th in 8 years)
 
No. 4 Windsor Lancers
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Chris Oliver (5th season)
Regular season record: 17-5
Regular season standing: 1st OUA West (3rd overall OUA)
Playoff record: 2-1
Playoff finish: OUA finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 21-7
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 2-4 (0-2 vs. Carleton, 0-1 vs. UBC, 2-1 vs. Lakehead)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 5
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 5 (1 week: poll 14)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 14
Conference award winners (OUA West): None
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA West): Isaac Kuon (forward)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA West): Nigel Johnson-Tyghter (forward)
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 16th
CIS championship all-time record: 16-16 (.500)
CIS championship best result: 5-time champions (1969, 1967, 1966, 1964, 1963)
CIS championship last appearance: 2007 (tied 7th)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 2-year absence (2nd appearance since 1982)
 
* Windsor had one appearance as Assumption College in 1963 (won championship)
 
No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Greg Jockims (12th season)
Regular season record: 14-6
Regular season standing: 2nd Canada West Prairie Division (4th overall Canada West)
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 23-7
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 3-3 (0-1 vs. Carleton, 1-1 vs. UBC, 2-1 vs. Calgary)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 7
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 7 (2 weeks: polls 2 & 14)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 6
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Showron Glover (guard)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 5th
CIS championship all-time record: 4-7 (.364)
CIS championship best result: Semi-finalists (1986)
CIS championship last appearance: 2006 (tied 7th)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 3-year absence (2nd appearance since 1988)
 
No. 6 Lakehead Thunderwolves
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Scott Morrison (7th season)
Regular season record: 17-5
Regular season standing: 2nd OUA West (4th overall OUA)
Playoff record: 2-1
Playoff finish: OUA bronze medallists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 23-7
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 2-2 (1-0 vs. Carleton, 1-2 vs. Windsor)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 9
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 6 (2 weeks: polls 6 & 11)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 10
Conference award winners (OUAWest): Greg Carter (defensive MVP), Jamie Searle (student-athlete), Scott Morrison (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUAWest): Jamie Searle (guard)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA West): Yoosrie Salhia (post)
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 3rd
CIS championship all-time record: 3-2 (.600)
CIS championship best result: Finalists (1977, 1973)
CIS championship last appearance: 1977 (finalists)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 32-year absence 
 
No. 7 Calgary Dinos
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Dan Vanhooren (10th season)
Regular season record: 15-5
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West Prairie Division (3rd overall Canada West)
Playoff record: 3-1
Playoff finish: Canada West finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 21-6
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 1-3 (0-1 vs. UBC, 1-2 vs. Saskatchewan)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): No. 8
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): No. 3 (3 weeks: polls 1-3)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 14
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Ross Bekkering (forward)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Robbie Sihota (forward)
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 8th
CIS championship all-time record: 5-10 (.333)
CIS championship best result: Finalists (1966)
CIS championship last appearance: 2009 (semi-finalists)
CIS championship sequence: 2nd straight appearance (3rd in 8 years)
 
No. 8 UQAM Citadins
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Olga Hrycak (7th season)
Regular season record: 11-5
Regular season standing: 1st QSSF
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: QSSF champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 17-10
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 0-1 (0-1 vs. Cape Breton)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 9): Unranked
Best Top 10 ranking (14 weeks): Unranked all season
Number of weeks in Top 10 (14 weeks): 0
Conference award winners: Éric Côté-Kougnima (defensive MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Adil El Makssoud (guard)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Éric Côté-Kougnima (guard), Grégory St-Amand (forward)
CIS championship appearances (including 2010): 2nd 
CIS championship all-time record: 0-2 (.000)
CIS championship best result: Tied for 7th (2006)
CIS championship last appearance: 2006 (tied 7th)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 3-year absence (2nd appearance in history: 7th CIS season)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 18 (practices at Scotiabank Place)
9:00-9:55 Cape Breton
10:00-10:55 Calgary
11:00-11:55 Lakehead
12:00-12:55 UBC
13:00-13:55 Windsor
14:00-14:55 Saskatchewan
15:00-15:55 Carleton
16:00-16:55 UQAM
 
Thursday, March 18
19:30   All-Canadian Awards Reception (Marriott Hotel – Victoria Room)
 
Friday, March 19 (practices at Scotiabank Place)
9:00-9:30 Windsor
9:30-10:00 Saskatchewan
10:00-10:30 Carleton
10:30-11:00 UQAM
 
Friday, March 19 (practices at Carleton University – Ravens’ Nest/Norm Fenn)
9:00-9:30 Cape Breton
9:30-10:00 Calgary
10:00-10:30 Lakehead
10:30-11:00 UBC
 
Friday, March 19
12:30 Quarter-final #1: No. 2 Cape Breton vs. No. 7 Calgary (SSN Canada)
14:30 Quarter-final #2: No. 3 UBC vs. No. 6 Lakehead (SSN Canada)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Saskatchewan (TSN2)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 1 Carleton vs. No. 8 UQAM (TSN2)
 
Saturday, March 20
11:30 Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2 (SSN Canada)
13:30 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (SSN Canada)
17:00 Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (TSN2)
19:00 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (TSN2)
 
Sunday, March 21
16:00 Consolation final (5th place) (SSN Canada)
18:30 Championship final (TSN2)

-CIS-