In conjunction with Martin Timmerman over at usportshoops.ca, CUSN’s poll voters consists of 13 media members scattered throughout the four conferences of differing ages and affiliations. The panel members are (with Twitter handles if applicable):
1. Jordan Henry – @Jor_Henry
2. Mitch Robson – @_mitchrobson
3. Spencer Murdock – @SpencerMurdock
4. Ryan Sura – @RyanSura18
5. Mark Wacyk – @cishoops
6. Mike Still – @mikestill94
7. Neate Sager – @n8sager
8. Satbir Singh – @SatbirSingh_
9. Brian Swane – @BrianSwane
10. Allan April – @allan_april
11. Martin Timmerman – @martintimmerman
12. Julian McKenzie – @jkamckenzie
Quicker run through the top ten with most of the Canada West contingent on a bye this week, with a little bracketology prediction at the bottom as we’re officially a month away from Championship Sunday.
#1 – Carleton Ravens (27-0 Overall, 21-0 OUA)
Last Week’s Ranking: #1
Past Week Results: 78-59 W @ Nipissing, 101-60 W @ Laurentian
The Ravens had arguably their most impressive victory of conference play this past Saturday, as they spanked the Laurentian team that gave them a run for their money at the Nest a few weeks ago in Sudbury by 41 (!!!!!) points.
Kadre Gray was held to just 6 points and five turnovers in limited minutes as the Ravens smothered the Voyageurs and held them to just 50 field goal attempts across the 40 minute game.
At this point, the rest of the country has to hope that going undefeated and winning the OUA will flip the script from the past two seasons, where they lost out on the conference title only to win the national championship.
#2 – Alberta Golden Bears (23-1 Overall, 19-1 Canada West)
Last Week Ranking: #2
Past Week Results: Playoff Bye
With the top spot in the league locked up, the Golden Bears spent the week playing video games and singing karaoke. Or something like that…they will play the UNBC Timberwolves this weekend.
#3 – Brock Badgers (23-2 Overall, 20-2 OUA)
Last Week Ranking: #3
Past Week Results: 91-87, 89-62 W’s vs. Lakehead
Brock’s snoozefest through the OUA West nearly came to an end on Friday night, as Lakehead gave the Badgers a scare tying the game on a Nahshon Hurst three in the final minute before Tyler Brown went on a 4-0 run to seal the deal in the last 30 seconds.
With Western and McMaster both hot right now, Brock will need to step their game up to avoid an early round disaster before crossing over against whoever comes out of the OUA East.
#T4 – Calgary Dinos (21-5 Overall, 16-4 Canada West)
Last Week Ranking: #T4
Past Week Results: Playoff Bye
Calgary awaits Alex Unruh, Lawrence Moore and the Saskatchewan Huskies this weekend at The Jack.
#T4 – UBC Thunderbirds (22-3 Overall, 17-3 Canada West)
Last Week Ranking: #T4
Past Week Results: Playoff Bye
UBC has suffered defeat in the quarterfinals the past two seasons, and Kevin Hanson hopes this year’s group can avoid that fate and truly earn their spot into the Final 8 (as they were gifted with the host bid two years ago).
Kirby Schepp took his Manitoba team on an improbable run to the tournament last season, and will look to capture lightning in a bottle for the second straight year.
#6 – Dalhousie Tigers (23-4 Overall, 13-3 AUS)
Last Week Ranking: #7
Past Week Results: 83-58 W vs. Cape Breton
Dalhousie once again dispatched the Capers with relative ease, this time at the Dalplex, ahead of this week’s Thursday-Saturday home and home with Acadia – a series that could very well be the determining factor in the AUS regular season crown.
#7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (22-7 Overall, 15-6 OUA)
Last Week Ranking: #T8
Past Week Results: 99-90 W @ Laurentian, 85-60 W @ Nipissing
Despite Sean Stoqua’s ACL tear sustained in the Capital Hoops loss, the Gee-Gees came out and put together arguably their best weekend of basketball on the road this season by out gunning the Voyageurs and then taking care of business against the Lakers after a close first half to cruise to a 25 point win.
As Calvin Epistola steps into a starting point guard spot and major minutes moving into this crucial final weekend of conference play for seeding, and into playoff time, Ottawa will need one of the rest of the bench mob (Chase Tynes/Gage Sabean/Alex Muise) to come in with that 2nd unit and be a playmaker.
#8 – McGill Redmen (16-4 Overall, 11-2 RSEQ)
Last Week Ranking: #T8
Past Week Results: 86-63 W vs. Concordia
Having locked up the #1 seed for the RSEQ tourney once again, they should have no problem locking up the auto-bid.
#9 Laurentian Voyageurs (20-5, 16-5 OUA)
Last Week Ranking: #4
Past Week Results: 99-90 L vs. Ottawa, 101-60 L vs. Carleton
As mentioned above in the write ups of Carleton and Ottawa, this Laurentian team is getting closer and closer to falling off the cliff, and a season that began with so much promise and hopes of a tournament bid in January hinge on whether they can ratchet up the defence and get Kadre Gray some help.
This week’s trip to Toronto to face the Blues on Friday could be a trap game before Saturday night’s tilt against Ryerson, where Gray and Manny Diressa square off in what could be a showdown that decides the Moser Award.
#10 – Ryerson Rams (15-8 Overall, 13-6 OUA)
Last Week: 10
Past Week Results: 88-71 W @ York, 86-78 W @ Queen’s
Ryerson’s offence stayed hot in road wins over their former OUA East divisional foes, as the team’s offence stayed hot, making 19 three pointers over the two games.
Last year’s playoff performer Fil Vujadinovic also had a heck of a week with two double-doubles, and as the calendar turns to late February this team is ready to play its best ball of the year.
