The Bobcats men's basketball team has been eagerly awaiting the 2023-24 season after last season's end.
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A heartbreaking triple overtime thriller sent the Winnipeg Wesmen to nationals and the Bobcats home at the end of last season, and now coach
Gil Cheung and his squad will be looking to take the next step.
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The 'Cats open the 2023-24 season on the road against another provincial rival in the Manitoba Bisons Thursday evening
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FULL SCHEDULE
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Key Returnees:
Jahmaal Gardner (5
th year, Brentwood, NY)
Khari Ojeda-Harvey (4
th year, Queens, NY)
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Key Additions:
John Dayo (3
rd year, Montreal, QC)
Max Winters (1
st year, Brandon, MB)
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The Bobcats enter the conference campaign 10
th in the Canada West pre-season coaches poll.
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The Bisons return a strong core and sit fourth, while Brandon's first home opponent the Thompson Rivers WolfPack sits 13
th.
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After going back-to-back last season, the University of Victoria Vikes will once again enter as the favourites when the 2023-24 Canada West basketball season tips off on Thursday.
The Vikes received 14 first place votes in the preseason coaches poll and will be looking for a rare three-peat, a feat that hasn't been accomplished in CW men's basketball for over 38 years. They'll once again be led by Diego Maffia, the reigning CW Player of the Year who led the nation with 24.9 points per game. The hometown Victoria product will look to continue his domination as he enters his fourth year, and is also coming off an impressive debut season with the CEBL's Vancouver Bandits.
Looking to halt the Vikes' reign will be west coast rival UBC, who placed second in the poll and received two first place votes. The T-Birds will field a well-rounded roster led by fifth-year forward Brian Wallack, who is coming off a season where he averaged 18.8 points per game.
The two Manitoba based programs took third and fourth in the poll, with the Winnipeg Wesmen landing third and the Manitoba Bisons placing fourth. The Bisons also received a first place vote.
The Wesmen will look to build off last year's conference final and U SPORTS final eight appearance, led by fourth-year guard Shawn Maranan. The local product averaged 13.5 points and 6.7 assists per game last season while leading Winnipeg to a 15-5 record and a memorable semifinal win over rival Manitoba.
Across town, the Bisons will look to reigning U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and All-Canadian Simon Hildebrandt to push them toward a conference championship. The 6'9 home grown Winnipeg product led the Herd to an 18-2 regular season record in 2022-23, and is coming off a successful summer of pro basketball with the CEBL's Winnipeg Sea Bears.
Bisons to host CW Men's Basketball Championships All roads lead to Winnipeg as the Manitoba Bisons are set to host the 2024 Canada West Men's Basketball Championship from Feb. 21 to 25. The postseason tournament moves to a single site this year, hosted inside the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
View the complete 2023-24 Men's Basketball schedule here.
For the complete Canada West season preview click here.
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