The 2011-12 CIS Men’s basketball regular season kicked-off with a bang last week and as expected there were major upsets in the opening weekend of Canada West play. Other than a few changes the BasketballBuzz CIS Men’s Basketball Power Rankings remain the same as the previous week.
#1 Carleton Ravens – OUA East – (CIS 6-0, Overall 11-6) (LW: 1)
The Ravens wrapped up the non-conference schedule with two straight loses against NCAA D1 opponents. The Lasalle Explorers hammered Carleton 75-52 and the Pennsylvania Quackers knocked down two fouls shots with no time left in the game and sneak a 72-74 victory.
Up Next: McMaster Marauders, Brock Badgers
#2 Saskatchewan Huskies – CW East – (CIS 6-1, Overall 8-1) (LW: NR)
All-Canadian Jamelle Barrett returned to the line-up as the Huskies took care of business in the season opener by dispatching the Regina Cougars 105-68.
Up Next: Alberta Golden Bears x 2
#3 St. Francis X-Men – AUS – (CIS 8-0, Overall 8-0) (LW: 4)
The X-men were idle last week and will look to continue a perfect start to season as they open up AUS regular season.
Up Next: Cape Breton Capers, Dalhousie Tigers
#4 Lakehead Thunderwolves – OUA West – (CIS 6-0, Overall 8-0) (LW: 5)
The Thunderwolves went on the road and stayed undefeated by beating Hamline University (Saint Paul, MN) 70-67 and Winscosin-Stout (Menomonie, WI) 98-95.
Up Next: Queens Golden Gaels, RMC Paladins
#5 UBC Thunderbirds – CW West (CIS 6-1, Overall 7-5) (LW: 5)
UBC got off to a slow start and closeout the non-conference schedule with 76-63 defeat at the hands of the Seattle Mountaineers (ABA).
Up Next: Brandon Bobcats, Regina Cougars
#6 Windsor Lancers – OUA West – (CIS 1-3, Overall 5-12) (LW: 7)
The Lancers travelled to Indiana and dropped two games, a 86-79 hard fought double-overtime game against Huntington University Foresters (NCAA D2) and Goshen College 83-70. They also got buried by the Oakland University Grizzlies (NCAA D1) 98-67 as the Grizzlies avenged an earlier preseason defeat when they visited Canada in the 2011 NCAA/CIS Series.
Up Next: Laurentian Voyageurs, York Lions
#7 Alberta Bears – CW East – (CIS 3-2, Overall 6-5) (LW: 8)
The Bears were upset in the second-game of the weekend series against a rising Manitoba Bisons squad. They will go as far as Baker and Ferguson take them.
Up Next: Saskatchewan Huskies x 2
#8 Laurier Golden Hawks – OUA West – (CIS 6-4, Overall 9-4) (LW: 10)
The Golden Hawks were idle last week and took the necessary time rest and prepare for a tough OUA season opener.
Up Next: Ryerson Rams, Toronto Blues
#9 Trinity Western Spartans – CW West – (CIS 1-3, Overall 4-3-1) (LW: 3)
The Spartans put on a first class home opening ceremony, but forget their game in the locker room as the unranked but dangerous Victoria Vikes completed a series sweep of Trinity Western. Defense and rebounding must improve quickly if they have any hopes of staying in the Top 10.
Up Next: Winnipeg Wesmen, Manitoba Bisons
#10 Fraser Valley Cascades – CW West – (CIS 4-1, Overall 8-4) (LW: 9)
A lot of hype surrounding the Cascades these days, but the reality is, they will have to close out games better in order to have a shot at the big dogs.
Up Next: Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg Wesmen
#11 Concordia Stingers – RSEQ – (CIS 5-3, Overall 6-6) (LW: 11)
The Stingers hung around with a tough Vermont Catamounts opponent (NCAA D1) but eventually lost 69-56. The next night Concordia rebounded and knocked off Lyndon State College (NCAA D3) 91-46 to close out the preseason schedule. They open-up RSEQ conference play with a familiar foe.
Up Next: Mcgill Redmen
#12 Ottawa Gee-Gees – OUA East – (CIS 4-3, 7-7 Overall) (LW: 12)
Playing with a full roster for the first time this season the Gee-Gees dropped their last preseason game against the Maine Blackbears (NCAA D1) 79-56.
Up Next: Brock Badgers, McMaster Marauders
#13 Laurentian Voyageurs – OUA West – (CIS 6-2, 8-4 Overall) (LW: 13)
No games for the Voyageurs last week. After a strong preseason Laurentian is hoping for a fine start to regular season.
Up Next: Windsor Lancers, Western Mustangs
#14 Acadia Axemen – AUS – (CIS 3-5, 5-5 Overall) (LW: 14)
No games last week, will open up the AUS campaign with three-straight defeats and a bulleyes on their back.
Up Next: Dalhousie Tigers
#15 Brock Badgers – OUA West – (CIS 4-2, 7-7 Overall) (LW: 15)
Another team that decided to rest prior the their opener, not a bad thing, specially with defending champs coming to town.
Up Next: Ottawa Gee-Gees, Carleton Ravens
#16 Manitoba Bisons – CW East – (CIS 4-2, 6-3 Overall) (LW: 18)
Climbed up two spots courtesy of a weekend split against the favourites Alberta Golden Bears.
Up Next: Fraser Valley Cascades, Trinity Western Spartans
#17 Toronto Blues – OUA East – (CIS 3-2, 5-5 Overall) (LW: 19)
The Blues spit a pair of games Amherst, N.Y., falling to the Daeman College Wildcats 68-65 and Point Park Pioneers 88-84.
Up Next: Waterloo Warriors, Laurier Golden Hawks
#18 Bishop Gaiters – RSEQ – (CIS 5-2, 5-5 Overall) (LW: 17)
Lost their final two preseason contests, Franklin Pierce Ravens 89-71 & Bentley College 101-74
Up Next: UQAM
#19 Calgary Dinos – CW East – (CIS 5-1, 6-5 Overall) (LW: 16)
Blame it on the power outage, the Dinos split a pair of games against an athletic unranked Brandon Bobcats.
Up Next: Thompson Rivers Wolpack, Okanagan Heat
#20 Cape Breton Capers – AUS – (CIS 2-4, 4-4 Overall) (LW: 20)
The Capers had no games this week and should have All-Canadian candidate Jimmy Dorsey in the line-up to get things rolling in the AUS.
Up Next: St. Francis X-Men
#21 Mcgill Redmen – RSEQ – (CIS 3-6, Overall 5-11) (LW: 21)
No games this week, they can use all the time they need, currently on a four-game losing streak with a key opening game.
Up Next: Concordia Stingers
#22 Ryerson Rams – OUA East – (CIS 3-2, 5-4 Overall) (LW: 22)
The Rams took their game to Cali and got blasted by the Santa Clara Broncos 91-60, Stanford Cardinals 100-47. They improved slightly but also lost to the Rhode Island Rams 97-66.
Up Next: Laurier Golden Hawks, Waterloo Warriors
#23 UPEI Panthers – AUS – (CIS 3-2, 4-2 Overall) (LW: 23)
The Panthers were idle this week and are looking to make an early statement in the AUS opener.
Up Next: St. Mary’s Huskies x 2
#24 McMaster Marauders – OUA East – (CIS 2-2, 7-3 Overall) (LW: NR)
The Marauders concluded the preseason in fine fashion, winning their final two non-conference games, Allegheny College (NCAA D3) 94-78, Penn State Behrend (NCAA D3) 76-54
Up Next: Carleton Ravens, Ottawa Gee-Gees
#25 Victoria Vikes – CW West – (CIS 3-2, 4-5 Overall) (LW: NR)
The Victoria Vikes impressed with a clean sweep against the Trinity Western Spartans and look poised to make deep Canada West run. Strong perimeter defense and deep bench should make them fun to watch.
Up Next: Regina Cougars, Brandon Bobcats
Dropped from previous Week
Waterloo Warriors – OUA East – (CIS 3-2, 4-5 Overall) (LW: 25)
*LW – Last Week
*NR – Not Ranked
