Week two of the CIS Men’s Basketball regular season is in the books, and with all four conferences in action last week, our latest BasketballBuzz Top 25 Power Rankings reflect the wild action that happened across the country.
#1 Carleton Ravens – (OUA 2-0, Overall 13-6) (LW: 1)
Yeap, same old, a two game sweep on the road against Top 25 competition. The defending champs come home for their opener and have an intriguing match-up against a tough and experienced Windsor Lancers squad.
Previous: McMaster Marauders, W 77-71, Brock Badgers, W 98-56
Up Next: Western Mustangs, Windsor Lancers
#2 St. Francis X-Men – (AUS 2-0, Overall 10-0) (LW: 3)
The X-Men are showing signs of a championship caliber team, they fell behind 11-0 against their long-time rivals, but fought back and cruised to a comfortable victory. Sophomore Terry Thomas has to be amongst the most electrifying players in the nation.
Previous: Cape Breton Capers, W 88-69, Dalhousie Tigers, W 85-71
Up Next: Acadia Axemen
#3 Lakehead Thunderwolves – (OUA 2-0, Overall 10-0) (LW: 5)
Easy victories last week, one of the softest schedule thus far. They open-up a four-game home stretch with some stiff competition.
Previous: Queens Golden Gaels W, 84-52, RMC Paladins, W 115-54
Up Next: Toronto Blues, Ryerson Rams
#4 UBC Thunderbirds – (CW 2-0, Overall 9-5) (LW: 5)
Nathan Yu and the Thunderbirds high scoring offense took flight and nearly reached the century mark on both outings last week.
Previous: Regina Cougars W, 101-71, Brandon Bobcats W, 91-55
Up Next: Trinity Western Spartans X 2
#5 Windsor Lancers – (OUA 2-0, Overall 7-12) (LW: 6)
Took care of business against the Laurentian Voyageurs in a shootout and rested their key guys in a blowout.
Previous: Laurentian Voyageurs W, 86-81, York Lions W, 80-56
Up Next: Ottawa Gee-Gees, Carleton Ravens
#6 Alberta Bears – (CW 3-1, Overall 8-5) (LW: 7)
New home gym, new brand of basketball and a bunch of headaches for upcoming Canada West teams. The Bears gutted out two impressive victories over the Saskatchewan Huskies.
Previous: Saskatchewan Huskies W, 77-71, Saskatchewan Huskies W, 74-69
Up Next: Winnipeg Wesmen X 2
#7 Saskatchewan Huskies – (CW 1-2, Overall 8-3) (LW: 2)
Late turnovers and questionable decision making cost the Huskies in both games against a tough and well coached Alberta Golden Bears. No time to panic, but where is the Jamelle Barrett of last year?
Previous: Alberta Golden Bears L, 71-77, Alberta Golden Bears L, 69-74
Up Next: Lethbridge Pronghorns X 2
#8 Laurier Golden Hawks – (OUA 2-0, Overall 11-4) (LW: 8)
Deepest team in the league? Sniper Kyle Enright got hot from downtown as the Golden Hawks brushed aside two solid teams.
Previous: Ryerson Rams W, 85-65, Toronto Blues W, 84-69
Up Next: RMC Paladins, Queens Golden Gales
#9 Trinity Western Spartans – (CW 2-2, Overall 7-4) (LW: 9)
Played without All-Canadian candidate Kyle Coston and nearly dropped to 0-3 in the early season. Coston returned the next night and they cruised.
Previous: Winnipeg Wesmen W, 78-77, Manitoba Bisons W, 95-68
Up Next: UBC Thunderbirds X 2
#10 Fraser Valley Cascades – (CW 3-1, Overall 11-5) (LW: 9)
The Cascades never trailed in their two wins last week and are looking at a potential four-game winning streak with the new kids on the block coming to town.
Previous: Manitoba Bisons W, 101-76, Winnipeg Wesmen W, 89-69
Up Next: UBC Okanagan X 2
#11 Concordia Stingers – (RSEQ 1-0, Overall 7-6) (LW: 11)
The Stingers patent full-court pressure defense was on full display, clearly the team to beat in RSEQ, but it won’t be a walk in the park.
Previous: Mcgill Redmen W, 80-68
Up Next: Laval Rouge et Or
#12 Acadia Axemen – (AUS 1-0, 7-5 Overall) (LW: 14)
Executed well enough down the stretch to get past the unranked Tigers. They will need to improve in a hurry as two undefeated opponents come to Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
Previous: Dalhousie W, 71-68
Up Next: St.FX, UNB Varsity Reds
#13 Victoria Vikes – (CW 4-0, 6-5 Overall) (LW: 25)
Made the biggest jump this week after expected victories last week over unranked teams. Don’t be surprised if the Vikes head into the Christmas break undefeated.
Previous: Regina Cougars W, 85-66, Brandon Bobcats W, 87-76
Next: Thompson Rivers Wolfpack x 2
#14 Brock Badgers – (OUA 1-1, 8-8 Overall) (LW: 15)
The Badgers held the Gee-Gees to just 18 points in the first-half to get the win, but struggle mightily and shot only 28% (15-52) against the Ravens.
Previous: Ottawa Gee-Gees W, 63-58, Carleton Ravens L, 56-98
Up Next: Laurentian Voyageurs, York Lions
#15 Laurentian Voyageurs – (OUA 1-1, 8-4 Overall) (LW: 13)
Needed a step-back buzzer beating three-pointer from All-star Manny Pasquale to finish the week at 1-1.
Previous: Windsor Lancers L, 86-81, Western Mustangs W, 87-86
Up Next: Brock Badgers, McMaster Marauders
#16 McMaster Marauders – (OUA 1-1, 8-4 Overall) (LW: 24)
Previous: Carleton Ravens L, 61-77, Ottawa Gee-Gees W, 73-69
Up Next: York Lions, Laurentian Voyageurs
#17 UPEI Panthers – (AUS 2-0, 6-2 Overall) (LW: 23)
New coach is trying to change the culture, a 2-0 start to the season is a good direction.
Previous: St. Mary’s Huskies W, 97-95, St. Mary’s Huskies 92-77
Up Next: Memorial Seahawks x 2
#18 Toronto Blues – (OUA 1-1, 6-6 Overall) (LW: 19)
Avenged a non-conference loss against the Waterloo Warriors and was narrowly defeated by the hot shooting Laurier Golden Hawks.
Previous: Waterloo Warriors W, 98-78, Laurier Golden Hawks L, 79-84
Up Next: Lakehead Thunderwolves, Guelph Mustangs
#19 Ottawa Gee-Gees – (OUA 0-2, 7-9 Overall) (LW: 12)
We expected a 1-1 weekend on the road, the Gee-Gees under-performed and could be looking at the start of long losing streak with the quality teams coming to Monpetit Hall.
Previous: McMaster Marauders L, 58-63, Brock Badgers L, 69-73
Up Next: Windsor Lancers, Western Mustangs
#20 Manitoba Bisons – (CW 1-3, 6-5 Overall) (LW: 18)
The Bisons have played one of the toughest opening schedules in Canada West. They look to rebound from their 1-3 conference start with softer schedule.
Previous: Fraser Valley Cascades L, 101-76, Trinity Western Spartans L, 95-68
Up Next: Brandon Bobcats X 2
#21 Lethbridge Pronghorns (CW 3-1, 3-5 Overall) (LW: NR)
We’re sure no expected the Pronghorns to be amongst the top team in the conference. No one is sure if this will last, but for the moment they deserve to be included in the discussion.
Previous: UBC Okanagan W, 85-57, Thompson Rivers Wolfpack 95-68
Up Next: Saskatchewan Huskies x 2
#22 Cape Breton Capers – (AUS 0-1, 4-5 Overall) (LW: 20)
The Capers came out fired up against St. FX but eventually ran out of gas towards the end.
Previous: St. FX L, 69-88
Up Next: Dalhousie Tigers x 2
#23 Mcgill Redmen – (RSEQ 1-1, Overall 6-12) (LW: 21)
Disappointing first-half against a defensive minded Concordia Stingers, but that was expected.
Previous: Concordia Stingers L, 68-80, Laval Rouge et Or, W 82-57
Up Next: UQAM
#24 Thompson Rivers Wolfpack – (CW 2-2, 5-6 Overall) (LW: NR)
Welcome TRU. Well deserved, now the question is, can they sustain it? The big three of Chas Kok, Kevin Pribilsky, and Justin King will continue to catch Canada West opponents by surprise.
Previous: Calgary Dinos W, 96-78, Lethbridge Pronghorns, L 93-106
Up Next: Victoria Vikes x 2
#25 Calgary Dinos – (CW 2-2, 6-6 Overall) (LW: 16)
Up and down Canada West campaign continues, the Dinos are in need off some quality wins but with injuries piling up we just don’t see that happening.
Previous: Thompson Rivers Wolfpack L, 96 -79, UBC Okanagan W, 85-57
Up Next: Regina Cougars X 2
Dropped from previous week
Ryerson Rams – (OUA 0-2, 5-5 Overall) (LW: 22)
Bishop Gaiters – (RSEQ 0-1, 5-6 Overall) (LW: 17)
Legend
*LW – Last Week
*NR – Not Ranked
Conferences
*OUA (Ontario University Association
*CW (Canada West)
*AUS (Atlantic University Sport)
*RSEQ (Réseau du Sport Etudiant du Québec)
