Week Tres (3) of the 2011-12 CIS Men’s Basketball season showcased the excitement the league has to offer, with plenty of action across the country, several double-overtime games and few major upsets and of course a Carleton Ravens smack down. BasketballBuzz CIS Men’s Basketball Top 25 Power Rankings has the goods.
#1 Carleton Ravens – (OUA 4-0, Overall 15-6) (LW: 1)
The defending champs raised the banner, well not quite, more like hung, their newest championship banner in front of a loyal and electric home crowd, then proceeded to give the Western Mustangs, and highly touted Windsor Lancers a taste of championship basketball.
Previous: Western Mustangs W 96-43, Windsor Lancers W, 95-66
Up Next: Guelph Gryphons, Lakehead Thunderwolves
#2 St. Francis X-Men – (AUS 3-0, Overall 11-0) (LW: 2)
The X-Men needed a Shane Coupland three-pointer in overtime to get past the Acadia Axemen in a thrilling contest. Unless something crazy happens the X-Men should go into the holiday break undefeated and firmly cemented as the top dog in the AUS.
Previous: Acadia Axemen W, 90-89 OT
Up Next: Dalhousie Tigers
#3 Lakehead Thunderwolves – (OUA 4-0, Overall 12-0) (LW: 3)
You don’t win ball games without playing defense. The Thunderwolves are giving up only 55 points per game. Ravens come to town with their own stingy team defense, they only allow 56 points.
Previous: Toronto Blues W, 68-63, Ryerson Rams W, 95-54
Up Next: Ottawa Gee-Gees, Carleton Ravens
#4 UBC Thunderbirds – (CW 4-0, Overall 11-5) (LW: 4)
The Thunderbirds feasted on their crosstown rivals in two blowout victories. UBC is averaging a league best 99 points per game.
Previous: Trinity Western Spartans W, 104-75, Trinity Western Spartans W, 103-70,
Up Next: Lethbridge Pronghorns, Calgary Dinos
#5 Saskatchewan Huskies – (CW 3-2, Overall 10-3) (LW: 7)
The Huskies played without two starters, Jamelle Barrett (head & knee) and Nolan Brudehl (knee) and still managed to come out with two victories over Lethbridge. The bad news for Saskatchewan is that both starters will be shutdown until the new year.
Previous: Lethbridge Pronghorns W, 83-67, Lethbridge Pronghorns W, 74-65
Up Next: Fraser Valley Cascades, Trinity Western Spartans
#6 Laurier Golden Hawks – (OUA 4-0, Overall 13-4) (LW: 8)
Pretty easy week for the Golden Hawks. They put up 130 points on the Paladins and have 11 players averaging over 5 points per game.
Previous: RMC Paladins W, 130-72, Queens Golden Gales W, 88-62
Up Next: Laurentian Voyageurs, York Lions
#7 Fraser Valley Cascades – (CW 4-1, Overall 13-5) (LW: 10)
Things are about to get a little more challenging for the Cascades as they hit the road against two top 10 opponents after a comfy four-game home stretch.
Previous: UBC Okanagan W, 74-52, UBC Okanagan W, 108-63,
Up Next: Saskatchewan Huskies, Alberta Golden Bears
#8 Concordia Stingers – (RSEQ 2-0, Overall 8-6) (LW: 11)
The Stingers outscored Laval 28-10 in a decisive final quarter and continue their upward climb in the rankings.
Previous: Laval Rouge et Or W, 88-72
Up Next: Bishop Gaiters
#9 Victoria Vikes – (CW 6-0, 8-5 Overall) (LW: 13)
The Vikes got pushed to the limit against the exciting Wolfpack and needed a putback at the buzzer to remain undefeated.
Previous: Thompson Rivers Wolfpack W, 77-75, Thompson Rivers Wolfpack W, 84-76
Next: Calgary Dinos, Lethbridge Pronghorns
#10 Brock Badgers – (OUA 3-1, 10-8 Overall) (LW: 14)
Talk about earning your victories, the Badgers needed extra sessions on both occasions and continue to be a dangerous team.
Previous:Laurentian Voyageurs, W, 99-91 OT, York Lions, 98-93 2OT
Up Next: RMC Paladins, Queens Golden Gaels
#11 Acadia Axemen – (AUS 2-1, 8-6 Overall) (LW: 12)
Acadia came up just short in a classic and entertaining overtime game against the X-Men and was able to roll past the Varsity Reds.
Previous: St.FX L 89-90 OT, UNB Varsity Reds W, 80-54
Up Next: UPEI Panthers X 2
#12 McMaster Marauders – (OUA 3-1, 10-4 Overall) (LW: 16)
The Marauders are getting a total team effort and their prized recruits (Aaron Redpath, Adam Presutti) continue to improve with each game played.
Previous: York Lions, W, 84-70, Laurentian Voyageurs W, 99-70
Up Next: Queens Golden Gaels, RMC Paladins
#13 UPEI Panthers – (AUS 4-0, 8-2 Overall) (LW: 17)
This is unfamiliar territory for the Panthers. UPEI is one win shy of surpassing last year’s overall win (9) total. Great opportunity to make a statement this week with games against Acadia.
Previous :Memorial Seahawks W, 93-83, Memorial Seahawks W, 98-74
Up Next: Acadia Axemen x 2
#14 Ottawa Gee-Gees – (OUA 2-2, 9-9 Overall) (LW: 19)
The Gee-Gees came from behind and surprised the Windsor Lancers in their home-opener. Warren Ward can really turn ball games around.
Previous: Windsor Lancers W, 58-63, Western Mustangs W, 84-54
Up Next: Lakehead Thunderwolves, Guelph Gryphons
#15 Alberta Bears – (CW 4-2, Overall 9-6) (LW: 6)
Alberta got upset on the road against the unranked Wesmen. Despite the success its tough to forgive losses like this one.
Previous: Winnipeg Wesmen L, 70-71, Winnipeg Wesmen W, 84-56
Up Next: Trinity Western Spartans, Fraser Valley Cascades
#16 Windsor Lancers – (OUA 2-2, Overall 7-14) (LW: 5)
A steep drop for the Lancers, Windsor went 0-2 on their road trip to the Nation’s capital and needs more scoring from stud Lien Phillip.
Previous: Ottawa Gee-Gees L, 69-65, Carleton Ravens W, 84-56
Up Next: Toronto Blues, Ryerson Rams
#17 Trinity Western Spartans – (CW 2-4, Overall 7-6) (LW: 9)
Things are not looking good for the Spartans, they got blasted twice by UBC and are in danger of missing the postseason with another tough road trip coming-up.
Previous: UBC Thunderbirds L, 75-100 UBC Thunderbirds L, 70-103
Up Next:Alberta Golden Bears, Saskatchewan Huskies
#18 Waterloo Warriors – (OUA 3-1, 7-6 Overall) (LW: NR)
The Warriors are playing well and are currently in contention in a tight OUA West division.
Previous: RMC Paladins W, 100-56 Queens Golden Gaels W, 79-70
Up Next: York Lions, Laurentian Voyageurs
#19 Laurentian Voyageurs – (OUA 1-3, 8-8 Overall) (LW: 13)
The Voyageurs are struggling to find their groove and could easily be 0-4. They are giving up an average of 92.5 points per game. Gotta play some defense at some point.
Previous: Brock Badgers L, 91-99 OT, McMaster Marauders L, 70-99
Up Next: Laurier Golden Hawks, Waterloo Warriors
#20 Regina Cougars – (CW 2-3, 4-6 Overall) (LW: NR)
After a tough start to the season against the top teams in Canada West (Huskies, Vikes, UBC), the Cougars have won two-straight sweeping the Calgary Dinos.
Previous: Calgary Dinos W, 83-74, Calgary Dinos W, 93-91
Up Next: UBC Okanagan Heat, Thompson Rivers Wolfpack
#21 UQAM Citadins – (RSEQ 2-0, Overall 7-9) (LW: NR)
The Citadins defeated the Mcgill Redmen 51-35 in one of the lowest scoring games in recent CIS Men’s Basketball history.
Previous: Mcgill Redmen W, 51-35
Up Next: Mcgill Redmen
#22 Manitoba Bisons – (CW 2-4, 7-6 Overall) (LW: 20)
Picked up a road win against the athletic Brandon Bobcats but needs more production from Keith Omoerah if they hope to remain in the hunt for a Canada West playoff spot.
Previous: Brandon Bobcats W, 94-74, Brandon Bobcats L, 98-91
Up Next: Winnipeg Wesmen
#23 Cape Breton Capers – (AUS 1-2, 5-6 Overall) (LW: 22)
Late defensive breakdowns cost the Capers a 2-0 week as they fell to Tigers in overtime.
Previous: Dalhousie Tigers L, 102-106 OT, Dalhousie Tigers W, 97-74
Up Next: UNB Varsity Reds x 2
#24 Lethbridge Pronghorns (CW 3-3, 3-7 Overall) (LW: 21)
Played tough against the Huskies but still were unable to muster-up a victory. Brutal schedule coming-up this might be the last we see of them.
Previous: Saskatchewan Huskies L, 67-83, Saskatchewan Huskies L, 65-74
Up Next: UBC Thunderbirds, Victoria Vikes
#25 Thompson Rivers Wolfpack – (CW 2-4, 5-8 Overall) (LW: 24)
The Wolfpack got minimal work from Chas Kok, and dropped two winnable games against the Vikes. Justin King, Justin King, Justin King, Justin King, Justin King, you get the point.
Previous: Victoria Vikes L, 75-77, Victoria Vikes L, 76-84
Up Next: Brandon Bobcats, Regina Cougars
Dropped from previous week
Toronto Blues – (OUA 1-3, 6-8 Overall) (LW: 19)
Mcgill Redmen – (RSEQ 1-2, Overall 6-13) (LW: 23)
Calgary Dinos – (CW 2-2, 6-8 Overall) (LW: 25)
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)
