(Ottawa, ON) – (BasketballBuzz) – For the first in the programs history the Ottawa Gee-Gees have been awarded the No. 1 overall seed at the CIS men’s Final 8 tournament. A night after shocking the No. 1 Carleton Ravens to win the 2014 Ontario University Association (OUA) conference championship, the Gee-Gees convinced the seeding committee that they deserved the No. 1 seed.
The nine-time champions and three-time defending champs, the Carleton Ravens, have dropped to number two after suffering their only loss of the season. The Ravens were also given the No. 2 seed back in 2011.
As expected, the Canada West champions, Alberta Golden Bears, secured the third spot. Rounding out the top four seeds is the Victoria Vikes, who finished second in the Canada West.
The McGill Redmen secure the fifth spot, thanks to their back-to-back Quebec/RSEQ championships. The St. Mary’s Huskies take the sixth spot after winning the Atlantic conference.
Rounding out the final two seeds are the McMaster Marauders, who earned a bronze medal after finishing third at the 2014 Wilson Cup, and the Saskatchewan Huskies, who were awarded the at-large wildcard by also winning bronze at the Canada West Final Four tournament.
Overall the eight best teams will be in Ottawa in what is expected to be another great National Championship.
2014 Official Final 8 tournament seeds
#1 Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA Champions: League 20-2, Playoffs 3-0, Overall 36-4)
#2 Carleton Ravens (OUA runner-up: League 22-0, Playoffs 2-1, Overall 34-3)
#3 Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West Champions: League 20-2, Playoffs 4-1, Overall 36-6)
#4 Victoria Vikes (Canada West runner-up: League 19-3, Playoffs 3-2, Overall 27-9)
#5 McGill Redmen (RSEQ Champions: League 14-2, Playoffs 2-0, Overall 22-9)
#6 St. Mary’s Huskies (AUS Champion: League 14-6, Playoffs 2-0, Overall 23-10)
#7 McMaster Marauders (OUA bronze: League 18-4, Playoffs 2-1, Overall 26-10)
#8 Saskatchewan Huskies (Wildcard: League 15-7, Playoffs 3-1, Overall 27-10)
2014 CIS men’ final 8 quarter-finals
#1 Ottawa Gee-Gees vs #8 Saskatchewan Huskies
#2 Carleton Ravens vs. #7 McMaster Marauders
#3 Alberta Golden Bears vs. #6 St. Mary’s Huskies
#4 Victoria Vikes vs. #5 McGill Redmen