MBB: UBC at Timberwolves Preview

Men's Basketball
November 13, 2019
Anthony Hokanson

Canada West Men’s Basketball Preview: UBC @ UNBC

November 15, 2019 at 8:00 P.M.
November 16, 2019 at 7:00 P.M.

UNBC Timberwolves - Record (3-1)

7th in Canada West Standings
84.0 Points Scored Per Game
84.3 Points Allowed Per Game
Scoring Leader: Tyrell Laing (22.3 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Fareed Shittu (8.5 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Vova Pluzhnikov (5.5 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Vova Pluzhnikov (1.5 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Anthony Hokanson (0.8 Per Game)

Player To Watch: Saje Gosal, G
9.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG

You won’t find Gosal’s name on the list of the biggest or fastest players in the league, but he is among the elite thinkers in the conference. The fifth-year shooting guard has a grit to his game that proves valuable to a UNBC roster full of youth. Perennially among the leaders in three-point shooting, Gosal will need to be ready and willing to pull the trigger against the Thunderbirds.

UBC Thunderbirds - Record (2-2)

9th in Canada West Standings
78.5 Points Scored Per Game
76.0 Points Allowed Per Game
Scoring Leader: Jadon Cohee (19.3 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Zack Moore (6.5 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Jadon Cohee (5.3 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Grant Audu (2.0 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Zack Moore, Grant Shephard (0.8 Per Game)

Player To Watch: Grant Shephard, F
14.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 APG

Shephard is a matchup nightmare for most teams in Canada West, with his unique blend of length and speed. A rim-runner with ever extending range, the Kelowna product has played for Basketball Canada, and continues to evolve in just his third season of university basketball.

Quotes:

UNBC’s Anthony Hokanson

On the matchup with the Thunderbirds…

“We’re expecting very hard-fought games from UBC. They’re always one of the premier teams in our conference so we really need to lock into our systems to compete how we want to against them.”

On the mood of the team through four games…

“The feeling in the room is great right now. Everyone is playing with a lot of confidence, and we want to keep that same energy rolling moving forward.”

On the part of his game that has seen biggest improvement…

“I am always trying to evolve. Since last season, the area I feel I’ve improved most is playmaking. I’m seeing the court a lot better this season, and it has been paying off.”

On importance of UNBC crowd at the Northern Sport Centre…

“Playing in front of our hometown crowd is one of our biggest advantages. The energy boost and support we get from the crowd really helps us on game nights, to help us push past what we can normally do.”