2022-23 Canada West Men's Basketball Season Tips Off This Weekend

The Canada West basketball season begins this Friday. For the complete 2022-23 schedule, ​click here.

Every men's basketball game will be available live and on demand this season exclusively on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here. 

2022-23 CW MBB PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Team - Points (First-place votes)

1. Victoria Vikes - 249 (11)
2. Alberta Golden Bears - 241 (5)
3. UBC Thunderbirds - 233 (1)
4. Calgary Dinos - 196
5. Regina Cougars - 186
6. Manitoba Bisons - 181
7. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 142
8. Winnipeg Wesmen - 140
9. Saskatchewan Huskies - 137
10. Trinity Western Spartans - 136
11. Brandon Bobcats - 133
12. Fraser Valley Cascades - 82
13. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 73
14. UNBC Timberwolves - 69
15. UBCO Heat - 63
16. Mount Royal Cougars - 30
17. MacEwan Griffins - 21

NOTE: Coaches ranked all opponents 1-16. First-place votes worth 16 points, second-place worth 15 points etc. 

BRANDON BOBCATS

2021 CW regular season record: 2-14, 5th in CW east division
2021 post-season record: 1-1
Head Coach: Gil Cheung (13th season / Career CW reg. season record: 56-168
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2002 / 1
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 1996 / 4
 
2021 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 73.6 points per game, 14th
Defence: 85.5 points against per game, 15th
 
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Points/game: 18.0 – Anthony Tsegakele, Forward
Assists: 2.3 – Dominique Dennis, Guard
Blocks: 0.7 – Anthony Tsegakele, Forward
Rebounds/game: 11.9 – Anthony Tsegakele, Forward
3PT percentage: 39.5% – Anthony Tsegakele, Forward
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Jack McDonald / F / 4 / Perth, AUS. / Warner University
Khari Ojeda-Harvey / G / 3 / Queens, NY / Queensborough College
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Hans Befus / G / Edmonton, AB / 2
 
Key performer (pictured above):
Jahmaal Gardner
G
4
Brentwood, NY
2021 Stats: (16.7 PPG/2.3 APG/4.3 RPG/43.5 3PT%)
 
Jahmaal Gardner exploded on the scene in the second half of 2021-22, scoring in double figures in every game as the senior guard finally was able to play a full season after arriving in Brandon nearly two years prior. After missing the Covid-cancelled season and returning from a broken wrist, Gardner played to his full potential and became a constant threat due to his speed, awareness, and range. Gardner is expected to make even more noise in 2022-23 with a deeper backcourt and more experienced Bobcats lineup.

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MANITOBA BISONS

2021 CW regular season record: 7-9, fourth in east division
2021 post-season record: 0-1, lost in first round to UBCO
Head Coach: Kirby Scheppt 14th season / 122-122
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: N/A
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 1976 / 1
 
2021 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 71.1, 15th
Defence: 72.7, 5th
 
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Points/game: 9.2 – Mason Kraus, guard
Assists: 64 – Mason Kraus, guard
Blocks: six – Mason Kraus, guard
Rebounds/game: 4.7 – Wyatt Tait, forward
3PT percentage: 33.3 – Elijah Lostracco, guard
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Simon Hildebrandt / forward / 1 / Winnipeg, MB / Woodstock Academy
Brandt Lenz / guard/ / 1 / Chilliwack, BC / PHH Prep
 
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Riki Zimbakov / guard / Winnipeg, MB / five
Cam O’Hara / forward / Winnipeg, MB / five
James Wagner / forward / Winnipeg, MB / five
Keiran Zziwa / guard/ Winnipeg, MB / five
 
Key performer (pictured above):
Name: Mason Kraus
Position: guard
Year: second
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
2021 Stats: (9.2 PPG/4.0 APG/6 BLKS/4.6 RPG/33.3 3PT%)
 
Last season began the Mason Kraus era at the University of Manitoba. The standout guard made the All-Rookie team, starting in every game while playing 30 minutes for a Bisons squad that loves to play an up-tempo game on both ends of the court, and counts on numerous players to be able to shoot and defend, regardless of position. Kraus fits this mould, and is primed for an even bigger year in 2022-23, after putting on extra muscle on the offseason.

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WINNIPEG WESMEN

2021 CW regular season record: 8-8, 3rd place, East Division
2021 post-season record: 1-1, lost in quarter-final
Head Coach: Mike Raimbault (13th season) / 113-111 (Career CW reg. season record)
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: None
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None
 
2021 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 75.8 PPG, 12th
Defence: 77.6 PPG, 12th
 
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Points/game: 10.8 – Shawn Maranan, guard
Assists: 57 – Shawn Maranan, guard
Blocks: 12 – Emmanuel Thomas, forward
Rebounds/game: 5.3 – Shawn Maranan, guard
3PT percentage: 35.5% – Shawn Maranan, guard
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Alberto Gordo, guard, 1st, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain, Canterbury School
Ryan Luke, forward, 1st, Winnipeg, John Taylor Collegiate
Paul Francisco, guard, 1st, Winnipeg, St. Clair College
Elijah Mensah, forward, 1st, Winnipeg, Miles Macdonell Collegiate
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Don Dayrit, guard, Winnipeg, five
Spas Nikolov, forward, Sophia, Bulgaria, five
Eric Racine, guard, Burnsville, Minn., one
 
Key performer (pictured above):
Shawn Maranan
Guard
Third
Winnipeg
2021 Stats: (10.8 PPG/3.6 APG/1.5 SPG/5.3 RPG/35.5 3PT%)
 
With the departure of Don Dayrit and Spas Nikolov, junior guard Shawn Maranan becomes the veteran of the Wesmen team in terms of minutes played. A leader in multiple categories last season, Maranan won’t be asked to score in volume like Dayrit did, but he’ll still be looked upon to shoulder some leadership duties as the Wesmen look to improve on last season’s 8-8 finish.

Source: https://canadawest.org/news/2022/10/28/general-mbb.aspx