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Canada West basketball fans can look forward to an exciting new championship experience next year.
The conference has announced its men’s and women’s basketball championships will move to a single-site format for the 2023-24 season. The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) will play host to the women’s tournament in Abbotsford, while the men’s event will be hosted by the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
The top 12 teams during the regular season will qualify for each championship, with the top four finishers receiving an automatic bye into the quarterfinals.
Both men’s and women’s championship tournaments will run from Feb. 21 to 25.
“We are excited to have the best men’s and women’s teams in the conference each converge on a single site and really highlight the caliber of basketball in Canada West,” says Eoin Colquhoun, Associate Director of Sport at Canada West. “There was great interest from across the conference to host both tournaments and we expect that UFV and Manitoba will host two great events.”
The conference is coming off another thrilling season on the hardwood. The University of Alberta Pandas made history by capturing their first Canada West women’s basketball title. On the men’s side, the University of Victoria Vikes secured their second straight conference crown and will be looking for a three-peat next season.
Bisons to bring championship excitement to Winnipeg
The conference’s top men’s basketball programs will converge on the Manitoba capital in pursuit of a championship title. All games will take place inside the Investors Group Athletic Centre (IGAC), located on the campus of University of Manitoba.
The Bisons are confident their herd of supporters will create a thrilling atmosphere. Last season, an electric sellout crowd of 3,300 spectators witnessed the Bisons take on rival University of Winnipeg in the Canada West men’s basketball semi-finals.
“We are thrilled to welcome men’s basketball teams from across Canada West to our facility for this exciting new conference championship format,” says Gene Muller, Bisons Director of Athletics and Recreation. “The sport of basketball is thriving in our city and this includes the results of our men’s program one year ago, achieving a program record for regular season wins. With this momentum, and the work of our staff and partners, we believe that Investors Group Athletic Centre will be the place to be for a thrilling week of action.”
Muller adds his team is excited for the opportunity to deliver a memorable championship experience for both participants and fans.
“This championship is one of three major U SPORTS events coming through our building over the coming seasons, with track nationals this March and women’s volleyball nationals in 2025. We welcome all fans and supporters, and are thankful for the opportunity to once again create an engaging experience for all.”
The Bisons men’s basketball program promises to be a tough out on their home floor, coming off a season in which they topped Canada West with an 18-2 regular season record.
The Canada West men's and women's basketball seasons tip off in October. All games during the regular season and throughout the playoffs are available live and on-demand on Canada West TV.
Source: https://canada-west.prezly.com/bb-ufv-manitoba-named-championship-hosts