Manitoba’s basketball community is celebrating as two of its own, Kyler Filewich and Simon Hildebrandt, have been instrumental in leading their respective teams to the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Wofford Terriers Clinch Southern Conference Title
The Wofford Terriers secured their spot in the NCAA tournament by winning the Southern Conference (SoCon) championship. They defeated Furman University in the championship game, marking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019. Kyler was named Most Outstanding Player in the conference playoffs!
High Point Panthers Make History with Big South Championship
The High Point Panthers captured their first-ever Big South Conference championship, earning them a historic berth in the NCAA tournament. They overcame a significant deficit to defeat Winthrop University 81-69 in the championship game.
Manitobans at the Forefront
Kyler Filewich
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kyler Filewich is a 6-foot-9, 250-pound senior centre for the Wofford Terriers. He began his collegiate career at Southern Illinois University, where he earned a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team in the 2020-21 season. After transferring to Wofford, Filewich continued to excel, leading the team in rebounding during the 2023-24 season with an average of 8.8 rebounds per game, ranking fifth in the Southern Conference. He also contributed 9.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, showcasing his versatility on the court.
Simon Hildebrandt
Simon Hildebrandt, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He began his collegiate career at the University of Manitoba, where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman, Hildebrandt averaged 16.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, earning him the Canada West Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the Canada West First Team All-Star. In his sophomore season, he continued his stellar performance, averaging 16.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, including a career-high 41 points against the Victoria Vikes. His consistent excellence led to back-to-back Canada West First Team All-Star selections, a first in the program’s history. Hildebrandt transferred to High Point University, where he has been a key contributor to the Panthers’ success this season.
Historic Achievement for Manitoba
Filewich joins former Sea Bears standout Simon Hildebrandt, who helped High Point claim the Big South championship with an 81-69 win over Winthrop.
Only two other Manitobans have ever suited up at the Big Dance: Todd MacCulloch (Washington: ’98, ’99) and Emmanuel Akot (Arizona: ’18, Boise State: ’22).
Both Filewich and Hildebrandt have been pivotal in their teams’ successes this season. Their journeys from Winnipeg to the national stage highlight the city’s rich basketball talent and the global opportunities available to its athletes.
As March Madness approaches, the contributions of these two players will be closely watched, serving as an inspiration to aspiring basketball players in Winnipeg and beyond. The March Madness schedules will be announced on Sunday, March 16 with games beginning later that week.
Source info from Target Score Weekly Instagram… https://www.instagram.com/targetscorewpg
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