Griffins' basketball slate features variety, rematch vs. Spartans and home series vs. Alberta
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – A season after regional competition brought only a rotation of four teams to the David Atkinson Gym, MacEwan basketball fans can look forward to an intriguing variety of opponents in 2022-23.
Included in their 20-game regular season slate, announced by Canada West on Monday, are home doubleheaders against four out-of-province opponents – UFV, Winnipeg, Trinity Western and Regina.
SEE THE FULL MEN'S SCHEDULE HERE
SEE THE FULL WOMEN'S SCHEDULE HERE
The Jan. 6-7 series vs. the TWU Spartans will give both Griffins teams a chance at redemption vs. the teams that knocked them out of the 2021-22 playoff tournament.
"Certainly after a close playoff loss to them last year, we're excited to welcome Trinity Western to our gym," said Griffins women's basketball head coach Katherine Adams, whose team fell 77-71 to the Spartans in the second round last March. "This group is hungry to get back at it and continue to showcase our growth in a competitive Canada West.
"We're also looking forward to welcoming back a variety of new opponents," added Adams. "We haven't seen most of them for two years and some for more than that."
MacEwan's home-opening weekend is set for Nov. 4-5 vs. the University of Fraser Valley.
All of the Griffins' matchups against Alberta teams in 2022-23 are on the road, except one. Cross-town rival Alberta visits the David Atkinson Gym on Jan. 20-21.
Other road matches include trips to Kamloops, B.C. to face Thompson Rivers Dec. 2-3 and a Jan. 27-28 jaunt to Manitoba. The Griffins wrap up their regular season at home against Regina on Feb. 10-11.
"I think it will be nice to have some interprovincial play with travel," said men's head coach Mike Connolly. "This is great experience for our student-athletes to play in different cities and different universities outside of Alberta."
The Canada West post-season format is returning to a more traditional look as well. Gone is the conference-wide playoff tournament that every team made in 2021-22.
When the regular season wraps up next February, the Griffins will need to be among the top 12 teams to make the playoffs. The fifth through 12th seeds will meet in Play-In games ahead of quarter-final matchups, but those will be hosted on the same weekend (Feb. 17-18) at the home of the highest four seeds.
The conference's top four teams will advance to the semifinals on Feb. 25 with the championship game and bronze match going March 4.
Teams that qualify for the U SPORTS championship will be off to St. Francis Xavier University (men's) and Cape Breton University (women's) March 9-12.
