Canada West Communications
VANCOUVER - The Alberta Golden Bears look to be the team to beat heading into the 2021-22 Canada West regular season after receiving 14-of-16 first-place votes in the conference's annual preseason coaches poll.
The Golden Bears, who finished the 2019-20 regular season 19-1 and finished the campaign with a CW silver medal, received 254 points in the poll released Thursday.
MacEwan was ranked 17th after receiving 39 points.
The Saskatchewan Huskies slotted into second place with 232 total points and a first-place vote, while the Victoria Vikes picked up the remiaining first-place selection and were third in the poll with 217 points.
The defending CW champion UBC Thunderbirds were fourth in the poll with 212 points.
The road to the conference championships begins tonight, with the UBC Thunderbirds hosting the Trinity Western Spartans. On Friday, 14 more teams get their seasons underway with a full slate of conference action available live on Canada West TV Presented by Co-op. Season passes are available for purchase by clicking here.
For a complete look at all 17 CW men's teams, check out the season preview here.
2021-22 CW MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team / Points (First-place votes)
- Alberta Golden Bears / 254 (14)
- Saskatchewan Huskies / 232 (1)
- Victoria Vikes / 217 (1)
- UBC Thunderbirds / 212
- Calgary Dinos / 202
- Regina Cougars / 184
- Manitoba Bisons / 146
- Trinity Western Spartans / 126
- Mount Royal Cougars / 125
- Winnipeg Wesmen / 114
- UBCO Heat / 97
- Lethbridge Pronghorns / 96
- Brandon Bobcats / 97
- Fraser Valley Cascades / 79
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack / 57
- UNBC Timberwolves / 45
- MacEwan Griffins / 39
NOTES: First-place votes worth 16 pts., second-place 15 pts. etc.
MacEwan Griffins preview
2019-20 CW regular season record: 2-18, 16th
2019-20 post-season record: 0-0, missed playoffs
Head coach: Mike Connolly (3rd season) / 46-120
Last CW championship / total CW championships: None
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None
2019-20 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 72.3 PPG, 16th
Defence: 91.5 PPG, 14th
2019-20 CW regular season leaders:
Points per game: 13.2 – Abdullah Shittu, F
3PT Field Goals: 32/121 – Deonte Doslov-Doctor, G
Assists per game: 3.0 – Jake Notice, W
Rebounds per game: 6.0 – Abiel Tabufor, W
Blocks per game: 1.1 – Abdullah Shittu, F
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Joshua Edwards / W / 3 / Bromley, UK / Colby Community College
Eric Lopez / G / 1 / Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SPN / Herbalife Gran Canaria U18
Milan Jaksic / F / 1 / Windsor, ON / Kennedy
Marco Correas / F / 1 / Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SPN / Canterbury Academy
Job Janda / W / 1 / Calgary, AB / Canada Top Flight West NSC
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Jake Notice / W / Bath, UK / 4
Deonte Doslov-Doctor / G / Edmonton, AB / 5
Gregoire Piche-Wint / F / Winnipeg, MB / 1
Dustin Gatzki / F / Westlock, AB / 3
Key performer:
Name: Alex Jap
Position: Forward
Year: 3
Hometown: Sherwood Park, AB
The 6-foot-6, 245 lb. forward plays a key role for the Griffins, using his size to wreak havoc on the opposition in the paint at both ends of the floor.
Jap is the team's best all-around player, doing a little bit of everything – rebounding, scoring, playing good defence and acting as an anchor who sets the stage for others around him on the court to work their magic.
It's everything a captain should be for a team on the court, while off of it, the U SPORTS Academic All Canadian leads in the classroom, drives team chemistry and sets the standard for all the intangibles that feed into a team's success.
