THE MATCHUP
Sea-Hawks will host the Dalhousie Tigers to open up the winter semester in the AUS this weekend. These two teams are currently at the top of the AUS standings, and this pair of games will be a delight for all the AUS basketball fans. The only game between these two teams was held last weekend in Halifax at the Shoveller Tournament in which the Tigers prevailed 80-66. Dalhousie is currently ranked 2nd in the country and is still undefeated this season, earning them the top spot in the AUS standings. The success of the Tigers is mostly because of stellar performance on the defensive side, where they are only allowing 63.8 points per game. The Sea-Hawks will need to find a solution for the Dalhousie's defensive scheme and be able to handle aggressive pressure in order to pull out the win. Keevan Veinot and Sacha Kappos are the main threats of the Tigers as the duo has been playing exceptionally well this season. Former AUS Championship MVP Veinot is averaging an all-around 15.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, playing a controlled brand of basketball. His running mate Kappos, is a major part of the defensive success of the Tigers this season as he is second in the AUS in blocks per game with 2.2, while also averaging 12.8 points per game on 56.4 percent from the floor. However, Dalhousie's success comes from their deepness, as they have numerous players who are always ready to play and contribute. Alex Carson is one of the best shooters in the country, and even though he missed the first three games for the Tigers, he is averaging 13 points per game on 41.7 percent from the three-point line. In addition to this trio, guards Xavier Ochu and Jordan Brathwaite are playing very well this season, providing a presence on both ends of the floor. Forward Jordan Wilson is having a good year as well, showing a strong inside game that defenses have to keep an eye for. The Tigers have a deep bench this year from which any player can come in and contribute right away. The Sea-Hawks will have to match their intensity and remain focused this weekend if they want to make the race for the top of the AUS interesting.
HAWKS EYE
Memorial will be at the 2nd place in the AUS coming into this weekend and will be hoping to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. The team is coming of an unfortunate couple of games at the Shoveller tournament, where Cole Long, Nathan Barker and Jason Thompson all suffered injuries. However, the team rallied and provided solid performances against good teams such as Cape Breton, Dalhousie, and Concordia, showing that this team always has what it takes to compete. A positive note from the weekend was stellar performance by Deng Ring. Ring stepped up in the absence of Memorial's leading scorers and provided great defense throughout the tournament, earning him tournament All-Star honors.
When asked about the tournament Ring said: "The tournament had a dramatic toll on our team, taking out 3 of our 5 starters. My role dramatically changed from off the bench to starting and I'm excited for this challenge". He believes that these injuries will force people to step up and perform well. "This weekend we have Dalhousie, so bringing my defense and energy on the offensive end will be a focus of mine since our main firepower is out. There are big minutes there waiting for everyone, so I believe we have the guys who will come in on the same page, pull of something special and give Dalhousie their first loss of the season".
However, Ring wasn't the only one stepping up for the Sea-Hawks. Boris Ristanovic and Daniel Foo had to contribute more on the offensive end and provide leadership on the court.
Ristanovic believes that the rest of the team is ready to take on a bigger responsibility. "The team will have to trust each other and pay close attention to the details in order to compete with Dal considering the injuries", Ristanovic said. "We proved that we're capable of doing that this past weekend at the Shoveller Tournament, and we will be looking to take that to another level this weekend".
Foo will have to bring his veteran experience and push his teammates to the right mentality. When asked about what the mindset of the team should be, he said: "We have to come in as the aggressors, be disciplined and limit our mistakes. Everyone must be ready to contribute"
The Sea-Hawks will have to bring intensity to the court this weekend and show that they are capable of getting a home win against anyone despite the unlucky injuries.