Shootout offers Huskies sample of what’s to come
Men’s hoops squad entertaining teams from Ontario, B.C. and Alberta this week
It’s time to take that long-limbed measuring stick out.
The Ron and Jane Graham Shootout basketball tournament is back for another hoop-round. Joining the host University of Saskatchewan Huskies are the Macewan University Griffins from Alberta, Trinity Western University Spartans from British Columbia and Nipissing University Lakers from Ontario.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to get three solid games under our belt at home,” Huskies head coach Barry Rawlyk said. “Of the three teams coming in, Nipissing is a factor in the Ontario conference. I think they’ll be a very good measuring stick for us.
“The other two teams, Trinity Western and Macewan University, they’re somewhat of an unknown quantity at this point, so depending on who they brought in — they have a number of new faces — I don’t know really what to expect out of them to be honest with you.”
Action begins Thursday at 5 p.m. with Macewan playing Nipissing. The host Huskies take on Trinity Western at 7 p.m. Thursday. The tournament continues Friday as Trinity Western takes on Nipissing at 5 p.m., followed by Saskatchewan versus Macewan at 7 p.m. On Saturday, it’s Trinity against Macewan at 11 a.m., followed by Saskatchewan and Nipissing at 3 p.m.
All games are on the Ron and Jane Graham court at the Physical Activity Complex on the U of S campus.
For half of the members of the Huskies, the early season tournament is a familiar part of the process. Others are first-timers. Of the 16 players on the U of S men’s roster, eight are rookies and eight are veterans.
“We kind of have a dichotomy here because, on one hand, we have a number of veteran players who kind of know our system and what our expectations are,” Rawlyk said. “And then we have eight new guys. They’re struggling. They’re just trying to learn their way.
“Our veteran players have done a good job of helping shepherd these guys a little bit. It’s going to
It’s a good opportunity for us to get three solid games under our belt ... they’ll be a very good measuring stick for us.
take the younger guys some time — that’s the way it is.”
So far, the Dogs are 2-2 in exhibition action with wins over the Manitoba Bisons and Lakeland College and losses to the Victoria Vikes and Ryerson Rams.
“I like our chemistry,” Rawlyk said. “We’ve got a great group of hard-working kids, eager to learn.”
Among the veterans are Joseph Barker and Lawrence Moore — the team’s only two players in their fifth and final year of eligibility. They are joined on the roster by fellow returnees Chan De Ciman, JT Robinson, Emmanuel Akintunde, Maxwell Amoafo, Addison Dewar and Jesse Ralph.
De Ciman, Robinson and Barker all missed significant time last season due to injury. Amoafo joined the team in the second half.
Newcomers are guard Noah Nickel from Abbotsford, B.C., forward Kessler Bishop from Okotoks, Alta., guard Alexander Dewar from Saskatoon Marion Graham, forward Cole Anderson from Saskatoon Aden Bowman, guard Jean Carol Ishemezwe from Regina Campbell, guard Fisayo Moibi from Edmonton, forward Levi Timmermanns from Courtenay, B.C., and guard Cameron Wright from Vancouver College.
“Everybody needs to progress,” Rawlyk said of his team. “We have to have a collective effort out of our group of guys. I don’t think there’s any one guy who’s going to stand out like that. At the end of the day, we’re better for it because we have a little more depth (than last season).”
Provided everybody stays healthy.
“That,” Rawlyk said, “is the big thing.”