HORNS HEAD NORTH
PRONGHORNS TANGLE WITH GOLDEN BEARS
Men’s basketball team opens second round of playoffs
A renewal of acquaintances won’t be necessary for the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team this weekend.
Fresh off their first playoff series win in 16 years, the Pronghorns advance to the Canada West quarter-finals as they head to Edmonton to take on the Golden Bears in a best-ofthree series that begins tonight at 8 p.m.
After wrapping up their regular season against the Golden Bears a little under two weeks ago, it’s unlikely either team needs an in-depth scouting report as far as what to expect from the other this weekend.
“The nice part is we were just there a couple weeks ago,” said Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen as his team ran through a practice at the 1st Choice Savings Centre earlier this week. “So in terms of the routine, the gym and all those kinds of things, the personnel, the guys have a comfort level with that. We went through the film and looked at some of the adjustments we’ll make and try to prepare for it.
“I think, on a short turnaround, it’s not like we’re trying to learn a new opponent. We know exactly what we need to do to beat these guys. We just have to execute a bit better.”
The Pronghorns head north after a 2-0 sweep of the Victoria Vikes during the Canada West play-in series Friday and Saturday, the team’s first home playoff games since 2001.
“Last weekend was great. It was everything we expected. The crowd was big and loud. We played great defence and got out running,” said Pronghorns fourth-year guard Dejon Burdeaux, who led the Horns in the series-clincher Saturday night with a 34-point, 12rebound outing.
The Pronghorns now look to take that same mindset into Edmonton.
“I don’t think we focus more, I think we just continue doing what we’ve been doing all year and staying consistent,” said Burdeaux. “Our effort definitely has to be better, but I think we just take it one game at a time.”
When the teams clashed in the final weekend of the regular season, the Golden Bears won the first game 97-86 before the Horns answered back with a 9694 win in double overtime to end the season at 13-7.
The Bears finished the season with a 14-6 record but the overtime loss to the Pronghorns cost them the number-one seed and a chance to host the final four. Alberta enters the postseason with the fourth best offence during the regular season, averaging 82.5 points per game. Defensively, the Bears were ranked third, allowing 74 points.
“Barnaby (Craddock, Golden Bears head coach) just does such a good job of coaching those guys up,” said Hansen.
“They’re a team that makes very few mistakes, we have to be able to limit our mistakes. Brody Clarke is one of the best low posts in the league and he presents a formidable challange. I’m not sure there are many guys in the league that can defend him one-onone, so our coverages on him are going to have to be especially tight and we’re going to have to make sure we don’t allow him to beat us.”
Burdeaux agreed with his coach’s assessment, pointing out another Golden Bears’ tactic.
“We definitely know they like to shoot threes,” he said. “They’re a two-headed monster with Mamadou (Gueye) and Clarke. So I think they’re going to try and feed those guys and as long as we do our job to contain them, we’re going to be alright.”
The Pronghorns last advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2001, losing to the Victoria Vikes.
The last time the Pronghorns and Bears faced off in the postseason was in 2000, where the Bears upset the Pronghorns in three games.
Over the past three days, the current roster of Horns have been preparing for the new territory they’ll venture into starting tonight.
“I think for these guys, it’s just understanding how we limit those mistakes and you do that by not over-burdening them or over-complicating stuff, just keeping it nice and simple and encouraging them to play well,” said Hansen. “I think we all know what it feels like to play when we’re in a zone, and when we’re in the zone we’re not overthinking. It’s just how we feel. So I think this week is about getting guys to that point where they feel really good and just letting them get out there and play.”
Burdeaux noted a veteranlike mindset from his teammates as they head into round two.
“It’s very fun. I think they’re handling themselves well. They’re not acting nervous or anything, they’re acting like they’ve been here before. It’s been fun.”
Game two is Friday night at 8 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, goes Saturday night at 7 p.m. All three games can be viewed on