Osayande’s return gives team a big boost
Huskies hopeful forward can boost their prospects
If patience is a virtue, Shane Osayande is, by now, a virtuous saint after being forced to watch from the sidelines for most of his two-year career with the University of Saskatchewan men’s basketball team.
Over the course of two seasons, Osayande has spent more times waiting on the sidelines than playing on the court.
As a transfer student, he spent most of last season awaiting Canadian Interuniversity Sport eligibility clearance. Once he did return, he blew out an ankle in the playoffs.
Osayande hadn’t seen any Canada West action this season until after the Christmas break but he’s now played four games.
“It’s a great feeling (to be able to play) and I thank God for everything,” says Osayande, an athletic 6-foot-6, 212-pound forward from Toronto.
“I have great teammates and coaching staff that just kind of stuck with me and motivated me, saying ‘my time’s coming.’ I kept going to practice, kept up with the physio and now it’s all paying off. “It’s a wonderful feeling.” His long-awaited return to the lineup has given the U of S men’s basketball team a boost as it continues to fight for its playoff life with eight games remaining in the conference.
“He’s fought through some pretty serious injuries — and he’s still not 100 per cent, to be honest — but he’s just trying to grind out and contribute whatever he can,” points out U of S head coach Barry Rawlyk.
In his four games since coming back, Osayande has averaged a double-double with 14.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
“He’s obviously been a huge factor for us,” adds Rawlyk, “not only rebounding the ball but as a defensive presence, we’re able to protect the rim a little better and that’s a big factor for us, for sure.”
PLAYOFFS IN JEOPARDY
Facing the real possibility of not making the playoffs, the Huskies are already dribbling into mustwin territory.
A 90-89 overtime win Saturday over the Lethbridge Pronghorns gives the Dogs some momentum as they get set for the final stretch.
“It was a great team effort the way we came together and played together as a team,” said Osayande, whose Huskies are now 4-8 on the season.
Osayande scored 18, as did Shawn Lathan, who nailed a trio of clutch three-pointers to lead the Huskies.
“We’re going to try and finish off and win every game,” promises Lathan. “We’re talking out there. Communication wins games. We’re going to play hard every day.” Saturday’s win is a start. “To be able to eke that one out is good,” admits Rawlyk. “It’s obviously a win that we needed. We’ve had so many games like that where we couldn’t close the game out. For whatever reason, we’ve had trouble in quarters and halves and, ultimately, closing out games.
“I wish we would have won in regulation time — that was a game that should have been won there — but, as it was, we came out with the win and we’ll take it.”
DOG TALES: While the Huskies have added Osayande, they were playing the weekend without impressive rookie guard Jauquin Boire-Bennett. “He’s got some personal things that he’s dealing with now,” says Rawlyk.
We’re going to try and finish off and win every game