Vikes have Cougars in their sights

The University of Victoria Vikes men’s basketball team did some pre-Black Friday cross-border shopping this season and came away with a present that is turning into an inside presence.

The Vikes found a difference maker with the addition of third-year Dominick Oliveri. The six-foot-seven American was the major forward recruit this off-season and came from Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University.

Oliveri has made an immediate impact and is tied for the lead in Canada West rebounding, with Brett Layton of the University of Calgary Dinos, at 14.5 per game.

“[Oliveri] really gets after it,” said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp.

On the offensive boards especially.

“He scores a lot on second and third chances,” said Beaucamp.

Which is true of the much of the Vikes’ enigmatic offence this season.

“We lead the conference in both defence and rebounding and that has given us a chance to hang in games until our offence kicks in,” noted Beaucamp.

“And bit by bit, we are getting better on the offensive side, too.”

The Vikes are 4-2 in Canada West and have won three in a row heading into tonight’s game against the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary. The Cougars are 3-3 after losing three in succession, but the Vikes are wary.

“The Cougars are fast-paced,” said Beaucamp.

“Analytics show they are the No. 1 team in Canada in getting up and down the court. We are going to have to be good in transition defence.”

The Vikes and Cougars also meet in Canada West women’s hoops action in Calgary tonight.

The Vikes, an honourable mention in the weekly U Sports top-10 poll, are 5-1 in conference play with three consecutive wins.

Mount Royal is 2-4 with two straight losses.

The Vikes and Cougars men’s and women’s teams close out their Canada West sets with games on Saturday.