It’s been another week in the books in the USports Women’s Basketball world with everything from energizing wins to blowout losses. The teams are prepping themselves for playoffs just around the corner in a week or two depending on the conference so let’s take a look at the Top 10 teams in the country and their roads ahead to next week! #1 in the Nation: Carleton Ravens The Ravens find themselves in the 1st spot in the country for the 2nd week in a row following some dominant showings this weekend. Last Friday, the Ravens hosted the UofT Varsity Blues which resulted in a 93-39 Ravens victory. The Ravens went on to complete the 2nd part of the Toronto doubleheader hosting the TMU Bold last Saturday. The Ravens once again ended up victorious, this time by a score of 92-61 behind 21 points from Oceane Kounkou. The Ravens will play their last 2 games of the regular season this weekend starting on the road Friday, February 16th at 6 PM EST. The Ravens will then Travel to Kingston on Saturday, February 17th at 6 PM EST to take on the #3 ranked Queens in what will be a meeting of two top teams in all of USports Women’s Basketball and could very well be a playoff preview for the future. #2 in the Nation: University of Saskatchewan Huskies The Huskies find themselves at 2nd in the country for the 2nd week in a row as well. The Huskies were able to respond last weekend vs UNBC following their first loss of the season two weeks ago to the Regina Cougars. Last Friday, the Huskies took down the Timberwolves 98-42 behind 27 points and 9 rebounds from Téa DeMong. The Huskies again were able to take care of business against the Timberwolves the following day, winning by a score of 95-32. The Huskies have finished their regular season and await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule to see their next matchup. #3 in the Nation: Queen’s Gaels The Gaels are once again ranked 3rd in the country, as they have been for what feels like most of the season at this point. The Gaels dismantled the Lakehead Thunderwolves last Friday 82-27 behind 19 points and 13 rebounds from Julia Chadwick. The Gaels will be tested a little more this weekend, as they’ll take on the Ottawa gauntlet starting with the previously #10 ranked UOttawa Gee-Gees coming to Kingston on Friday, February 16th with tip-off scheduled for 6 PM EST. The Gaels will then host the #1 ranked Carleton Ravens in the last game of both team's respective seasons. This will be a match between the two best teams in the OUA and arguably the country, with a possibility of the #1 ranking in the country in the final rankings before playoffs very much on the line. This game will be a must-watch and is available to stream on Saturday, February 17th at 6 PM EST on OUA.TV. #4 in the Nation: Laval Rouge et Or Laval finds themselves moving up 1 spot to 4th in the country following a sweep of McGill last week. Laval first beat the Martlets last Thursday by a score of 59-43. Laval was able to beat the Martlets again last Saturday, this time by a score of 70-44. Laval will only lace them up once this weekend, as they’ll host Bishops University on Friday, February 16th at 6 PM EST where the Rouge et Or will be looking to build on their momentum from last week and attempt to move even further up the Top 10 ranks. #5 in the Nation: University of Calgary Dinos The UCalgary Dinos find themselves moving down 1 spot to 5th in the country following a split weekend in Vancouver. The Dinos traveled west to take on the UBC Thunderbirds with their first matchup coming last Friday, which saw the Thunderbirds emerge victorious 66-59. The Dinos were much better prepped for the rematch however, as they secured an 83-67 victory behind 15 points and 8 assists from Myriam Kone. The UCalgary Dinos have now completed their regular season and await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule to see when their next game will be. #6 in the Nation: Saint Mary’s University Huskies The Huskies find themselves holding the 6th spot in the rankings for the 2nd straight week following a sweep of the Acadia Axewomen. The Huskies and Axewomen first matched up last Thursday with the Huskies winning 76-63. These two teams then met again on Saturday, with the Huskies holding on to an 81-79 victory in which the SMU starts combined for 66 of their 81 points. The Huskies will be back in action this weekend, with their first game on the road versus the Memorial Seahawks being on Friday, February 16th at 4:30 PM EST. Game 2 of the doubleheader versus the Seahawks will take place on Saturday, February 17th at 4:30 PM EST. #7 in the Nation: University of Alberta Pandas The Alberta Pandas maintain their 7th spot in the rankings after making easy work of Lethbridge this past weekend. The Pandas first faced the Horns last Friday, a game in which the Pandas won 62-38. These two teams then faced off again the following day, with Alberta once again claiming victory, this time by a score of 76-56 behind 30 points from Jenna Harpe. The Pandas have now completed their regular season and await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule to see their road in those very same playoffs. #8 in the Nation: University of the Fraser Valley Cascades The UFV Cascades are once again ranked 8th in the nation. The Cascades made quick work of Trinity Western last Friday defeating the Spartans 66-46. The Cascades defeated the Spartans again the following night, this time by a score of 63-50. Maddy Gobeil dropped a combined 40 points over the two-game homestand for the Cascades, who have now completed their regular season and await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule and seeding to see what the future of their Canada West and USports National Championship dreams hold. #9 in the Nation: University of Regina Cougars The Cougars find themselves as the 9th-ranked team in the country following last weekend's doubleheader against the Winnipeg Wesmen. Regina and Winnipeg first matched up last Friday, in a game that saw the Cougars emerge victorious 82-72 behind 18 points and 10 rebounds from Jade Belmore. The next game of the doubleheader was played the following night where the Cougars were once again victorious, this time by a score of 63-55. The Cougars have now completed their regular season and await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule to see what their next path will be for basketball glory. #10 in the Nation: University of New Brunswick Reds The UNB Reds currently hold the 10th ranking in the country but may not for much longer given the past week they’ve had. The Reds lost at home last Friday 76-72 to a 6-10 STFX team that has underachieved this year. UNB was able to bounce back the following night defeating that same STFX team 74-45 to what they thought might end their mini slide. Unfortunately, that was not the case as UNB played Acadia this past Wednesday at Acadia, and lost that match 83-76. The Reds have lost 3 of their last 4 and seem to be slowing down at the worst time with one more makeup game scheduled before playoffs. The Reds will hope to get back on track during their last regular season game, which will be a home battle against that same Acadia team this Saturday, February 17th at 12 PM EST.

Another fantastic week of USports Men’s Basketball is in the books with some big changes on the rankings, including a new #1 in the nation! Teams had seasons end and a couple you could argue have had playoffs already start with seeding and playoff spots on the line. That being said, let’s take a look at this week's recap. #1 in the Nation: UVictoria Vikes The UVic Vikes have finally done it. After weeks of being 2nd in the nation, they finally found themselves on top at #1. The Vikes now hold a first-place ranking in the country, while also having the top scorer in the country in Diego Maffia, whose 26.5 points per game lead the country and has for some time now. The Vikes took care of business last weekend defeating MacEwan 95-47 on Friday and 87-58 on Saturday. The Vikes also defeated Thomspon Rivers University at home on Wednesday, February 14th in a rescheduled game 97-79. The Vikes will face off against Thompson Rivers University again on Thursday, February 15th at 8:30 PM EST once again in Victoria. #2 in the Nation: University of Ottawa Gee-Gees The UOttawa Gee-Gees find themselves out of the #1 spot for the first time in a long time. The Gee-Gees hosted two Toronto teams this past weekend starting with the TMU Bold last Friday. The Gee-Gees won that matchup 69-52. The Gee-Gees then hosted the UofT Varsity Blues the following day. The Gee-Gees would not fare as well against UofT, as UOttawa shot an abysmal 30.6% from the field and 20% from 3-point range on their way to losing 76-70 to the Varsity Blues. The road does not get any easier for the Gee-Gees as they have a gauntlet this weekend that may have them rise back into 1st or fall even further than 2nd depending on what happens. The Gee-Gees will travel to Kingston to take on the #3 ranked Gaels who have been itching to move up the rankings and will likely get their chance to in this match to be played Friday, February 16th at 8 PM EST. The Gee-Gees will then travel to Oshawa to tale on the #7 ranked and recently surging Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Saturday, February 17th at 6 PM EST. Both games will be huge for both teams involved and will be a huge factor in next week's final Top 10 rankings before the playoffs. #3 in the Nation: Queen’s Gaels The Queen’s Gaels maintain their 3rd in the nation rankings as they have for some time now following a 98-77 road win last Friday over the Lakehead Thunderwolves. The Gaels were led by Cole Syllas who dropped a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds in the win. The Gaels have a tough test this weekend where they’ll look to improve their spot in the rankings as #2 UOttawa comes to #3 Queens on Friday, February 16th for tip-off at 8 PM EST. This will be a must-watch match between the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the country, with 2nd best likely on the line. The Gaels will then host the Carleton Ravens on Saturday, February 17th at 8 PM EST. Despite their struggles this year compared to other years, the Ravens always seem to give the Gaels trouble. The Ravens defeated Queens 93-89 earlier this year and ended the Gaels OUA title hopes last season by beating Queen’s in the semi-finals. Both games will be available to be streamed on OUA.TV. #4 in the Nation: University of British Columbia Thunderbirds The UBC Thunderbirds find themselves once again at 4th in the country following this past weekend's double-header against the UCalgary Dinos. The Thunderbirds hosted the Dinos first last Friday, which saw the Dinos emerge victorious 85-82. The rematch happened the very next night, this time with the Thunderbirds emerging victorious behind 28 points from 5th-year guard James Woods in what may be his last regular season game at War Memorial Gym. The Thunderbirds have no remaining regular season games and await the Canada West playoff schedule release to see when they’ll lace them up next. #5 in the Nation: University of Calgary Dinos The UCalgary Dinos remain at #5 in the country following a double-header on the road with the UBC Thunderbirds. The Dinos were able to take the first game of the doubleheader last Friday 85-82 behind 27 points from Noah Wharton including 7 made 3-pointers. The Dinos did not fare so well in the rematch the following night, as the Thunderbirds won 107-75, a far more convincing victory that allowed the Thunderbirds to stay at #4 in the country. The Dinos have finished their regular season and await the Canada West playoff schedule release to see when they’ll play next. #6 in the Nation: Laurier Golden Hawks Laurier finds themselves in the 6th spot in the country again for this week's rankings. Last Friday, the Golden Hawks took on UWindsor on Laurier’s home floor. The Golden Hawks were able to walk out with an 83-70 win over the Lancers behind Ethan Passley’s season-high 28 points. The Lancers then hosted a York Lions team that seemed to be finding their stride at the right time winning their last 4 games before their Saturday match against Laurier. The Lions would continue that hot streak defeating Laurier 81-80 and extending York’s winning streak to 5 games before their 94-90 loss to TMU this past Wednesday. The Golden Hawks will finish out the season at home, hosting the UofT Varsity Blues on Friday, February 16th at 8 PM EST followed by a Saturday, February 17th game at 8 PM EST against a previously ranked Western Mustangs team looking to climb back into the Top 10 before playoffs. #7 in the Nation: Ontario Tech Ridgebacks The Ridgebacks continue to rise, going from their first-ever ranking of 9th in the country last week and jumping 2 more spots to land at 7th in this week's rankings. The Ridgebacks traveled to Lakehead last Saturday to take on the Thunderwolves. The Ridgebacks were able to walk out with an 85-79 win behind Keon Baker’s 26 points and 9 rebounds. The Ridgebacks will have a true test this weekend and an opportunity to potentially boost their Top 10 ranking even more. On Friday, February 16th, the Ridgebacks will host the Carleton Ravens at 8 PM EST. On Saturday, February 17th at 8 PM EST, the Ridgebacks will then host #2 UOttawa in what is sure to be a must-watch game between two top teams in the OUA and country. These games will be available to stream on OUA.TV. #8 in the Nation: University of Manitoba Bisons The Bisons were able to hold their 8th ranking in the nation following a double-header versus UBC Okanagan this past weekend. Last Friday, the Bisons defeated the Heat 83-78. The following night, the Bisons were also able to defeat the Heat, this time by a score of 81-72. The Manitoba Bisons have finished their regular season and await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule and seeds to find out their next matchup. #9 in the Nation: University of Winnipeg Wesmen The University of Winnipeg Wesmen find themselves in rankings at the right time, securing 9th in the country while carrying a 6-game winning streak into the Canada West Playoffs. The Winnipeg Wesmen went into last weekend with a 4 game-winning streak and their final 2 regular season games left to play on the road against the Regina Cougars. Last Friday, the Wesmen were able to defeat the Cougars 80-62 to secure their 5th straight win. Last Saturday, the Wesmen were able to get their 6th straight win going into the playoffs, defeating Regina 85-76. The Wesmen have finished their regular season and now await the release of the Canada West Playoff schedule to see their first playoff opponent. #10 in the Nation: STFX X-Men The X-Men find themselves dropping 3 spots to 10th in the nation following a weekend in which they struggled against the then 8-9 UNB Reds. Last Friday, STFX managed to hang on to a 67-66 victory after UNB’s Javordo Mitchell had a chance at game-tying free throws with minimal time left on the clock. Mitchell would go 1/2 from the line and STFX would hold on to win. The following day, the Reds came out for revenge and STFX was not able to handle them, as the Reds would go on to defeat the X-Men 76-64. STFX will look to bounce back this weekend, as they take on Dalhousie on Friday, February 16th at 7 PM EST. The X-Men will also play Saturday, February 17th at 7 PM EST against Cape Breton in a makeup game that was previously postponed on February 3rd. Missing from the last top 10: University of Western Ontario Mustangs Western finds themselves on the outside this week following 2 wins this past week, albeit against not-great opponents. The Mustangs defeated the Guelph Gryphons last Saturday 93-79 in Guelph. They then took on the Waterloo Warriors this past Wednesday and were able to defeat them by a score of 82-75. I believe this is more of a circumstance of other teams playing better competition and winning (ex. Winnipeg securing their playoff berth) as opposed to the Mustangs doing any wrong over the past week. The Mustangs will try to make their case to re-enter the Top 10 this weekend on Saturday, February 17th when they travel to Waterloo to play the #6 Laurier Golden Hawks with tip-off scheduled for 8 PM EST, in a game I’m sure could have Top 10 ranking implications for whoever wins.

It has been a wild week of hoops in the USports Women’s basketball circuit. Looking down the stretch we have 1 new team that has entered the USports Top 10 this week and plenty more who will look to enter the Top 10 before playoffs. There’s still tons of basketball left to be played so let's break down what happened last week and what’s happening this week. #1 in the Nation: Carleton Ravens The Carleton Ravens find themselves ranked 1st in the country following a big victory at the Capital Hoops Classic last Saturday versus the UOttawa Gee-Gees 78-72. The Ravens found themselves down 12 at half to the then #10 ranked Gee-Gees but rallied strongly in the 2nd half, outscoring the Gee-Gees by 18 in the 2nd half to secure a 6-point win and the top ranking in the nation. The Ravens will be back in action this weekend at home, first hosting the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday, February 9th at 6 PM EST. The Ravens will lace them up the following day also as they play the TMU Bold on Saturday, February 10th at 6 PM EST. #2 in the Nation: University of Saskatchewan Huskies After being 1st in the nation for almost the entirety of the season, the Saskatchewan Huskies find themselves falling to 2nd in the country after their first loss of the season this past weekend. The Huskies hosted the Regina Cougars last Friday where they fell to the Cougars 69-62 mainly due to an abysmal shooting night from the Huskies who shot 30% from the field and 12.5% from 3-point range. The Huskies would bounce back the next day though as they hosted the Cougars again for the rematch in which the Huskies won handedly 90-57. The Huskies will look to reclaim their #1 spot following this weekend where they’ll go on the road to take on the UNBC Timberwolves for a doubleheader. The first game will take place on Friday, February 9th at 11 PM EST with the second game taking place Saturday, February 10th at 10 PM EST. #3 in the Nation: Queen’s Gaels The Gaels maintain the 3rd in the nation ranking after a solid showing this past weekend. The Gaels first took on the Laurier Golden Hawks last Friday where the Gaels ended up on top 75-56. They then went on to face the Waterloo Warriors the following day where the Gaels once again claimed victory in their “shoot for the cure” classic, this time by a score of 67-42. The Gaels will be back in action this weekend but only for 1 game as they travel to Thunder Bay Ontario to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves. Tip-Off is set for Friday, February 9th at 6 PM EST. #4 in the Nation: University of Calgary Dinos UCalgary maintains their 4th ranked spot in the country after a “bye” week this past weekend. The Dino's most recent game is still when they defeated Lethbridge 85-46 on January 27th. The Dinos will be back in action this weekend however, as they head to British Columbia to take on the UBC Thunderbirds in a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled for Friday, February 9th at 8:30 PM EST while game 2 will tip-off on Saturday, February 20th at 7 PM EST. #5 in the Nation: Laval Rouge et Or Laval finds themselves firmly ranked at #5 in the nation again this week following a solid stretch of hoops from the Rouge et Or. Laval walked away with a 75-56 victory on the road last Thursday versus UQAM. Laval then hosted UQAM themselves where the Rouge et Or were victorious by a score of 74-42 this time. Last night also Laval went on the road to face McGill where the Rouge et Or came out victorious 59-43. The Rouge et Or have one game remaining this weekend on Saturday, February 10th where they’ll host McGill at home for a 6 PM EST tip-off. #6 in the Nation: Saint Mary’s University Huskies The Huskies have claimed the 6th spot in the country following a huge home win, taking down the previous #6 ranked team the UNB Reds last Friday. The Huskies defeated the Reds 82-50 led by Lucina Beaumont who dropped 16 points and 9 rebounds in the win. The Huskies continued their hot streak at home last night also defeating Acadia 76-63. The Huskies and Axewomen will run it back on Saturday, February 10th with tip-off scheduled for 5 PM EST. #7 in the Nation: University of Alberta Pandas The Pandas hold their 7th spot in the rankings following a dismantling of the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack this past weekend. The Wolfpack and Pandas first matched up on Friday, where the Pandas won 101-35. The two teams then matched up again on Saturday with the Pandas also winning that matchup, this time by a score of 80-34. The Pandas will travel on the road to Lethbridge this weekend to take on the Horns with game 1 of the doubleheader taking place Friday, February 9th at 8 PM EST. Game 2 will be the following day, Saturday, February 10th at 7 PM EST and the Pandas will be looking to finish their regular season off with 2 more wins before playoffs. #8 in the Nation: University of the Fraser Valley Cascades The Cascades also maintain their 8th ranking from last week following a successful weekend of hoops. The Cascades traveled to Calgary to take on Mount Royal in a doubleheader. The Cascades won game 1 last Friday by a score of 73-47. UFV took game 2 last Saturday versus Mount Royal 70-49 as well to go 2-0 on the weekend. The Cascades will round out their regular season this weekend when they host Trinity Western for a doubleheader. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, February 9th at 9 PM EST. Game 2 of the doubleheader will take place on Saturday, February 10th at 8 PM EST. #9 in the Nation: University of New Brunswick Reds The UNB Reds find themselves dropping from 6th in the nation last week to 9th this week following a big 82-50 loss to formerly 9th and now 6th St. Mary’s in which the Reds shot 30% from the field as a team. The Reds will try and correct their course before playoffs starting with a home doubleheader where they’re hosting STFX. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, February 9th at 5 PM EST while game 2 will take place on Saturday, February 10th at 1 PM EST. #10 in the Nation: University of Regina Cougars The Regina Cougars find themselves ranked this week after going on the road and giving the formerly 1st ranked Saskatchewan Huskies their first loss of the season last Friday in a 69-62 Cougars triumph behind 31 points from Jade Belmore. The Cougars did not fair so well in the rematch last Saturday though as they fell to the Huskies 90-57. The Cougars will look to bounce back this weekend when they host the Winnipeg Wesmen for a doubleheader in Regina. Game 1 of the doubleheader will tip-off Friday, February 9th at 7 PM EST and game 2 will tip-off Saturday, February 10th at 7 PM EST. Missing from last Top 10: University of Ottawa Gee-Gees The UOttawa Gee-Gees find themselves on the outside looking in following a 78-72 loss in the Capital Hoops Classic last Saturday versus Carleton, a game in which the Gee-Gees led by 12 at the half and got outscored by 18 in the 2nd half to lose by 6. The Gee-Gees will look to bounce back this weekend when they host a pair of Toronto schools. Ottawa will host TMU on Friday, February 9th at 6 PM EST and will then host the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday, February 10th at 6 PM EST.

What a week of Basketball it was in the USports world. We had upsets, blowouts, and some new teams joining the Top 10 list in the nation to go along with some fantastic performances by the players. With that being said, let’s talk about the week that was in USports Men’s Basketball! #1 in the Nation: University of Ottawa Gee-Gees The Gee-Gees maintain their 1st in the nation ranking after defeating Carleton 71-61 in the Capital Hoops Classic this past Saturday. Brock Newton helped lead the way for the Gee-Gees dropping 20 points in the win and helping Ottawa claim bragging rights over the Ravens for the time being. The Gee-Gees will be back in action this weekend when they take on TMU on Friday, February 9th at 8 PM EST at home in Ottawa. the Gee-Gees will lace them up again at home versus the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday, February 10th at 6 PM EST. #2 in the Nation: UVictoria Vikes The Vikes remain at 2nd in the nation after they kept on rolling last weekend defeating the Brandon Bobcats at home first on Friday 97-81 and then again on Saturday 81-67. USports leading scorer Diego Maffia dropped 29 points in the 97-81 victory and 28 points in the 81-67 victory keeping his spot atop the USports in points per game. The VVikes will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Edmonton to take on MacEwan, first on Friday, February 9th at 7 PM EST. Victoria and MacEwan will play again on Saturday, February 10th at 3 PM EST. #3 in the Nation: Queen’s Gaels The Queen’s Gaels stayed hot and at 3rd in the nation this past weekend hosting the Waterloo schools on their home court. The Gaels first defeated the formerly #4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks last Friday 84-68 behind 16 points and 13 rebounds from Cole Syllas. The Gaels then faced off against the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday where the Gaels emerged victorious by a score of 106-65 behind 21 points from Luka Syllas. The Gaels will only lace them up once this weekend when they go on the road to Lakehead to take on the Thunderwolves on Friday, February 9th at 8 PM EST. #4 in the Nation: University of British Columbia Thunderbirds The Thunderbirds found themselves with a rare “bye” week last week and haven’t played since they beat UBC Okanagan on January 27th. However, due to Laurier’s loss to Queen’s the Thunderbirds find themselves moving up 1 spot in the rankings from 5th to 4th best in the nation. That ranking will be tested this weekend though as the Thunderbirds have two huge home games against the now #5 ranked UCalgary Dinos to finish off the season. The first game of the doubleheader will be played on Friday, February 9th at 10:30 PM EST and the 2nd game of the doubleheader will be played Saturday, February 10th at 9 PM EST. Both of these games will be must-watch games for Canadian Hoops Fans and will be available to stream at canadawest.tv #5 in the Nation: University of Calgary Dinos The UCalgary Dinos are in a similar position to their opponents the UBC Thunderbirds this weekend. The Dinos have found themselves moving up 2 spots to 5th in the nation after the Laurier loss and the Dinos also have not played a game since defeating Lethbridge on January 27th. In addition, the Dinos will also be playing their last 2 games of their regular season this weekend in BC against the Thunderbirds. As mentioned prior, the Dinos and Thunderbirds will play on Friday, February 9th at 10:30 PM EST and again on Saturday, February 10th at 9 PM EST. These games are available to stream on canadawest.tv #6 in the Nation: Laurier Golden Hawks The Laurier Golden Hawks find themselves moving down the rankings 2 spots to 6th in the country following a tough road trip this past weekend. Laurier took their first loss of the weekend last Friday losing 84-68 to Queen’s. They then played on the road versus Ontario Tech and proceeded to lose that game as well 101-89. Safe to say this is not how the Golden Hawks wanted the weekend to play out. However, they have a chance to turn it around this weekend with back-to-back home games. Laurier first plays the Windsor Lancers on Friday, February 9th at 8 PM EST. The Golden Hawks are back in action the following day hosting the York Lions on Saturday, February 10th at 8 PM EST. #7 in the Nation: STFX X-Men The STFX X-Men move up one spot to 7th in the nation following a tough weekend for the Manitoba Bisons even though the X-Men got an unintended “bye” this past weekend due to raging snowstorms currently impacting the Atlantic coast of Canada, especially in Nova Scotia. Their game against Cape Breton scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd will be postponed to another date. Hopefully, the weather holds off this weekend and the X-Men can get back in action as planned! As of right now, STFX is scheduled to play the UNB Reds in Fredericton on Friday, February 9th at 7 PM EST and again on Saturday, February 10th at 3 PM EST but we will know soon whether these will need to be postponed as well (hopefully not). #8 in the Nation: University of Manitoba Bisons The Manitoba Bisons find themselves moving down 2 spots in the rankings to 8th in the nation following a tough weekend of hoops. The Bisons did a home-and-home with the Winnipeg Wesmen and were unable to secure a win in either game. They first lost last Thursday 86-79 on the road, and proceeded to lose again 88-78 this time at home. The Bisons will look to get on the right track this weekend with a home doubleheader to end their regular season against the UBC-Okanagan Heat. The first game of the doubleheader will be played Friday, February 9th at 9 PM EST followed by the 2nd game of the double-header being played on Saturday, February 10th at 8 PM EST. #9 in the Nation: Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Rank the Ridgebacks is something that I found myself saying following the season and the weekend they’ve had. It seems as if the committee has listened ranking the Ridgebacks 9th in the nation. The Ridgebacks are a remarkable story any Canadian Basketball fan can get behind as they went from being one of the worst teams in USports Basketball with a 4-22 record last year to a 15-4 record so far as well as being a top 10 team in the country this year. Similar to Queen’s, Ontario Tech hosted the Waterloo Universities this weekend starting with the Waterloo Warriors last Friday whom they defeated 90-82. The Ridgebacks followed up that win by beating the formerly #4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks 100-89 to earn their 5th win against a ranked opponent. The Ridgebacks will look to extend their win streak to 6 games as they travel to Thunder Bay to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday, February 10th at 8 PM EST. #10 in the Nation: University of Western Ontario Mustangs The Western Mustangs stay in the 10th spot in the country but they found themselves back on the right track this past week after picking up a big home and road win. They first hosted the Guelph Gryphons in London last Wednesday and defeated said Gryphons by a score of 96-88. They then found themselves traveling to St. Catharine’s on Saturday to take on the Brock Badgers. Western defeated the Badgers 81-61 and headed home with some positive momentum. This weekend the Mustangs will head to Guelph in a rematch with the Gryphons on Saturday, February 10th at 4 PM EST. Missing from the last top 10: UQAM Citadins UQAM finds themselves outside of the rankings this week due to back-to-back losses against Laval last week. They first lost last Thursday at home in a heartbreaker 67-64. UQAM then followed that up on Saturday losing to Laval again, this time on the road and by a score of 84-72. The Citadins will look to bounce back this week when they have another home and home with the Concordia Stingers. The First game was played at home on Thursday, February 8th with UQAM coming out victorious 90-76, while game 2 will be played on the road on Saturday, February 10th at 4 PM EST.

Welcome to the 2024 Western Canadian JUCO watch list. This is for players in search of a post secondary program & for coaches in need of high quality prospects. I hope this list can help NJCAA programs recruit from the Great White North. For more information on any of the prospects listed below please reach out to LongShotsScouting on Instagram or X. Players: Israel Ogbebor - CTA West - 6’4 Combo Guard Israel stands out as an exceptional catch-and-shoot shooter, consistently delivering accuracy from beyond the arc. His impressive 6'11" wingspan adds a defensive edge, making him a versatile force on both ends of the court. Jada Bolok - Med Hat High - 6’7 Wing/Forward Jada is an explosive forward, known for his incredible bounce and polished post-finishing skills. His elite footwork sets him apart, enabling him to navigate through defenders with finesse. On the defensive end, Jada's shot-blocking prowess adds an extra layer of protection, making him a formidable presence in the paint. Abeeng Agot - WCPA - 6’7 Wing/Forward Abeeng is a dynamic wing player, showcasing an impressive style that involves playing above the rim. Abeeng's great efficiently getting to his preferred spots on the court is a testament to his basketball IQ and offensive skills. He consistently demonstrates the ability to score the ball effectively, making him a reliable and exciting presence on the wing. Akok Ajou - WCPA - 6’6 Wing/Forward Akok stands out as a forward with impressive scoring versatility. His reliable 3-point shooting is complemented by a strong presence in the paint, showcasing a well-rounded offensive game. As a true three-level scorer Nick Samba - CTA West - 6’3 Combo Guard Nick is an exceptional rebounder. He plays with great pace, showcasing a strong sense of timing and control on the court. Nick's athleticism is evident in his effective rim attacks, making him a dynamic presence in both transition and half-court situations. Samuel Issac - Legacy Prep - 6’4 Wing Sam is a unique prospect known for his effective 3-point shooting and a remarkable 40+ inch vertical. He excels in rim running and is a constant lob threat on the court. Randy Otieno - Edge Prep - 6’6 Wing Randy is a versatile scorer with the ability to shoot from anywhere on the court. He's effective at getting to his spots and knocking down shots, showcasing a well-rounded offensive game. Randy has the athleticism to make big level plays above the rim. Akec Abiamwol - WCPA - 6’5 Combo Guard/Wing Akec stands out for his ability to blow by defenders with impressive speed, getting him to the rim. His elite finishing skills make him a reliable scorer in close-range situations. Akec's skills extend to the defensive end, where his length becomes a valuable asset, getting in the passing lanes and contributing to his well-rounded game. Osagie Okundaye - Riffel Highschool - 6’5 Guard Osagie is a athletic guard who stands out for his excellent ball-handling skills. He's known for his ability to make smart decisions consistently, he brings a high basketball IQ to the game. Osagie is a reliable three-point shooter. Sam Friesen - CTA West - 6’5 Forward Sam is a high-energy forward that lives above the rim who excels coming off the bench. He brings a dynamic and impactful style of play, making winning contributions with his athleticism and ability to energize his team. Sam Mudia - WCPA - 6’4 Combo Guard Sam is a strong defender and a reliable scorer who can get to his spots and make shots consistently. His defensive prowess and scoring makes him a valuable asset, showcasing a high level of skill on both ends of the floor. Josh Campbell- PSA Prep - 5'9 Point Guard Josh is a true point guard that does it all. Josh can shoot the ball and finish around bigger defenders but he is a truly gifted passer. Josh is top of his class for his playmaking abilities. Cairo Wells - CTA West - 6’8 Wing/Forward Cairo is a sharpshooter from beyond the arc, boasting a high shooting percentage. Cairo is extremely athletic throwing down some impressive dunks. Hayden Sansalone - FV Mountaineers - 6’3 Combo Guard Hayden is a floor leader, recognized for his ability to excel in transition by efficiently distributing the ball to teammates. He stands out as a high-level scorer while also being a big defensive presence. Alex Baulne - Lambrick Park - 6’7 Forward Alex is a versatile forward, showcasing the ability to shoot from beyond the arc and clash down in the paint. His proficiency extends to the paint, where he demonstrates great footwork. Beyond his on-court skills, Alex is recognized as a great leader, bringing valuable intangibles to his teams dynamic. Luke Linder - CTA West - 6’4 Combo Guard Luke Linder is a top prospect out of Western Canada. Luke’s ability to shoot the ball is huge for CTA West. He’s shooting over 70% on dribble pull ups this year around 15 feet. Shoots the ball well from three and is great at getting into the paint and finishing off two

Current Grade 11 in Vancouver has been impressing many coaches and scouts in BC, this week we Have 6 foot 5 Guard/Forward Dorian Glogovac. Glogovac is having a breakout year with the Saint George’s Saints who are currently ranked number five in the province. Glogovac’s game is super mature as he takes smart high percentage shots and looks to get his teammates involved. Glogovacs scoring ability is undeniable as he has all the features of a three level scorer, having the ability to finish strong above the rim and has a soft touch around the bucket. Dorian’s shot making ability is also elite as he lets the game come to him and makes high level reads to get easy buckets. What impresses me most about his game is the ability to put the ball on the floor, at 6”5 Dorian is very quick and decisive with the ball in his hands. Glogovac can be the primary ball handler and playmaker on the team or stick him out on the wing as a scorer where he goes to work. Dorian is a super versatile player with all the intangibles of a university athlete. Attending the school of Saint Georges, Glogovac is proving to be post secondary ready attending one of the best schools in Canada.

Another week, another player spotlight! This week's edition features Sisler High School's Daven Sharma. Sharma is a 6' 2" guard in the class of 2026 that can get it done on offence and be a pest defensively. The Spartans are currently a top ten team in the province and Sharma is a big reason for that. One of big reasons I have been so high on Sharma is his shooting ability. He has great mechanics and can hit from all over the floor. He can also hit off the bounce quite frequently. Sharma would also agree that is one of his greatest strengths. Here is what he had to say: I feel like my mid range shot, my craftiness and scoring are three strengths I display in my game really well. https://x.com/davensharmaa/status/1752053665496469823?s=46&t=HSs-53Le4ES5TSxIVipzHg That craftiness Sharma mentions is another part of his game I noticed pretty quickly. He can finish at the rim with either hand, and does well scoring over or around defenders in the paint. With the combination of his shooting and finishing, he has the ability to put up big numbers in the scoring column. I asked Sharma what he thought was a part of his game that was underrated and here's what he had to say: I believe my rebounding is definitely an underrated part of my game. Despite being undersized, I have the tenacity to battle and grab a rebound every time a shot goes up. https://x.com/davensharmaa/status/1751708696395084213?s=46&t=HSs-53Le4ES5TSxIVipzHg Although he would not be considered undersized at the guard position, he does play the role of a four man for a smaller Spartan squad. While they do play five out, Sharma will sometimes hang around the nail and be a threat from the high post. This has put him in good positions to rebound misses, while also using his timing and his ability to box out well to finish the job. Another underrated strength for him is his ball handling. You feel comfortable that Sharma is going to keep a hold of the ball while he has it and is going to create for himself and others when he does. Similar to others I have spoken to, he has the same goals for the remainder of the season: For myself, my goal is to be ranked a top 10 player in the province this year. As a team, our goal is to be provincial champions. We have a ton of potential, and we can create a lot of noise in any circumstance. We are getting down to the nitty gritty, with not many games in league play remaining before the Provincial Championships in March. Best believe Sharma and the Spartans are going to make some noise next month. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davensharmaa?igsh=MW5ib3Qwajk5NDE2Yw== Twitter: https://x.com/davensharmaa?s=21&t=HSs-53Le4ES5TSxIVipzHg

The National Prep School Invitational (NPSI) is a prestigious basketball event that has played a significant role in showcasing top-tier talent over the years. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the tournament has been a sanctioned event by the NCAA, underlining its importance in the basketball landscape. Held at the Murray Center at Rhode Island College, the NPSI has consistently featured roughly 30 of the best prep basketball schools globally, making it a highly anticipated and competitive showcase. This year's 25th-anniversary tournament promises to be a special edition, marking a quarter-century of excellence in promoting and developing young basketball talent. With a rich history of contributing to the growth of players who have gone on to achieve success at higher levels, the NPSI continues to be a vital platform for college coaches and scouts to identify promising prospects. The event's longevity and continued success underscore its significance in the basketball community, providing a stage for emerging talents to shine and potentially make their mark on the collegiate and professional levels. I took some time to breakdown 15 Canadian prospects who will be participating in the 25th National Prep School Invitational. Point Guards Name: Rav Randhawa Height: 6'3 Class: 2024 School: Great Futures Prep - Crafty point guard with exceptional ball-handling and court vision. - Dynamic playmaker, excelling in creating scoring opportunities for teammates. - Unmatched shooting stroke, can shoot the cover off the ball. Name: Anderson Cummins Height: 6'2 Class: 2024 School: Polaris Prep - Speedy and agile point guard with excellent penetration skills. - Consistent finishing at the rim and slashing, adding a scoring dimension to the team. - Defensive disruptor with the ability to pressure opponents. Name: Kaleel Sutton-White Height: 5'11 Class: 2026 School: Dynastie Basketball - Floor general with a high basketball IQ. - Outstanding decision-maker under pressure. - Displays leadership qualities on and off the court. Shooting Guards Name: Tyson Lama Height: 6'5 Class: 2024 School: Polaris Prep - Explosive shooting guard known for high energy and bringing a team together. - Quick release and accuracy in three-point shooting. - Effective on-ball defender with a knack for generating turnovers. Name: Alex Charoltin Height: 6'3 Class: 2025 School: Dynastie Basketball - Versatile shooting guard with a diverse offensive skill set. - Strong mid-range game and finishing ability at the rim. - Defensive asset, providing consistent perimeter coverage. Name: AJ Osman Height: 6'3 Class: 2024 School: J. Addison School - High-scoring shooting guard with a natural ability to create shots. - Consistent threat from beyond the arc. - Adept at navigating through defenses to find scoring opportunities. Small Forwards Name: Karim Keita Height: 6'9 Class: 2025 School: Dynastie Basketball - Athletic small forward with an NFL TE type body. - Drives effectively to the basket, finishing in traffic. - Versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions. Name: D'Shay Knights-Wright Height: 6'8 Class: 2024 School: Polaris Prep - Skilled wing player with a high basketball IQ. - Effective perimeter shooter with an unorthodox shooting stroke. - Contributes on both ends of the floor with strong defensive efforts. Name: Eternity Eguagie Height: 6'7 Class: 2024 School: J. Addison School - Strong and physical small forward dominating in the paint. - Effective post-up game and consistent rebounding. - Defensive presence, altering shots and protecting the rim. Power Forwards Name: Jaion Pitt Height: 6'9 Class: 2024 School: Canyon International Academy - Dynamic and sturdy power forward known for versatility. - Excels in fast-break situations, showcasing speed and agility. - Solid rebounder and effective on-ball defender. Name: Ewan Steele Height: 6'9 Class: 2024 School: Polaris Prep - Versatile power forward contributing in scoring and rebounding. - Skilled mid-range shooter adding offensive flexibility. - Under the radar passer with above average court vision. Name: Ramogi Nyagudi Height: 6'10 Class: 2025 School: St. John's DME Academy - Forward with a strong work ethic and hustle on both ends. - Efficient scorer in the paint and mid-range areas. - Team player, contributing to offensive and defensive schemes. Centers Name: Arafan Diane Height: 7'0 Class: 2026 School: Dynastie Basketball - Dominant center with an imposing presence in the paint. - Rebounding machine with shot-altering capabilities. - Consistent scorer in the post, contributing to team offense. Name: Cam Brennan Height: 7'0 Class: 2024 School: Polaris Prep - Agile center known for rim protection and efficient scoring. - Skilled in pick-and-roll situations, creating offensive opportunities. - Solid communicator on defense, organizing teammates effectively. Name: Ibrahim Sanoh Height: 6'11 Class: 2024 School: J. Addison - Center with a strong basketball IQ, understanding positioning well. - Excellent passer out of the post, contributing to team play. - Defensive anchor with good shot-blocking instincts.

It has been a wild week of hoops in the USports Women’s basketball circuit. Looking down the stretch we have no new teams that have entered the USports top 10 this week and these very well may be the top 10 the rest of the way but you never know! There’s still tons of basketball left to be played so let's break down what happened last week and what’s happening this week. #1 in the Nation: University of Saskatchewan Huskies The Huskies remained a perfect 15-0 on the season following back-to-back road wins against the UVic Vikes. The Huskies defeated the Vikes 69-61 on Friday, January 26th, and defeated the Vikes again on Saturday, January 27th this time by a score of 74-63. The Huskies are a perfect 15-0 this season and will look to keep that streak alive as they take on the red-hot Regina Cougars in Saskatoon (who just defeated formerly #5 Alberta twice this past weekend) in a home back-to-back starting Friday, February 2nd at 7 PM EST. The Huskies and Cougars will battle again the following day (Saturday, February 3rd) at 6 PM EST. #2 in the Nation: Carleton Ravens The Ravens have lived up to the standard for Carleton Basketball teams this season as they’re a very impressive 24-1 in all games played this season, good enough for 2nd in the country behind the undefeated Huskies. The Ravens themselves are undefeated in 2024 and were riding a 5 game-winning streak going into last weekend's games. They first played the Laurier Golden Hawks at the Ravens Nest where they dismantled the visiting Hawks 82-39. They then hosted the Waterloo Warriors and proceeded to beat them by a score of 74-48. The Ravens only have 1 game this weekend but you could argue it might be their biggest game of the season. The Ravens will face the UOttawa Gee-Gees on Friday, February 2nd at 6 PM EST in the Capital Hoops Classic at TD Place, where they look to avenge their one loss earlier this season that came at the hands of these same Gee-Gees. This should be a must-watch match between two of the biggest rivals and best teams in USports women’s basketball. #3 in the Nation: Queen’s Gaels The Queen’s Gaels have been one of the best teams in USports Women’s Basketball over the last couple of seasons and they’ve continued that this season as they sit 3rd in the country thus far. Queen’s improved to 15-2 last weekend after a quick road trip to West Ontario. They first made a stop in London on Friday, January 26th to face the Western Mustangs and won that match 88-58. They then traveled to Windsor on Saturday, January 27th where they beat the Lancers 54-46. The Gaels will be at home this weekend when they host the Laurier Golden Hawks on Friday, February 2nd at 6 PM EST. They’ll also be at home the following day (Saturday, February 3rd at 4 PM EST) when they host the Waterloo Warriors in their “Shoot for the Cure” game to raise money for Breast Cancer research. #4 in the Nation: University of Calgary Dinos The Dinos maintain their spot as the 4th ranked team in the country following two wins this past weekend. The Dinos improved to 27-3 on the year and increased their winning streak to 10 games as they faced Lethbridge in a home doubleheader. On Friday, January 26th, the Dinos defeated Lethbridge 82-55. The Dinos proceeded to beat Lethbridge also the very next day (Saturday, January 27th) this time by a score of 85-46. The Dinos will have some time off this weekend as they have no scheduled games until the following weekend when they take on UBC in Vancouver. #5 in the Nation: Laval Rouge et Or Laval finds themselves jumping up one spot in the rankings from their performance last weekend to 5th in the country. Laval played once last week on Saturday, January 27th where they beat Bishops 80-76 in Lennoxville. Laval will get their fair share of hoops this weekend though as they take on UQAM on Thursday, February 1st at 6 PM EST in Montreal. They then will host UQAM themselves on Saturday, February 3rd at 6 PM where they’ll look to improve their spots on the rankings even further. #6 in the Nation: University of New Brunswick Reds The Reds have had an outstanding season up to this point so far with a 13-2 record up to this point, good enough to move them up 1 spot from last week's rankings into 6th in the country. UNB racked up a win last week on Sunday, January 28th against Cape Breton by a score of 84-57. The Reds will look to improve their ranking this weekend after heading on the road to face #9 Saint Mary’s on Friday, February 2nd at 7 PM EST in what should be a must-watch game for a battle of seedings. The Reds will then travel to Acadia the following day (Saturday, February 3rd) for a battle with the Axewomen at 7 PM EST. #7 in the Nation: University of Alberta Pandas The Pandas find themselves being the one team to move down spots in this week's rankings going from 5th last week to 7th this week. A big reason for the drop is the back-to-back losses the Pandas took at the hand of the Regina Cougars on the Panda's home court this past weekend. They first played on Friday, January 26th where the Cougars defeated the Pandas 57-52. They matched up again the following night (Saturday, January 27th) where the Cougars again beat the Pandas, this time by a score of 72-63. The Pandas will look to get back on track this weekend as they prepare to host Thompson Rivers University in another home doubleheader. The first game is set to take place Friday, February 2nd at 8 PM EST with the 2nd game of the double-header scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd at 7 PM EST. #8 in the Nation: University of the Fraser Valley Cascades The UFV Cascades find themselves 8th in the nation again this week. The Cascades have done very well for themselves this season carrying an 11-3 record going into last weekend. The Cascades beat up on the Brandon Bobcats, beating them 85-36 at home on January 26th and then beating them again 101-47 on January 27th to improve to 13-3 on the season. The Cascades will look to improve on their now 3-game winning streak when they take on Mount Royal this weekend in Calgary for a doubleheader. The first game will be Friday, February 2nd at 7 PM EST with the second game happening on Saturday, February 3rd a 6 PM EST. #9 in the Nation: Saint Mary’s University Huskies The SMU Huskies will remain at 9th in the nation again this week following a solid last week. The Huskies defeated the STFX X-Women 76-60 on Wednesday, January 24th, and then proceeded to defeat the UPEI Panthers 84-56 on Saturday, January 27th extending their win streak to 4 games. The Huskies only have 1 game this weekend but it is a must-watch one as they take on the #6 UNB Reds at Home on Friday, February 2nd at 5 PM EST. The Huskies will be looking to avenge a loss from these same Reds on January 13th (82-73) which kickstarted the 4-game winning streak the Huskies currently have. Will the Reds top the Huskies again or will the Huskies get their Revenge on the Reds? Tune in Friday, February 2nd at 5 PM EST on austv.ca to find out! #10 in the Nation: University of Ottawa Gee-Gees The UOttawa Gee-Gees find themselves at 10th in the country this week yet again after splitting this weekend to the Waterloo teams. The Gee-Gees fell to the Waterloo Warriors on January 26th 60-52. The Gee-Gees then bounced back strongly against the Laurier Golden Hawks with an 80-42 victory. The Gee-Gees will suit up for the Capital Hoops Classic this Saturday, February 3rd at 6 PM EST when they take on cross-town rivals and the #2 ranked team in the nation the Carleton Ravens. The Gee-Gees are the only team to defeat the Ravens this season and will be looking to beat them again to improve their spot in the top 10 and earn bragging rights over the Battle of Ottawa while the Ravens will be as motivated as ever to avenge the one mark on their otherwise perfect record. This game will be a must-watch and will be available to stream on oua.tv on Saturday, February 3rd starting at 6 PM EST.

Jalik Dunkley, a 6-foot-7 guard from Hamilton, Ontario, has announced his decision to join Overtime Elite, a professional basketball league for high school prospects. Dunkley, who is ranked as a top 5 prospect in the class of 2024 per The Maple Minute, becomes the third Canadian player to sign with OTE. Dunkley spent his junior season at Canyon International Academy in Arizona, and the previous two seasons at Orangeville Prep. He also played for Bounce Elite, a Canadian AAU program that has produced NBA stars like Jamal Murray, Tristan Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins. Dunkley told The Maple Minute that he chose OTE over other options because he wanted to pursue his dream of playing professional basketball and getting exposure to top-level competition and coaching. "The deciding factor in the move was I wanted to be in OTE but wanted to fulfill my commitment to the team I was with. My coach and I talked and he wanted me to pursue my desire to play OTE as it’s my senior year and he didn’t want me to have any regrets," Dunkley said. Overtime Elite, which launched in March 2021, is a league that reportedly offers players a minimum salary of $100,000, plus health and disability insurance, equity in the company, and a guaranteed scholarship fund for college or vocational training. The league also provides players with academic and life skills education, as well as access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology. OTE has already produced some of the top prospects in the country, such as Somto Cyril, Trey Parker & Ian Jackson. Dunkley joins a roster that features standout products, such as Eli & Isaac Ellis and Don Lewis. Dunkley said he is excited to join OTE and showcase his skills on a global stage. Dunkley is also the latest example of the rising talent and popularity of Canadian basketball, which has seen a surge of players making an impact in the NBA, NCAA, and international competitions. Dunkley said he is proud to represent his country and hopes to inspire other young Canadians to follow their dreams. Dunkley will join OTE for the remainder of the 2024 season. The league features 8 teams and you can catch Jalik in action on February 2nd vs. Jelly Fam at LIU-Brooklyn. The games will be streamed on Overtime's digital platforms and broadcast partners.

It has been yet another amazing week of hoops throughout the USports circuit with everything from upset wins to blowout losses and everything in between! Let's break down the week that was January 23rd-29th 2024 and the week ahead of January 30th-February 5th 2024 in USports Men’s Basketball! #1 in the Nation: University of Ottawa Gee-Gees The UOttawa Gee-Gees have spent most of the 2023-2024 season at #1 in the country and they will stay atop the country in the #1 spot following back-to-back home wins over the Waterloo Warriors (63-46) and the #4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks (75-67). The Gee-Gees now have a 6 game-winning streak going into the Capital Hoops Classic in Ottawa on Friday where cross-town rivals the Carleton Ravens are fighting to find something consistent before playoffs and looking to avenge a 79-78 loss to the Gee-Gees earlier this year and should make for a fantastic game this Friday at 8 PM EST. #2 in the Nation: UVictoria Vikes USports leading scorer Diego Maffia and the UVic Vikes stay firmly in 2nd place in the country following a home-court doubleheader versus the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, beating the Huskies 87-42 this past Friday and claiming victory the very next day by a score of 79-58. Maffia combined for 56 points over the two games further adding to his 27.6 PPG average on the season. The Vikes next face the Brandon University Bobcats in another home doubleheader for the Vikes and look to climb closer to that coveted #1 ranking. #3 in the Nation: Queen’s Gaels The Queen’s University Gaels maintain their spot as 3rd in the country after 2 quality road wins this past weekend. The Gaels defeated the at the time #8 ranked Western Mustangs in London 92-80 behind a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds from Cole Syllas. The Gaels then went down to Windsor and defeated the Lancers 87-74 behind 24 points and 4 steals from Luka Syllas. The Gaels will now have a massive game this Friday at home when they take on the #4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks this Friday at 8 PM EST in a game that very well will see the winner have this #3 spot at the least next week. The Gaels will follow that game up with a battle at home against the struggling Waterloo Warriors who have lost 5 of their last 6 going into this weekend. #4 in the Nation: Laurier Golden Hawks The Golden Hawks stay at 4th in the country following a road trip to Ottawa last weekend. The Hawks started the weekend off Friday night at the Ravens Nest taking on the Carleton Ravens who have had a down season so far this year based on typical Carleton Basketball standards. The Hawks came back with a vengeance after watching their season end last year on this very floor in the OUA Quarterfinals, defeating the Ravens by a score of 86-74, giving the Hawks their first win against the Ravens since 1995! The following day did not favor the Hawks as much as they battled closely with #1 UOttawa but fell to the Gee-Gees by a score of 75-67. Standout guard Taye Donald who is currently 3rd in USports PPG had a combined 47 on the weekend and will look to build on that this weekend as the Golden Hawks head to Kingston to take on the #3 Queen’s Gaels on Friday at 8 PM EST in what should be a must watch game. On Saturday the Hawks will head to Ontario Tech to face the surprise of the season Ridgebacks who went from 4-22 last year to 13-4 this year and look like a potential threat come OUA Playoff time. #5 in the Nation: University of British Columbia Thunderbirds The UBC Thunderbirds maintain their ranking of 5th in the nation following a road doubleheader against the UBC-Okanagan Heat. The Birds managed to go 2-0 against UBCO with a 97-77 win on Friday followed up with a 92-88 win on Saturday. Brian Wallack scored a team-high 23 points for the Thunderbirds in both games and looks to lead them into some big games next weekend. The UBC TBirds will have a huge home doubleheader to finish off their season next weekend (Feb. 9th and 10th) when they take on the surging Calgary Dinos who found themselves in the Top 10 in the country for the first time last week getting the 10th spot and now being bumped up to #7 this week just 2 spots behind the Thunderbirds. These games will be must-watch as well considering the result will no doubt have an impact not only in the USports top 10 but also in the Canada West Conference playoffs which will be less than 2 weeks away at the times of these games. #6 in the Nation: University of Manitoba Bisons The UM Bisons had last week off following their split doubleheader against the UVic Vikes. The Bisons will be back in action Thursday and Saturday where they’ll have a home and home (Thursday at the Wesmen, Saturday Home for Bisons) with the Winnipeg Wesmen where they look to raise their seeding before the CanWest playoffs begin in late February. #7 in the Nation: University of Calgary Dinos The UCalgary Dinos have been on a tear recently. They found themselves in the top 10 for the first time last week after a 7-game winning streak including a perfect 6-0 in 2024. The Dinos took on Lethbridge in a home doubleheader and beat them on Friday 99-77 as well as Saturday 90-84 to increase their winning streak to 9 and record a perfect 8-0 in 2024. The Dinos will finish off their season next weekend (Feb. 9th & 10th) in a huge doubleheader at #5 UBC for a likely 5th spot in the country as well as potential CanWest playoff seeding implications making these games a must-watch. #8 in the Nation: STFX X-Men The X-Men find themselves dropping from 7th last week to 8th this week after 2 straight losses this past week. The X-Men lost to St. Mary’s 72-62 last Wednesday and followed that up with an 85-77 loss to Cape Breton. The X-Men will try to get back on track this week when they take on Acadia on Wednesday at 7 PM EST and then on Saturday when they take on Cape Breton again looking for a chance at redemption. #9 in the Nation: UQAM Citadins UQAM Finds itself ranked 9th in the nation after being unranked the week prior. UQAM extended their win streak to 5 games this past week after back-to-back wins against McGill, winning 99-62 at home on Thursday and 93-59 at McGill on Saturday. UQAM will look to extend their win streak even further this week when they host Laval on Thursday, February 1st at 8 PM EST and when they travel to Laval on Saturday, February 3rd at 8 PM EST. #10 in the Nation: University of Western Ontario Mustangs After being ranked 8th in the nation last week, Western finds themselves falling to the final spot in the top 10. Western lost back-to-back games for the first time all season, losing to #3 Queen’s on Friday at home by a score of 92-80. Western then found themselves on their home court to play Ontario Tech the next day (Saturday) and proceeded to lose that game as well by the same 92-80 score. Western will look to put an end to their mini slide when they host the University of Guelph Gryphons on Wednesday January 31st at 8 PM EST and then head up to St. Catharine’s on Saturday February 3rd to take on the Brock Badgers at 8 PM EST. Missing from the last top 10: TMU Bold TMU was ranked 9th in the nation last week and finds themselves on the outsides looking in this week after playing one game this past week vs 1-13 Algoma University who had never beaten TMU since they joined the OUA in 2017. That was until this past Friday, January 26th when the Algoma Thunderbirds beat TMU for the first time 71-70 to give the Thunderbirds just their 2nd win of the year. TMU held a 70-69 lead with 14 seconds left and missed both free throws failing to make it a 3-point game Algoma took advantage and hit Jaylen White on a cutting layup plus the foul to put Algoma up 1 with 4 seconds left. White would miss the free throw and time would expire as Algoma pulled off the upset and knocked TMU right out of the Top 10 rankings. TMU will look to bounce back this weekend and climb back into the top 10 when they host Nipissing Friday, February 2nd at 8 PM EST and Saturday, February 3rd when they host Laurentian at 8 PM EST.

In a groundbreaking announcement, Canadian basketball sensation Hudson Ward of WCPA, the #1 unsigned prospect according to The Maple Minute rankings, has officially committed to Penn State University. Standing tall at an impressive 6'8", Ward brings a unique blend of athleticism and defensive prowess that sets him apart as a game-changing impact player. Ward's unreal compete level on the court has turned heads in the basketball world, showcasing his relentless drive to excel in every aspect of the game. His postional size, combined with exceptional agility, makes him a formidable force both offensively and defensively. Ward's commitment to Penn State not only solidifies his dedication to the sport but also marks a significant milestone in his journey as he steps into the arena of Division I basketball. The Leduc, AB prospect's defensive prowess is nothing short of exceptional, demonstrating an innate ability to read the game, block shots, and disrupt opponents' strategies. His presence on the court has been likened to a defensive anchor, capable of turning the tide in favor of his team with strategic plays and unmatched court awareness. Penn State University's basketball program is undoubtedly gaining a gem in Hudson Ward. His commitment reflects not only his incredible talent but also the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, and dedication to honing his skills. As he embarks on this new chapter, Ward's impact is poised to be felt not only within the university's basketball program but also on the national stage. Ward's journey from a top unsigned prospect to a Division I commit is a testament to his attitude & work ethic. Penn State University is set to witness the rise of a basketball prodigy, and the anticipation among fans and basketball enthusiasts is palpable. Hudson Ward's story is one of triumph, and his commitment to Penn State is a celebration of his extraordinary talent and the promising future that lies ahead in the realm of college basketball.