VANCOUVER - The Thunderbirds are coming off two of their most dominant campaigns ever, compiling a 38-3 regular season record over the past two seasons, and a 50-8 record including conference and CIS playoff games. Back-to-back trips to the CIS national championship game have been the result of these outstanding campaigns and all signs point to the T-Birds being poised for another deep playoff run in 2010-11.
Last season UBC went 17-1 and cruised through the divisional playoffs before losing in the Canada West Final Four to upstart Saskatchewan. They had a chance for revenge on the big stage when they met the Huskies in the national title game, however, they had to settle for CIS silver in Ottawa.
Fortunately for the 'Birds, they only lost two starters to graduation, and have enough of their core remaining from their recent seasons to have another shot at a CIS tournament berth this year. Gone are spark plug combo forward
Kyle Watson and three-point specialist
Blain LaBranche, but the squad's depth from last season with the combination of some notable newcomers should be able to make up for those losses.
One key in dealing with those losses will be the play of
Josh Whyte, the 2009-10 CIS player of the year. The undisputed leader of the team, he led the T-Birds with 19.1 points, 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals-per-game while directing one of the nation's most potent and up tempo offences last season. Whyte also led all guards in Canada West with a .538 shooting percentage and has a knack for hitting the big shot, whether it's to start a run in the second quarter or seal a victory late. Whyte's ability to maintain his efficient scoring while finding different ways to get his teammates involved will have a huge impact on how the T-Birds perform this season.
At the wing, fourth-year guard
Nathan Yu is one player that is expected to continue his development this season, especially following the loss of LaBranche who was one of the purest shooters to play for UBC in recent memory. Yu shot .461 per cent from the field last year, which was second-best among guards on the team. He also averaged 8.5 points-per-game, the best of any non-starter for UBC, and will see an increase in his minutes as the 'Birds looks for consistent scoring behind Whyte. A smooth shooter, Yu will also be expected to help spread opposing defences while also flashing his explosive speed by getting to the rim.
Tommy Nixon, a freshman who red-shirted the 2009-10 season with UBC, has also been tagged as a player to help fill a void. Similar in mold to Watson, the 6-foot-6 Nixon is the type of high energy player that fights for every loose ball, crashes the glass, and plays with a youthful vigor that can swing the tide of games in one possession. There will definitely be a learning curve for the Kitsilano grad who will see his first regular season minutes but he's already won the respect of his coaches and teammates alike with his tireless effort.
Nixon may represent a new wave for UBC basketball, however, the one strength of this T-Bird squad is their veteran core. In addition to Whyte and Yu, UBC boasts an impressive roster that features seven other fourth or fifth-year athletes. The big game experience and talent of these seasoned players should pay dividends down the stretch and in the post-season.
Point guard
Alex Murphy and forward
Brent Malish are both entering their fifth-years on the UBC campus. Contributors since day one of the T-Bird careers, both players are looking to have big seasons as they close out their time at War Memorial Gym.
Last year, Murphy and Whyte combined to be one of the more experienced and dangerous guard combinations in the conference and that will be the case again this season. Although both are talented point guards, having Murphy out on the floor allows Whyte to move into more of a scoring guard position while still giving UBC a pair of lethal ball handlers. Murphy is also a great penetrator who has shown a willingness to get to the line, a place where he makes opposing teams pay.
Malish is a prototypical inside and out CIS big man. At 6-foot-6, he will be one of the T-Birds key interior defenders and rebounders, however, he's got a smooth stroke from long range that causes mismatches on the offensive end. He averaged 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds-per-game last year while also making nearly 34.0% of his three-point shots.
Fourth-years
Melvyn Mayott and
Kamar Burke grew into major contributors last season, both their first with UBC, and will play even more vital roles this season.
Burke, a versatile and athletic paint presence for the 'Birds, was one of the best UBC players during the playoffs last year - a sure sign he was becoming more comfortable with his new surroundings. He was eighth in the conference with 7.2 rebounds-per-game in the regular season, and stepped up that effort even further in the playoffs when he pulled down 8.3 rebounds and scored 8.7 points-per-game. A CIS Championship all-star, Burke was at his best at the national championship, notching back-to-back double-doubles in the semi-final and final.
Mayott's a lock-down perimeter defender who is also a very dangerous long range threat. He would have been fourth in the conference with a .425 three-point percentage last season, but did not take enough shots to qualify for the ranking in individual stat categories. With more looks coming this season, expect his name to show up in those standings.
Fellow fourth-year seniors
Balraj Bains and
Graham Bath will see significant time working the paint. Bath led the T-Birds with an impressive .605 shooting percentage in 2009-10 and his physical presence down low is a very unwelcome sight to opposing teams. Bains has been at or near the top of the team blocks lead every year at UBC, averaging just under a block per game for his career, while his comfort and confidence on the offensive end continues to grow each season.
Former Cheyenne Mountain High School team captain and MVP
Geoff Pippus is one of three new additions to the T-Birds. He and
Mike Lewandowski will be the only two true freshmen this year, as
Jas Gill, like Nixon, is a red-shirt freshman. Lewandowski, a Pitt Meadows Secondary grad, is earning a reputation as one of the team's more athletic big men.
Speaking of athletic new T-Birds, UFV transfer
Doug Plumb has shown himself to be one of the more athletic players to suit up for UBC in recent years. He last played at the CIS level in 2008-09 but should fit in nicely with the 'Birds and make an immediate impact. An aggressive player, he likes to get to the rim and his bullish style is a nice contrast to some of UBC's more smooth offensive weapons.
The T-Birds have had high expectations heaped on them for the past several seasons, and this year will be no different. They have justified those expectations with a CIS tournament berth every year since the 2005-06 season and look to continue their push for a national championship again this season.
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