CIS Hoops.ca

For those who have yet to visit, Canada West's web site is, along with AUS site, the two best sources of detailed information in the CIS. Canada West's site provides results and statistics for ALL games including non-conference, tournaments and games vs. NCAA/NAIA schools. This allows observers to follow the game closer and allows us to explore what the numbers show thus far this season after 3 weeks of regular season play.

Some of the team numbers that the UBC Thunderbirds have put up thus far this season support why the Birds have started out so strong and are deserving of their number 4 CIS ranking. UBC is first in Canada West in several categories including:
- Scoring offense (87.7 ppg)
- Scoring margin/game (+16)
- Field goal percentage
- Field goal percentage defense
- Rebounding margin
The T-Birds are also 3rd in overall defense and 4th in three point percentage. UBC is doing it with less-than-full contribution from usual starter 6'8" Bryson Kool who was injured during Labour Day and is back but coming off the bench and thus far playing only 15 minutes per game but averaging 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds while shooting 64% from the floor. Expect Kool to make a greater impact as he gets healthier. Also, sophomore Alex Murphy is averaging more than 5 assists per game, among the leaders in Canada West. Off the bench, UBC's 6'4" Brent Leversage is owner of the highest field goal % in Canada West at 69.4% and has been the leading scorer in two of UBC's last three games... Last season's Pacific Division finalist and Canada West Final Four wild card entry Victoria Vikes continue to play their patented strong "d", leading Canada West in defensive field goal percentage and scoring defense but are second last in the conference in three point field goal percentage (28%) and have attempted 244 3's (2nd most)... Saskatchewan Huskies lead Canada West with almost 8 three-pointers made per game while 6'8" Andrew Spagrud has reestablished himself as one of Canada's top players, leading Canada West in scoring (22.8 ppg) and rebounding (13.3 ppg) in league play... The Brandon Bobcats have been winning even without the services of 6'10" Yuri Whyms, who has missed the past four games with a knee injury. 6'9" Stevens Marcelin has taken up the slack, averaging about 9 rebounds per game during that time. Whyms and Marcelin represent the top one-two center combination in Canada. No definitive word on when Whyms can be expected back. ATTENDANCE: Canada West annually attracts as many fans to games as anywhere else in the country. Although official stats are not kept across the country, anecdotally crowds are generally large by CIS standards in Canada West cities such as Winnipeg, Vancouver, Victoria, Lethbridge and Calgary among others. This season, there have already been 5 crowds of at least 1,000 fans for Canada West games including a season-high of 2,018 fans in Calgary for their victory over UBC. The annual Duckworth Challenge in Winnipeg attracted 1,529 fans for Manitoba/Winnipeg, while UBC's and Vic's trip into Lethbridge had 1,527 (for UBC) and 1,109 (for UVic). The Vikes had a crowd of 1,003 for their home opener against Simon Fraser. CANADA WEST INDIVIDUAL SEASON HIGHS THUS FAR: Points Scored - 6'1" Jeff Lukomski, Regina, 39 vs. Winnipeg; Rebounds - 6'5" Jamal Williams, 20 vs. TWU; 6'8" Andrew Spagrud, 20 vs. Fraser Valley (OT).

Once again, kudos to the Canada West conference for maintaining and providing such detailed, accurate and timely statistics for their games. We hope to have a similar posting on the AUS in the near future. Unfortunately, a lack of easily-accessable data (to our knowledge) precludes us from doing the same for OUA and QSSF conferences.