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Here are a pair of articles from the Halifax newspapers including a piece by Chris Kallan in the Halifax Daily News on Capers 5'10" freshman Tremaine Fraser (pictured) who has impressed with his willingness to take big shots and maturity. Fraser was a late cut of Canada's U19 team this past summer and his early play has made him one of the favorites for CIS Rookie-of-the-Year. We hope to have our "Top Freshmen" article shortly and Fraser certainly deserves mention Rookie keeping Capers undefeated and parents proud. As well, an article from Halifax Chronicle-Herald CBU/ST. FX start strong As well, St. FX 6'3" power forward Dwayne Johnson, who missed last weekend's games against MUN after taking some stiches in his hand earlier, is expected back for tonight's game.

Chad Lucas continues to provide excellent coverage of the AUS in his "Posting Up" blog Saintil Player-of-the-week

A note from the Charlatan, Carleton's campus newspaper, on gender equality in coaching that appeared recently in the Gateway, Alberta's campus newspaper Gender equality still a work in progress in CIS coaching

Brandon/Regina Preview from Jeremy Sawatsky, Brandon Sports Information Bobcats Ready For Weekend Set With Cougars Written by: Jeremy Sawatzky, BU Sports Information BRANDON, MB – First place will be on the line this weekend when the 7th ranked Brandon University Bobcats host the University of Regina Cougars. It's the first meeting between the Great Plains rivals since the 'Cats swept the Cougars in last year's Divisional Final. "The guys are looking forward to the challenge at hand," said Brandon head coach Mike Raimbault, whose team was a perfect 6-0 versus the Cougars last season. "Every time we step on the floor we have a competitive group of guys. Whether first place is on the line or not, the guys want to go out and win." The 4-2 Cougars have lost two straight, while the 5-1 Bobcats dropped their first game of the regular season this past Saturday to #5 Alberta. "This team has a lot of energy and a lot of heart, that's not our problem," said 5th year forward Adam Hartman prior to practice on Wednesday. "But sometimes we need to play with more urgency. That's going to be a key this weekend… getting out, setting the tone early, and trying to get a big lead." Meanwhile, the winless Brandon University Lady Bobcats will have their work cut out for them when they take on the 5-1, 6th ranked Lady Cougars. Regina defeated Brandon 84-37 at a pre-season tournament last month, and while the 'Cats are still winless in conference play, the players and coaching staff believe they've improved dramatically in the past 30 days. "Hopefully, we've leveled the playing field since then," said Bobcat coach Jaime Hickson. "They like to run and gun, so we need to get out and force them to play a half court game, slow them down a little if we're going to be successful." Game time in the women's games is set for 6 o'clock Friday and Saturday night, while the men play at 8.

MORE ON DINOS / BEARS from Wayne Thomas of Dinos News Dinos 'Under-Raptors' On Home Court ? Why are the Alberta Golden Bears the favourites going into this weekend's big series at the Jack Simpson Gym? Doesn't home court give the Dinos some edge in this big match-up ? A look at the numbers might justify the call ... Quality wins ... Alberta, 10-2 overall against CIS teams, has beaten Brandon twice, Victoria at Vic, Saskatchewan, Ottawa, and Regina. These are all teams with winning records. They also had a close game (61-56) before losing to Carleton. Calgary, 7-2 overall, has beaten UBC and UVic here in Calgary, and had an OT loss vs. Toronto down east. Advantage - U of A; Stats ... Alberta scores 83 pts. per game and gives up only 69 ppg. Calgary has hit for 84 ppg while surrendering 78 ppg. Advantage - Alberta; ... U of A shoots 49 % from the field and 73% on free throws; U of C shoots 44% from the field and 69% on free throws, Advantage - Alberta; ... Calgary is + 8 on rebounds, while Alberta is +6; The turnovers are virtually even ... slight advantage - Calgary; History ... Alberta has a clear advantage over the Dinos in head to head competition over the past 7 years, and have won several key games in 'The Jack'. Given all these factors, we have to make U of A the favourites, but these series are a chance for the Dinos to step up and challenge the U of A's historical advantage. After all, history is made every day, and this new crop of players has to prove themselves on the court. Notes ... Ross Bekkering and Alex Steele dominate their respective teams' stats leaders boards in Canada West play ... Roscoe is 1st in pts. ( 16.5), rebounds (12), FG% (64%) FT% (71%) for the Dinos ... Steele leads the Bears in pts. (22), FG% (58%), FT% (80), 3pt% (52), assists (4.5), steals (2.5). These two are definitely the key to success for the two teams! Calgary's top 3 pt. shooter ... Jeff Price - 50% ... he also leads with 3.7 assists; Tyler Fidler is the top rookie, averaging 10 pts. and 3.5 rebs.... Check out 'You Tube' for a dunk off featuring Henry Bekkering and Andrew Parker. Along with Ross Bekkering, these two are the best slammers in the CIS... Two Edmonton products suiting up at the guard spot for the Dinos against the Bears ... 5th year Cody Darrah, and 1st year Andrew Champagnie... 7 of the Golden Bears hail from B.C., a fertile recruiting ground for Coach Horwood, who has gone on record as preferring B.C. players to Alberta HS grads... the only key member of either team likely to miss this series will be Alberta's starting point guard C.G. Morrison, who is, apparently out until January with an ankle injury... Good luck wishes to the Dinos from Chris Wright (2006) who is in his 2nd year of play in the German Pro League ... averaging 15 pts. and 9 rebs. with Hagen of Div. II, and teammates with Chris Harris, Dinos grad from 2003.

Also, Mary Caton's article in the Windsor Star this morning on the Lancers weekend:
Lancers face arch-rival
Saturday’s showdown pits No. 2-ranked U of W against No. 1 Ravens
BY MARY CATON STAR SPORTS WRITER Chris Oliver tries his best to deflect the conversation away from The Game. While acknowledging the inevitable buildup around Saturday’s showdown with the No. 1-ranked Carleton Ravens, the No. 2-ranked Lancers coach points out there will be no matchup of the top two teams in Canadian university basketball if his own team looks past Friday’s contest against the Ottawa Gee Gees. “We have to get past Ottawa to make it one versus two,” he said. A Windsor loss Friday would surely drop them a notch or so in the national rankings. Oliver started to narrow his team’s focus just minutes after the Lancers improved their OUA West Division record to 4-0 with a win over Queen's last Saturday. His brief post-game comments consisted of one question. “Who do we play next?,” he asked his players. Fifth-year forward Kevin Kloostra said this week’s preparation has been all Gee Gees. “Every practice we run through Ottawa’s stuff,” he said. “We’ll bring in our Carleton scout Saturday and watch some video then. ” That said, Kloostra admits “this is probably the biggest weekend of the year. Everyone is talking about it.” The Lancers beat the Ravens in Windsor last spring for the 2006-07 OUA championship. The Ravens had the last laugh, however, going on to win a fifth straight CIS title in Halifax, while the Lancers dropped two straight at the nationals. The Ravens are 4-0 in the OUA East Division and remain the gold standard for men’s basketball despite losing Osvaldo Jeanty, who is playing professionally in Germany. Now, Aaron Doornekamp assumes the leadership duties so ably performed by Jeanty over five championship campaigns. “Oz was their go-to guy down the stretch,” Kloostra said. “I think now they’ll go in the post to Doornekamp.” So far, Oliver thinks the loss of Jeanty has been minimal. “They’re just as good defensively as they’ve always been,” he said. “The true test of how good they’ll be without Oz is when they get into a close game.” The Lancers hope to provide that test, after, of course, they face the 15th-ranked Gee Gees who are also 4-0.; mcaton@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5777 ext. 414

FINALLY a note from Howard Bloom about Carleton Ravens web casting The Ravens will be on the web this weekend (including number one vs. number two Saturday night at shoutcast.com search for ckcu, and there it is. Starting in the new year the games will be heard on CKCU's website and selected games (including all playoff and Ravens games at the Nationals on CKCU-FM). As well we will be broadcasting all of the games at the Nationals on the Internet and we will be able to offer feeds to all participating schools as well.