CIS Hoops.ca

Much thanks to UQAM play-by-play announcer Alex Tourigny, who follows the Citadins closely, and has offered this mid-season recap of UQAM for our readers. Please note that Alex does live play-by-play for every UQAM home game on Citadins Radio Next home game is January 20th vs. McGill.

"Olga Hrykac’s Citadins had every reason to believe they could stand at the top of QSSF standings before this season. With veteran guard Samuel Johnson back in the lineup after missing last year because of a back injury and the return of Jules Diagne with the Citadins, the sky seemed the limit for UQAM this year. Everything looked good on paper, but a paper team won’t win any game…just like the Citadins. UQAM team had a difficult start, going 0 and 4 in their 4 first games of the year. The Citadins did move the ball effectively and did a great job pushing the tempo in each of their games. The problem is their 3 point shooting % was brutal. Don’t take my word for it…take a look at the stats. (4/26 15.4% vs Bishop's) --- (3/13 23.1% vs Laval) --- (3/23 13.0% vs Concordia) --- (9/32 28.1% vs McGill). As you know, 3 point shooting is always a big factor in CIS play and the Citadins will have to focus on that area if they want to get in the playoffs. Shooting is not the only concern with this UQAM squad. The Citadins is once again the worst defensive team of the QSSF, allowing an average of 88 points allowed per game (8 points more than McGill). However, everything is not as bad as it seems for Olga Hrykac’s team. The Citadins outshot their opponents in 3 of their 4 first games. In their last game before the break, UQAM outshot Mcgill 93 to 51…but did lose the game 90-85. Like I said before, the Citadins played well but couldn’t make their shots. Jules Diagne is one of the bright spots on the UQAM roster. Diagne is 4th among QSSF scorers with a 16.67 PPG average. Samuel Johnson is picking up his game. He averages 10 points per game. On a team note, the Citadins are doing a great job on the boards. Four of the best QSSF rebounders are from UQAM (Jules Diagne, Mario Joseph, Kevin Boucher and Abdoukarim Gueye). The Citadins play their first three games of the new year away from home, visiting Laval at Ste. Foy this coming Friday night and then going to McGill and Bishop's on consecutive weekends prior to returning home to face McGill at home on the 20th."