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Look for an improved Lakehead Thunderwolves squad after last season's 1-21 last place finish in the OUA West. The main reason for the optimism is the return of 6'4" Baltimore, MD native Kiraan Posey, the OUA West scoring champion from 2005-06 at 20.7 ppg who was ineligibile last season but, as the following article elaborates on, was very active practicing with the Wolves and, more importantly, successful in the classroom. Posey, who enters his fourth season of eligibility, will combine with 6'8" Warren Thomas, another U.S. import, to give Lakehead one of the top one-two punches in the OUA. Kiraan's Comeback

More updates from the Guelph Gryphon camp courtesy of Coach Chris O'Rourke as the Gryphs were able to add one more solid recruit in 6'3" Sheriff Wiredu from Central Tech in Toronto. The long armed, athletic Wiredu impressed the Guelph staff during tryouts enough to earn a roster spot. As well, 6'3" third year wing Jay Mott, expected to be a key contributor this season who injured his knee over the Labour Day weekend, had an MRI that luckily revealed no ligament damage. The diagnosis was a hyper extended knee and badly bruised knee cap and Mott should be good to go in a few weeks. Prized recruit 6'4" Jonathan Moscatelli also should be in full practice mode in the next 4 weeks after his knee became inflamed in late August preparing for the Labour Day weekend. Recall Moscatelli arrived in Guelph two years ago after a stellar career at Toronto's Oakwood Collegiate but injured his knee during the pre-season and has since had a pair of serious operations. A healthy Moscatelli would be a huge lift to the Gryphons rotation. Gryphons update from Guelph Mercury

The Western Mustangs today announced a deal with Rogers Television which will televise numerous Mustang sporting events including Men's and Women's basketball Mustangs announce television deal with Rogers in London According to the release, here are the basketball games to be televised:

10-Nov M & W Basketball/Mustangs vs. Laurentian 6 & 8 PM LIVE
17-Nov M & W Basketball/Mustangs vs. RMC 6 & 8 PM LIVE
5-Jan M & W Basketball/Mustangs vs. Brock 2 & 4 PM LIVE
12-Jan M & W Basketball/Mustangs vs. Waterloo 2 & 4 PM LIVE
16-Jan M & W Basketball/Mustangs vs. Windsor 6 & 8 PM LIVE
26-Jan M & W Basketball/Mustangs vs. Laurier 2 & 4 PM LIVE
16-Feb M Basketball/Mustangs vs. McMaster 2 PM LIVE

Thanks to Richard Taylor from Alberta for this link to an article by Michael Grange of the Globe and Mail updating Andy Rautins' injury (news is as good as it can be) and the plans for several of the members of this summer's Canadian national team for this coming season. Finally, Grange provides a first preview at the teams that Canada will likely face off against in the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament next summer just prior to the Beijing Games. Rautins's injury may prove a blessing in disguise

MORE ON THE PRE-OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: The following link outlines that 9 of the 12 teams that will participate in the Beijing Olympic basketball tournament have been determined: China (host nation), Spain (2006 FIBA World Champion), Angola (Africa), United States of America and Argentina (Americas), Islamic Republic of Iran (Asia), Russian Federation and Lithuania (Europe) and Australia (Oceania). The final 3 spots will be determined in what is scheduled to be a 12 team pre-Olympic tournament at a site to be determined. The participants in that tournament are scheduled to include: Cameroon and Cape Verde (Africa); Puerto Rico, Brazil and Canada (Americas), Lebanon and Republic of Korea (Asia), Greece, Germany, Croatia and Slovenia (Europe) and New Zealand (Oceania). Beijing 2008: nine teams qualified for men’s basketball tournament