Canada West Conference basketball coaches think very highly of Lisa Thomaidis’ U of S women’s basketball program going into the 2022-23 season, but not so much for the men’s Huskie hoopsters.

The Saskatchewan women nipped Fraser Valley for top spot in the annual Canada West women’s basketball coaches poll. The U of S received seven of 17 first place votes compared to six for the Cascades. Regina and Winnipeg each got two first place votes. On the men’s side, the Huskies were ninth out of 17 teams in the coaches poll. Victoria topped the list, receiving 11 first place votes, with Alberta second with five and U-B-C with the last of the 17 first place votes. Both U of S teams are in action on opening weekend of the season as they host Mount Royal Friday at the P-A-C. Following are the news releases from the Canada West Conference…..

WBB: SSK tops preseason poll

Your complete team-by-team preview ahead of Friday’s season opener

31 October 2022

CALGARY – The Saskatchewan Huskies have reigned over Canada West for the past three seasons, and the conference’s coaches think it’ll stay that way when the season tips off Friday. The Huskies came first in the preseason poll, released by CW Monday.

Despite losing a central forward-guard pairing, Saskatchewan will look to bring their defensive tenacity into 2022-23 as they aim for their fourth straight conference title. A tough field stands in their way, led by the Fraser Valley Cascades, who took second in the poll.

The Cascades boasted the second-best defence in Canada West last season and will see their core return. They’ll be hungry to avenge their quarterfinal loss from the spring and show they’ve learned from that playoff experience to capture their first-ever women’s basketball title.

Rounding out the top three is the Regina Cougars, a team that was bested by the Winnipeg Wesmen in last season’s semi-finals but whose young line up will look to out grind opponents all the way to the championship banner. The Cougars already have three hanging in their gym, most recently from 2017-18.

The grit and speed that is CW basketball starts Friday. For the complete 2022-23 schedule, click here.

2022-23 CW WBB PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Team – Points (First-place votes)

Saskatchewan Huskies – 243 (7)
Fraser Valley Cascades – 236 (6)
Regina Cougars – 231 (2)
Calgary Dinos – 196
Alberta Pandas – 196
Winnipeg Wesmen – 195 (2)
Victoria Vikes – 162
Trinity Western Spartans – 141
UBC Thunderbirds – 137
Lethbridge Pronghorns – 133
Mount Royal Cougars – 97
UBCO Heat – 85
UNBC Timberwolves – 83
MacEwan Griffins – 67
Manitoba Bisons – 61
Brandon Bobcats – 31
Thompson Rivers – 18

NOTE: Coaches ranked all opponents 1-16. First-place votes worth 16 points, second-place worth 15 points etc.

MBB: VIC takes first in preseason poll

Your complete season preview ahead of Friday’s opener

31 October 2022

CALGARY – With the excitement of Canada West basketball just days away, the conference’s coaches have weighed in on who they think will win the coveted championship title this season. The Victoria Vikes collected the highest points through the poll, favoured to make it back-to-back titles.

The Vikes handed the Alberta Golden Bears their first loss of the season in the conference finals last season, coming together as a unit to send a statement to the league. The team will be looking for its CW-best 17th banner this season, with a slew of teams waiting and ready to stop them.

The Alberta Golden Bears are in revenge mode after the Vikes put an end to their perfect season last spring. The team is without last year’s CW Player of the Year, but added a few key pieces into its fundamentally sound program. The Golden Bears are chasing their 13th title, their first since 2016-17.

Rounding out the top three are the UBC Thunderbirds, a team that posted a 16-2 record last season before losing a one-point game to Saskatchewan in the conference quarter-finals. UBC boasted the conference’s third-best offence last season and will see their core return to take a run at gold this year.

The grit and speed that is CW basketball starts Friday. For the complete 2022-23 schedule, click here.