It was a case of no Dominick Oliveri, no problem, Saturday night for the University of Victoria Vikes.
But how long will that last?
The Vikes (8-2) defeated lagging UBC-Okanagan (1-11) by a 95-51 count on Ken and Kathy Shields Court at CARSA Gym for their seventh consecutive men’s basketball victory.
But UVic will have to move forward with a big hole in the middle of the lineup with Canada West-leading rebounder Oliveri out with a fractured foot. The third-year American find out of Whatcom Community College incurred the injury three weeks ago during a Christmas break practice. Minimum recovery time for such an injury is six weeks, but usually takes longer.
“This is a significant setback. There is no other way to put it,” said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp.
“We are not going to replace Dominick’s 12 points and 15 rebounds per game by one player stepping in. We are going to have to do it by committee.”
That’s what the Vikes did over the weekend in the sweep of UBC-Okanagan, beginning with the 91-64 victory Friday.
“Our defence and rebounding have given us a chance every night out this season,” Beaucamp said.
“And now our offence is coming around, too.”
It certainly did over the weekend with two 90-plus point performances against over-matched UBC-Okanagan.
WOMEN'S CANADA WEST: The UVic Vikes suffered one of the most startling upsets in recent memory on Saturday night in falling 83-77 to a UBC-Okanagan squad (2-10) that had lost its previous eight games, including 68-43 to UVic on Friday.
The Vikes, ranked in the U Sports national top 10 earlier this season, fell to 7-3 in Canada West.
It doesn’t get any easier next week in Saskatoon against the recent-seasons Canada West powerhouse University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
