The University of Victoria Vikes men's basketball team uses a fast, smothering defence to win most of its games.
The Lethbridge Pronghorns are just the opposite. They rely on a high-powered offence, led by, arguably, the top big man in the Canada West conference. In fact, the Pronghorns bring the No. 2ranked offence (84.4 points per game) in Canada West into tonight's matchup at UVic.
So tonight, at McKinnon Gym, it's a good ol' fashion defence versus offence battle.
"They have a lot of skilled guards who can score and move the ball with pace," said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp as he leads his 5-3 Vikes into tonight's contest at UVic against the 5-3 Pronghorns.
"And of course, there's [Derek] Waldner."
Waldner is the Pronghorns' 6-foot-7 fifth-year centre who is fresh off being named the Canada West athlete of the week thanks to a pair of double-doubles in victories over the University of Northern B.C. and Mount Royal. He sits 13th in Canada West scoring with a 17-point average but he's No. 1 in rebounding, pulling down 9.1 boards a game.
"He's got size, speed and athleticism, and he can shoot from the outside," Beaucamp added. "We'll have to play well if we want to contain him."
Lethbridge's high-octane offence is sparked by their American guard. Spokane native Chaz Johnson is sixth in Canada West in assists, averaging five per game.
The Vikes will need their stingy defence - ranked third in Canada West, allowing 71 points per game - to be at its best tonight if they're to snap a two-game losing skid.
"We'll need to limit their transition game and make sure we ID who their shooters are on the floor because they can be lethal from the outside," Beaucamp said.
"And, of course, we'll have to be ready for Waldner because he can dominate the glass if you let him."
Stopping Waldner could prove even more difficult if the Vikes' big centre, Chris McLaughlin, is forced to sit out again with an injury. McLaughlin, in his third year out of Oakville, Ont., is playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging eight rebounds a game.
"Injuries are a concern for us right now," said Beau-camp, who lost McLaughlin and guard Brandon Dunlop to injuries last weekend in Alberta. "Chris is doubtful but Brandon is close, probably day to day."
But there may be good news on the injury front for the Vikes. Fifth-year 6-foot-7 forward Pierce Anderson looks ready to return after being injured in the second game of the season.
"Pierce is the closest to returning but it would be his first game back so we're not sure how many minutes he can handle," Beaucamp added.
If Anderson does suit up, he'll team with Vikes leading scorers Terrell Evans and Michael Acheampong to provide some much-needed scoring up front.
Tonight's tipoff is at 8 p.m.
In the women's game, which goes at 6 p.m., the CIS seventh-ranked Vikes put their 6-2 record on the line against the 4-4 Pronghorns.
The Vikes trail just 8-0 Fraser Valley in the Pacific Division and will look to veterans Debbie Yeboah and Cassandra Goodis to once again lead the way. Yeboah is seventh in Canada West scoring, with 18 points per game, while point guard Goodis leads the conference in assists, averaging 6.1 per game.
Lethbridge is led by Ali Cameron. The third-year forward from Calgary is fifth in the conference in scoring with an 18.3 points-per-game average.
IN THE PAINT: The Vikes will also be in action Saturday when they play host to the University of Calgary Dinos. The women's game goes at 5 p.m., followed by the men at 7 p.m. [email protected]
