March 9, 2005
TOP TWO TEAMS IN NATION SET TO BATTLE FOR WILSON CUP
ST. CATHARINES, ON - The top two teams in the country will meet Saturday afternoon for the Wilson Cup, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's basketball championship, in what could be a preview to the CIS championship game in Halifax next weekend. The No. 1 Carleton University Ravens (22-0, 2-0) will travel to southern Ontario to defend their Wilson Cup title against the No. 2 Brock University Badgers (19-3, 2-0). Tip-off is slated for 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 12.
It is believed to be the first time in CIS history that the top two teams in Canada will meet in a provincial championship game, as Carleton looks for their third straight OUA title. Brock and their expected sold out crowd are looking for their first provincial crown since 1992.
Carleton, the two-time defending Wilson Cup and W.P. McGee Trophy champions, head into Saturday's contest with a 74-game OUA/CIS regular and post-season winning streak. Led by OUA East first team all-stars Mike Smart and Osvaldo Jeanty, the Ravens are defensively the best team in the country, allowing a nation-low 57.6 points per game. Offensively, Smart, a fifth-year guard from Napanee, ON, averages 11.4 points per game and 4.6 assists per game, while Jeanty leads the team in scoring with 16.9 points per game. Jeanty, a third-year Gloucester, ON native, has twice been the recipient of the Jack Donohue Trophy, named to the Most Valuable Player in the CIS Championship tournament, while Smart has picked up the Kitch MacPherson Trophy for the Wilson Cup MVP the last two years.
While their stats may not be staggering, the Ravens know how to win, evident in the current streak as they look to become just the fourth school in OUA men's basketball history to claim a third straight Wilson Cup.
Brock, on the other hand, is looking for just their second Wilson Cup title in the program's history, their first coming in 1992. The Badgers are led by OUA West Player of the Year, Kevin Steinstra (Vineland, ON), who averaged 19.0 points per game and 9.73 rebounds per game this season. Point guard Brad Rootes (Niagara Falls, ON) is the Badgers floor general. The second-year OUA West all-star led the nation with 6.85 assists per game and stepped up in last week's West final win over Waterloo with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.
In their last home game two weeks ago, Brock clinched their second straight trip to nationals with a convincing win over the Wilfird Laurier Golden Hawks, 93-61. The Badgers now have a 13-game winning streak and with a victory Saturday will tie the previous record of 14 set in 1991-92, the year they won the national championship.
However, the Ravens hold the cards in terms of streaks and in their lone meeting this season; the Ravens defended home court, defeating Brock, 73-57. By the end of Saturday's championship game, one of the top two teams in the country will see their respective winning streaks end before heading out to Halifax and their shot at a national championship.
24 teams, 6 CIS berths, 2 OUA champions - the OUA basketball playoffs, presented by Investors Group.
OUA WILSON CUP - MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 2:00 pm
#1 Carleton University @ #2 Brock University
It is believed to be the first time in CIS history that the top two teams in Canada will meet in a provincial championship game, as Carleton looks for their third straight OUA title. Brock and their expected sold out crowd are looking for their first provincial crown since 1992.
Carleton, the two-time defending Wilson Cup and W.P. McGee Trophy champions, head into Saturday's contest with a 74-game OUA/CIS regular and post-season winning streak. Led by OUA East first team all-stars Mike Smart and Osvaldo Jeanty, the Ravens are defensively the best team in the country, allowing a nation-low 57.6 points per game. Offensively, Smart, a fifth-year guard from Napanee, ON, averages 11.4 points per game and 4.6 assists per game, while Jeanty leads the team in scoring with 16.9 points per game. Jeanty, a third-year Gloucester, ON native, has twice been the recipient of the Jack Donohue Trophy, named to the Most Valuable Player in the CIS Championship tournament, while Smart has picked up the Kitch MacPherson Trophy for the Wilson Cup MVP the last two years.
While their stats may not be staggering, the Ravens know how to win, evident in the current streak as they look to become just the fourth school in OUA men's basketball history to claim a third straight Wilson Cup.
Brock, on the other hand, is looking for just their second Wilson Cup title in the program's history, their first coming in 1992. The Badgers are led by OUA West Player of the Year, Kevin Steinstra (Vineland, ON), who averaged 19.0 points per game and 9.73 rebounds per game this season. Point guard Brad Rootes (Niagara Falls, ON) is the Badgers floor general. The second-year OUA West all-star led the nation with 6.85 assists per game and stepped up in last week's West final win over Waterloo with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.
In their last home game two weeks ago, Brock clinched their second straight trip to nationals with a convincing win over the Wilfird Laurier Golden Hawks, 93-61. The Badgers now have a 13-game winning streak and with a victory Saturday will tie the previous record of 14 set in 1991-92, the year they won the national championship.
However, the Ravens hold the cards in terms of streaks and in their lone meeting this season; the Ravens defended home court, defeating Brock, 73-57. By the end of Saturday's championship game, one of the top two teams in the country will see their respective winning streaks end before heading out to Halifax and their shot at a national championship.
24 teams, 6 CIS berths, 2 OUA champions - the OUA basketball playoffs, presented by Investors Group.
OUA WILSON CUP - MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 2:00 pm
#1 Carleton University @ #2 Brock University
