The march is on to the month of March and the CIS Men’s Basketball Championship. Here is my projected top-eight seeding if the tournament was to start today.
1. Carleton (11-0)
Carleton will be at the Men’s Final 8 as the host gets an automatic bid. The way they’ve been playing of late it’s almost automatic the host will fill up the Canadian Tire Centre in the final once again.
2. Ottawa (11-1)
Ottawa is undefeated at home thanks to the raucous Montpetit Hall atmosphere. Their next five are at home in Ottawa and they don’t hit the road again until the last day of January. Tough home games against Ryerson, Carleton and York will test the theory that they’re the second best squad in the country.
3. Alberta (11-1)
Other than a one-point road loss on the second night of a back-to-back to Brandon, Alberta has had no slip-ups this season. With their lone date with Victoria successfully navigated, the Golden Bears don’t have a tough test on their schedule until they close the season with back-to-back games versus Saskatchewan.
4. Victoria (10-2)
McKinnon Gym continues to be the toughest place to play in the Can West. Vikes Nation was in full force as Victoria beat conference rival Saskatchewan by nine on Friday. The toughest match on their home schedule followed immediately after with a three-point loss to Alberta. The fact that the Vikes were leading at the half shows that the Golden Bears have serious challengers for the Can West title.
5. Acadia (7-2)
The Axemen have outscored their opponents this year by only 37 points (a narrow margin of 4.1 per game), but they’re finally getting healthy and hitting on all cylinders. Three of their seven wins have been by five points or less—their ability to win close games will make them dangerous come tournament time.
6. McMaster (9-3)
The Lancers were without two starters, but nonetheless Mac’s home win over Windsor this weekend puts them in pole position in the OUA West. Wins over Windsor, York and Ryerson give the MAC men one of the most impressive resumes in the country despite their three losses.
7. McGill (5-1)
As I’ve said before in this space it is so hard to evaluate McGill relative to the rest of the country because the Q is a one-bid conference and the Redmen haven’t really been pushed over the last two years. Well, that dynamic has changed. Showing that their season-opening three-point loss to McGill wasn’t a fluke, Laval decisively beat them by 10 at home . The Redmen are still the best bet to make it out of Quebec because of their depth and experience, but the playoff race in la belle province now bears watching.
8. UNB (7-2)
Javon Masters is making a real run at AUS player of the year. His efficiency on the offensive end has been extraordinary. Scoring 30 points a night, he’s shooting just over 50 percent from the field and just under 50 percent from three. It doesn’t hurt that he has gotten to the line 128 times in his eight starts. Masters’s unstoppable play is a big reason why many league observers have tabbed the Varsity Reds to go on a magical run to the nation’s capital.
Honourable mentions: Ryerson (11-1), York (7-5)