Brandon has better chemistry for new season

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This article was published 03/11/2016 (3356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fifth-year senior Earl Thompson Jr. is one of only two players — Denham Buchanan is the other — on the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team entering his third year under the guidance of head coach Gil Cheung.

For two years, Thompson has given his all on the court for BU but he and his teammates have amassed just three victories in that span. Brandon was 1-19 last season and 2-18 the previous season.

The team’s second-leading scorer (16.5 points per game) and leading rebounder (eight per game) last season, the six-foot-five, 225-pound forward/guard from Henderson, Nev., wants nothing more than to make the Canada West playoffs in his final year with the Bobcats.

The last time BU made the playoffs was 2008-09.

“I have to play every game with my heart like it’s my last game, which it is, pretty much,” Thompson said. “That’s all I can do.”

The first game of his last season takes place Friday in Edmonton against the University of Alberta Golden Bears. BU is ranked 15th of 17 teams in the Canada West coaches poll, while Alberta is third in the new-look league format.

The Pioneer and Explorer divisions, which were used for the previous two seasons, were eliminated. Teams will still take part in a 20-game regular-season schedule, each playing four geographical or historical rivals every year, with games against six of the remaining 12 opponents every other year.

The top 12 teams will qualify for the playoffs with rankings based on their respective Rating Percentage Index (RPI). The top four teams based on RPI will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs, which will feature four best-of-three series. The following week will consist of four best-of-three quarter-finals, leading to the final four hosted by the highest remaining seed.

BU is determined to be among the 12 teams earning a playoff berth.

“I think despite the last couple of years we were getting closer and closer,” Cheung said. “Everyone is 0-0. We’re trying to sneak into the playoffs and it starts this weekend in Alberta.

“It sounds crazy to people, you were a 1-19 team and you are talking about the playoffs, but our goal is to get better each week and come out with some wins and be in that playoff picture come February.”

With a large chunk of Brandon’s nucleus returning — guards Troy Grant and DJ Jordan, who led the team in scoring last season with 17 ppg, being the two biggest losses — Thompson and Cheung believe the team will be much improved this season.

“We just know what we need to do and we’ve kept some of the veteran players — our core — and that was huge for us because usually we have a whole new core every year,” Thompson said. “We kept the same guys from last year so that gives us an edge because we were already talented but we didn’t have any chemistry.”

Import guard Tyvon Cooper, who played well in the pre-season, effectively takes over for Jordan. The Middletown, N.Y., product might not put up as many points as consistently as Jordan did, but Thompson likes what he’s seen from Cooper leading into the season opener.

“I think the reason we won’t miss DJ as much is because Tyvon can score, too, and he just brings more of a team concept with him,” Thompson noted.

Rookie forward Kobyn Jopp of Calgary, plus new guards Girece Kazumba of Toronto and Josh Bell of Mississauga, Ont., provide depth for a team that hasn’t really had much to fall back on in previous years.

And don’t be surprised if Cheung, who has tried to simplify things for his players on both ends of the floor, plays every player who travels west.

“I think Girece had a very good pre-season for us,” Cheung said. “He had good games down in Valley City (North Dakota), good games at the tournament in Winnipeg. Josh has done a very good job and Kobyn has done a really good job for a first-year kid. He competes and he’s skilled.

“I think we are going to play 11, 12 guys in the first half and our depth will definitely be a factor as the season progresses.”

The Bobcats weren’t healthy during exhibition play, including starters Pookie Saunders and John Paul dealing with ankle injuries, but the team, which Cheung described as more tight-knit than in past seasons, is ready to get going in Edmonton.

“We haven’t had a game where we’ve had all five of our starters yet, so we are looking forward to that and they are looking forward to that, to get after it and starting conference play,” Cheung said.

“We’ve definitely shown improvement since our first game at the end of September to now and we are looking forward to going into Alberta and trying to steal one.”

FREE THROWS: BU has lost five straight to Alberta and 11 of 12 under Cheung. The lone Brandon victory came in a dramatic 71-70 upset over the No. 2 Golden Bears on Nov. 16, 2012.

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BOBCAT MEN’S BASKETBALL 2016-17 ROSTER

No. Name Position Year Height Weight Hometown

1 Mitch Marquis G 2 5-10 160 Rockwood, Ont.

3 Josh Bell G 2 6-3 220 Mississauga, Ont.

4 Girece Kazumba G 2 6-3 180 Toronto

5 Pookie Saunders G 2 6-1 175 Calgary

6 Denham Buchanan G/F 5 6-3 200 Toronto

7 Tyvon Cooper G 3 6-1 180 Middletown, N.Y.

8 Earl Thompson Jr. G/F 5 6-5 225 Henderson, Nev.

9 Keneal James G 2 6-2 165 Chateauguay, Que.

10 Christopher Stanhope G 5 6-5 195 Brampton, Ont.

11 Esmat Atem F 5 6-9 205 Ottawa

12 Tyler Anderson F 2 6-7 220 Langley, B.C.

13 Kobyn Jopp F 1 6-8 210 Calgary

14 John Paul F 4 6-11 260 Bexon, St. Lucia

15 Baka Ngeleka G 4 6-1 212 St. Hyacinthe, Que.

rs Riley Schaus G 1 6-1 175 Brandon

Head coach: Gil Cheung (seventh season).

Assistant coaches: Brett Nohr, Keith Van Walleghem, Kevin Phillip.