MBB: Victoria tops preseason poll

Nov. 1, 2023 - After going back-to-back last season, the University of Victoria Vikes will once again enter as the favourites when the 2023-24 Canada West basketball season tips off on Thursday.

The Vikes received 14 first place votes in the preseason coaches poll and will be looking for a rare three-peat, a feat that hasn't been accomplished in CW men's basketball for over 38 years. They'll once again be led by Diego Maffia, the reigning CW Player of the Year who led the nation with 24.9 points per game. The hometown Victoria product will look to continue his domination as he enters his fourth year, and is also coming off an impressive debut season with the CEBL's Vancouver Bandits.

Looking to halt the Vikes' reign will be west coast rival UBC, who placed second in the poll and received two first place votes. The T-Birds will field a well-rounded roster led by fifth-year forward Brian Wallack, who is coming off a season where he averaged 18.8 points per game.

The two Manitoba based programs took third and fourth in the poll, with the Winnipeg Wesmen landing third and the Manitoba Bisons placing fourth. The Bisons also received a first place vote.

The Wesmen will look to build off last year's conference final and U SPORTS final eight appearance, led by fourth-year guard Shawn Maranan. The local product averaged 13.5 points and 6.7 assists per game last season while leading Winnipeg to a 15-5 record and a memorable semifinal win over rival Manitoba.

Across town, the Bisons will look to reigning U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and All-Canadian Simon Hildebrandt to push them toward a conference championship. The 6'9 home grown Winnipeg product led the Herd to an 18-2 regular season record in 2022-23, and is coming off a successful summer of pro basketball with the CEBL's Winnipeg Sea Bears.

Bisons to host CW Men's Basketball Championships

All roads lead to Winnipeg as the Manitoba Bisons are set to host the 2024 Canada West Men's Basketball Championship from Feb. 21 to 25. The postseason tournament moves to a single site this year, hosted inside the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

View the complete 2023-24 Men's Basketball schedule here.

MEN'S BASKETBALL ON CANADA WEST TV

Fans can catch all the action through the new look CanadaWest.TV, which now allows fans to watch games on popular Connected TV apps like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.

2023-24 CW MBB PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Team - Points (First-place votes)

NOTE: Coaches ranked all opponents 1-16. First-place votes worth 16 points, second-place worth 15 points, etc.