Everything at stake as Bisons take on Wesmen

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This article was published 23/02/2023 (1125 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are times when even good teams fall apart at crucial moments. There are other times when good players raise the level of their teams, seemingly unaffected by the pressure.

Kirby Schepp, coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons, and Mike Raimbault, his counterpart with the Winnipeg Wesmen, would both happily opt for a coolly confident approach from their squads in advance of Saturday’s Canada West men’s basketball semifinal at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Maintaining a level of calm could be a challenge.

The game, perhaps the most important men’s university game to be played in Winnipeg since the Bisons beat the Wesmen in the 1984-85 Great Plains Athletic Conference final, is expected to draw a capacity crowd of 3,300 fans.

Tensions will be high because the winner will earn a trip to the conference final as well as an automatic berth in the U Sports Final 8 Championship.

As of Thursday afternoon, 2,700 tickets had been distributed and the U of M is planning to add extra staff to help manage the crowd. Game time is 7 p.m.

“Obviously, the atmosphere is gonna be crazy, especially a final four game here hosted by the U of M,” said Wesmen point guard Shawn Maranan on Thursday afternoon. “I think we’re just all excited… I mean, when we played there a few weeks ago, it was crazy. That was only a regular-season game, so I can only imagine what it’s gonna be like for playoffs.”

The Wesmen advanced to the semis by beating the Brandon Bobcats 87-84 in triple-overtime Saturday afternoon. In that game, Maranan’s three-pointer tied the game at 79-79 to forced a third extra period while teammate Donald Stewart hit a buzzer-beating three for the win.

“To be honest, I was kind of beating myself up,” said Maranan. “I missed three free throws late in the game that could have sealed the game for us — we didn’t have to do all those overtimes. Prior to that shot, that’s all I was thinking about.”

The Bisons, who have 12 first- or second-year players on their 15-player roster, were also severely tested in the quarter-finals, beating a very tough Calgary Dinos team 75-72 at IGAC Saturday night.

The hosts fed off a raucous crowd but that didn’t translate into early success. The Bisons trailed 18-10 after the first quarter.

“I thought we did a really good job,” said Bisons guard Elijah Lostrocco. “At first we’re a bit flustered. I think (the crowd) made our energy spike like crazy. It was like, ‘OK, maybe we should tone it down a bit.’ I think in the early going, we were maybe a bit too amped up and blew a couple layups but later in the game, maybe you don’t get as fatigued because you’re so hyped up.

“That defence was just so locked in and everyone was just so intense, because that crowd was just getting into it.”

The teams split their two regular-season meetings. Winnipeg earned an 89-80 decision on the road Feb. 3 while Manitoba triumphed 71-61 at the Duckworth Centre on Feb. 4.

Schepp was asked to appraise his team’s performance in pressure situations.

“I thought the last time we played (Winnipeg) in regular season we did not (handle it well),” said Schepp. “I thought we did a much better job, especially as the game went on, last week against Calgary. And we started kind of jittery but it seemed like we kind of settled in a little bit, right? My hope is the more and more we have those experiences that our young group will get better and better at handling that.”

With so much at stake, preparations have been extensive on and off the court.

“I think both coaches are probably driving themselves crazy watching enormous amounts of previous game film — planning for different situations and scenarios,” said Raimbault. “And that’s par for the course.”

Schepp has prioritized video study for his players, but he doesn’t want to overload them with information.

“I think you’re always trying to find small things to change and make adjustments to, right?” said Schepp. “You’re trying to look at, ‘What did they do against us last time?’ And maybe anticipating what we think that they’re going to do and try to be ready for things as much as we can. But we’re also just trying to keep our focus — as we have all year — on just getting better.”

Manitoba forward Jonam Kazadi said a little bit of uncertainty can be helpful.

“You have to approach it with the right amount of confidence but also the right kind of — I don’t want to use the word fear — but just nerves a little bit,” said Kazadi. “Because like you don’t want to be over the top. You have to respect your opponent.”

Maranan appreciates the basketball fever local enthusiasts of the sport have been immersed in for the last few weeks.

“All my cousins, all my friends, I expect them to be there.,” said Maranan with a smile. “I think they’ve all got tickets.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca