LENNOXVILLE, Que. – An above .500 record in the pre-season versus U SPORTS competition leaves optimism around the Bishop's Gaiters men's basketball team as they are set to start the 2018-19 RSEQ University season on Saturday in Mitchell Gym. Bishop's will host the UQAM Citadins with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m.
Pre-Season
Bishop's posted a 4-3 record against U SPORTS competition (4-5 overall) during their pre-season schedule. They beat Acadia, Waterloo, Laurier and Memorial and dropped games to No. 1 Carleton, StFX and No. 9 Ottawa.
UQAM meanwhile was 3-3 against U SPORTS teams and 5-5 overall. They had wins over UPEI, No. 2 Ryerson and No. 9 Ottawa and lost to UNB, Queen's and No. 7 St. Mary's.
The Citadins open their campaign on Thursday night in Montreal against McGill before heading to Lennoxville.
Coach's Comments
"I think our league is going to be very tight," said Gaiters bench boss
Rod Gilpin. "Teams could finish first as easy as they could finish fifth and miss the playoffs. We want to get into the post-season because once you are in, anything can happen."
Last Year
The Gaiters finished in fourth place in the RSEQ a year ago after posting a 5-11 record. They returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 then lost to eventual RSEQ champion McGill in the semifinal.
UQAM missed the post-season in coach Mario Joseph's first season at the helm. They went 2-14.
Bishop's was 3-1 against the Citadins last year, that included an 83-77 win in Mitchell Gym in both team's first game of the year.
W2W4
The Gaiters return 2017-18 RSEQ leading scorer
Abdul Kamane (Montreal, Que./Vanier College). Look for Captain
Kevin Davis (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor H.S.) to be a factor as he is once again healthy. Co-captain
Joany Castor Thadal (Montreal, Que./Champlain Collge St-Lambert), a former RSEQ all-rookie team member is poised to again be a difference maker at both ends of the court. Nevens Demosthene is back too. He was last year's RSEQ Rookie of the Year and a member of the U SPORTS all-rookie team.
UQAM returns their top three scorers from a year ago in Christopher Adu, Ibrahima Sylla and Charles Miller.
The Citadins did not have an all-star in 2017-18.
Celebrate Smith
Prior to tip-off Eddie Pomykala will address the Mitchell Gym crowd to honour Garth Smtih, long time coach and administration at Bishop's, who passed away this summer.
Tickets
Tickets for Saturday's game are available at
www.gaiters.ca/tickets or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters or #GaiterNation.
Webcast
Unable to make it? We have you covered. Watch live at
www.gaiters.ca/webcast.
Next up
After Saturday's game, the Gaiters will head to Montreal on Thursday, Nov. 15 for a tilt with the McGill Redmen. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Social Corner
Stay up-to-date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at
www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters and #GaiterNation.
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