Time, which seems in such ample supply at the beginning of a season, is running low for the University of Victoria Vikes men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams.
The Vikes men are in a more dire situation as they head into the final four games of the sa国际传媒 West regular season, beginning tonight and Saturday in Kelowna against the UBC-Okanagan Heat.
UVic (6-10) is tied for 14th place with Thompson Rivers in the 17-team conference and is desperately needing wins against UBC-O (7-11), which has played two more games, and closes out its regular season account this weekend.
鈥淥ne way or the other, we have to start helping ourselves,鈥� said UVic head coach Craig Beaucamp.
Twelve teams will make the playoffs. The Vikes have 12 points but draw a break in that two of the three teams with 14 points 鈥� UBC-O and Mount Royal 鈥� have each played two more games than UVic. Also on 14 points are the Manitoba Bisons, who have played an equal number of games as UVic.
The Vikes face a small UBC-O team this weekend that unleashes a torrent of shots from the outside. The Heat lead sa国际传媒 West in three-points attempted and are second in three-point percentage.
鈥淭hey have shot more than 200 three-pointers and every other team is on about 160,鈥� added Beaucamp.
鈥淲e have to get out on the perimeter on defence, and pressure the ball, and switch out on screens.鈥�
The Vikes, who close out next weekend at home on Ken and Kathy Shields Court in CARSA gym against the winless MacEwan Griffins (0-16), control their own destiny if they win out.
UBC, Alberta, Regina, Fraser Valley, Winnipeg and defending national champion Calgary have clinched playoff berths, while Brandon, MacEwan and Trinity Western have been eliminated.
The UVic women鈥檚 team (8-8), meanwhile, is in 10th position in the conference table and four points clear of tied-for-12th spot Manitoba and Winnipeg.
The Vikes can pretty much assure a playoff berth with a sweep tonight and Saturday against last-place UBC-O (1-17).
鈥淲e鈥檙e not desperate but we still need to play well and gain back our confidence,鈥� said Vikes head coach Dani Sinclair, whose squad goes into this weekend having lost its last three games.
And she doesn鈥檛 want her charges to focus on UBC-O鈥檚 last-place record.
鈥淲e need not to focus on that but to focus on ourselves and get back to playing well together and not be passive and tentative, as we have been,鈥� said Sinclair.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to make it about us. It鈥檚 moments like these when you find out who you are and if you can bring it when it really counts.鈥�
There鈥檚 been a gap this season between the top of the Vikes鈥� roster and the supporting cast.
鈥淲e rely on certain people a lot,鈥� said Sinclair. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to that leadership on the floor and we鈥檝e had conversations about that. But it鈥檚 not just our leadership group we鈥檙e looking to come through, but everybody.鈥�
Saskatchewan, Alberta, Regina, Calgary, UBC, Trinity Western and Fraser Valley have clinched their sports in the sa国际传媒 West post-season dance. Brandon, Mount Royal and UBC-O have been eliminated.
The Vikes close out the regular season next weekend against MacEwan (5-11).
