Six months ago, when Brock University students were just returning to campus to start their school year and the Badgers men\u2019s basketball team was ramping up for the season, head coach Charles Kissi identified the singular target his team was aiming for this year: the USports National championships.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Feb. 24, the Badgers will host the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks to begin the playoff journey toward the nationals being held in Halifax.<\/p>\n
For Kissi and his team, now is the time to cash in on the hard work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe built a body of work. It\u2019s like being in a classroom all year and then writing the final exam. You\u2019ve done all this learning, and now it\u2019s time to show what the outcome is,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Brock, ranked third in the country with a 21-3 record, and Laurier (12-12), will tip off at 7 p.m. in an Ontario University Athletics Wilson Cup quarter-final matchup at Brock\u2019s Bob Davis Gymnasium. The winner will move on to the OUA semifinals next Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
But while the dream might be a national championship, you won\u2019t hear Kissi talking about that with his players \u2014 not yet, at least.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t get to the second game if we don\u2019t win the first, so we\u2019re just focusing all our energy on this one game,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m reluctant to even say the word \u2018nationals\u2019 because we\u2019re just focused on one game at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within the Badgers\u2019 record-setting 21 regular season wins are a pair of wins over Laurier by 80-70 and 73-69 margins. But the Golden Hawks blasted a charging McMaster team 102-76 Wednesday night in the first round of the OUA playoffs (Brock had a bye) that ended the Marauders\u2019 six-game winning streak, along with their season.<\/p>\n
Kissi said it didn\u2019t matter which opponent the Badgers had to face Saturday, his team was preparing equally hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like the start of the season where everyone is tied for first again,\u201d he said. \u201cThe best teams are going to be here in the playoffs and you hope that you\u2019re better on that day.\u201d<\/p>\n
With eight teams remaining in the OUA Wilson Cup playoffs, a win Saturday would move Brock into the semifinals at home Wednesday, Feb. 28. Since both the OUA champion and the runner-up qualify for the USports Nationals, a win on Wednesday would guarantee them a trip to Halifax.<\/p>\n
A loss in either the quarter-finals or semifinals would mean Brock would have to hope for a wild-card entry into the nationals as a result of their strong overall season, including spending much of the year ranked second in Canada.<\/p>\n
Tickets for Saturday\u2019s game are $10 for adults and $5 for students. They\u2019re available at Brock\u2019s Walker Complex Welcome Desk or by phone at 905-688-5550 ext. 4060. Visit GoBadgers.ca<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n What:<\/strong> Brock Badgers vs. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks OUA quarter-final playoff game<\/p>\n