Pity the physiotherapists charged with the task of trying to work out the aches and pains of the UNBC Timberwolves men’s basketball team.
Those guys have been giving the medical staff way too much work this season.
On a team that has very little U SPORTS Canada West experience injuries have been a killer lately for the TWolves.
Tonight at 8 p.m. at Brownridge Court they’ll take on the defending Canada West champion Victoria Vikes, the top-ranked team in the country, likely without the services of three key starters.
Point guard point guard Justin Sunga, the U SPORTS player of the week last year in the playoffs while leading the TWolves to their first-ever Canada West medal, is out with a back injury that might end his third Canada West season a few months early.
Josh Gilliespie, a fourth-year forward who was also key in UNBC’s remarkable playoff run last season, has been hobbled for months by a bad ankle sprain. It’s highly doubtful he’ll be playing Thursday.
Will Keyes, the six-foot-11 second-year post, is nursing a shoulder injury and hasn’t been practicing. He’s been cleared to play but probably won’t go beyond 10 minutes of game action.
Certainly not the scenario TWolves head coach Todd Jordan envisioned when he looked at the schedule back in October and saw his team would be hosting Victoria in a rare Thursday night encounter in January in their first home game at the Northern Sport Centre since Nov. 23.
“We’re out three starters and Justin’s a bit more serious with his back and he might be out a few more weeks, it might be the whole season,” said Jordan. “He was out with a shoulder injury earlier in the year and he’s been dealing with some nerve pain in his back that he hasn’t been able to get though. He’s been banged up all year.”
The T-wolves (1-9) have had to lean heavily on third-year guard Evgeny Baukin and their rookies have had to take up the slack facing veteran-stacked teams. They play the Vikes (10-0) on Thursday then host the Trinity Western Spartans (4-7) on Saturday (7 p.m.).
“It’s been good for our young guys, the young kids are playing a lot and that’s going to be good for us long-term, for sure,” said Jordan.
“It might not show it in the standings but I can see a lot of growth in those young guys and if we get back to health that experience form those guys is going to help us, especially in the longterm. That’s the silver lining.”
Baukin is a top-10 scorer in the league, averaging 18 points and his 10 blocks is seventh-highest in Canada West.
“Evgeny’s had a pretty good year,” said Jordan. “He struggled around the basket his first couple league games and with those other guys out he’s had to carry a big load and that creates some challenges, especially when we play back to back the second night he’s pretty gassed because he’s doing so much for us.
“He’s typically guarding the other team’s best guy and he’s the centrepiece of our offence and at times we’re asking him to bring the ball up the floor. He’s dealing with it quite well.”
The Vikes eliminated UNBC 80-68 in last year’s semifinal playoff round and went on to beat Winnipeg by five to claim the Canada West title and they’ve still got plenty of firepower, despite missing a few injured players, including leading scorer Diego Maffia.
The TWolves will be paying close attention to third-year guard Renaldo Robinson, who’s averaging 14.2 points, 2.1 steals and four rebounds.
UNBC visited Victoria in the second week of the season in November for a two-game set and the TWolves were soundly beaten 102-48 and 92-62.
“We’re hoping our young guys learned from the last time we played them and they’ll come out and compete and put their best foot forward and give ourselves a chance,” said Jordan. “Our league is an older league, so it’s almost unheard of. You’re really good (with a comfortable lead) if you’re playing a lot of freshmen.”
TWolves guard Isaiah Bias had a 25-point exhibition game during the semester break against Vancouver Island University and delivered 19 points against UBC.
“With Justin being out, his decision-making has been a lot better and he’s a really good athlete and a competitive kid,” said Jordan.
Jordan also likes what he’s seen from first-year guard Milan Pasquale of Mill Bay.
The UNBC women precede the men on the court Thursday at 6 p.m. also against Victoria, and will face Trinity Western on Saturday (5 p.m.).
