Banner Season: Western gallops into nation's capital to battle two-time defending Wilson Cup champion Ravens
Ottawa (by David DiCenzo) - The Western Mustangs and Carleton Ravens have each been the preeminent force in OUA basketball at various points of their schools’ illustrious histories. No. 1 Carleton has been crowned conference champion 11 times in the past 17 seasons, while Western has 25 total banners, the last two coming from back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. But the focus is now on the present as the two OUA powers, both coming off sensational semifinal wins, will vie for the Wilson Cup on Saturday, February 29 in the famous Raven’s Nest.
2020 Wilson Cup Men's Basketball Championship Fan Guide
No. 8 Western laid the foundation for its championship appearance after posting a solid 16-6 record to finish atop the OUA’s competitive West division. Known for their deadly accuracy from long range, the Mustangs knocked down a league-best 10.5 three-pointers a game, while shooting 35.4 per cent along the way (second in the OUA). Head coach and former Western player Brad Campbell wants his team to be equally aggressive on the defensive end and they have forged that identity, leading the conference with 10.6 steals per game. Second-year guard Omar Shiddo and third-year forward Julian Walker proved to be a dangerous tandem in the Mustangs’ campaign, as they led the team with 19.6 and 17.8 PPG, respectively. Walker, a second team all-star was also a monster on the glass, finishing tied for eighth in the OUA among rebounders at 9.2 per game.
The dynamic play at both ends of the floor was critical in Western’s path to the Wilson Cup, beginning with a big 88-82 quarterfinal home win over the Laurentian Voyageurs last weekend. Laurentian’s OUA Player of the Year Kadre Gray poured in 39 points in a game that the visitors led 47-42 at the half, but Shiddo cancelled out the stellar performance with an amazing 41-point effort of his own. The visitors would get within a point at 83-82, but Western was clinical in the final minute, as Shiddo went 4-for-4 from the line to make sure his team advanced.
If the Mustangs thought that was a test, then the 104-103 overtime semifinal win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks hit a new level. The meeting between division rivals was arguably one of the greatest OUA games ever played, with a finish for the ages. Laurier’s star guard Ali Sow sank two free throws to give the Hawks a 93-91 lead with just 20 seconds left. The third-year man had a chance to ice it with two more from the stripe at the 10-second mark, but made just one, leaving the door open for Western’s Eriq Jenkins. The fourth-year guard calmly drilled a step-back three-pointer from the left wing with just two seconds left to send the game to overtime, prompting Alumni Hall to erupt.
They traded blows in the overtime session before Sow looked to win it again with an amazing make from long range that gave Laurier a 103-101 lead with 15 seconds on the clock. The Hawks’ Kemel Archer then swatted a Western attempt out of bounds giving the Mustangs one last try off an inbound with four seconds left. Nikola Farkic then entered Western lore with a dagger three-pointer from the top of the arc that almost blew the roof off the building. Walker finished the night with 26 points and nine boards, Farkic, in addition to hitting the biggest shot in the school’s recent memory, also scored 24 with a game-high 11 assists, while Shiddo added 21.
It’s that kind of inspirational performance that the Mustangs will need to draw on to take the crown away from Carleton, who defeated Western 106-81 in the lone meeting this season on January 31 at Alumni Hall.
Where to start with the aforementioned defending national champion Ravens. Carleton produced some staggering numbers in the 2019-20 regular season as the program embarked on its quest for an OUA three-peat, with 11 conference titles and eight U SPORTS banners already secured since 2002-03. The Ravens flat out dominated opponents, going 21-1. The only blemish was against in-town rival Ottawa in the Capital Hoops game, which the Gee-Gees narrowly won 68-67 earlier this month. Other than that, Carleton systematically took down foes in part because they paced the OUA in points (97.8 ppg), field goals made (36.7 ppg), field goal percentage (50.9 per cent), three-point percentage (38.3 per cent), rebound margin (12.7 per game), and points allowed (63.5 per game). It couldn’t have gone much better for first-year bench boss Taffe Charles, who was named OUA Coach of the Year this week after a 12-year tenure leading the Raven’s women’s team.
What defines Charles’ squad is a team-first approach, evidenced by five players reaching double digits in scoring, only three of which were regular starters. OUA Rookie of the Year Lloyd Pandi led the group in that department at 16.1 PPG, with guards Yasiin Joseph and Munis Tutu close behind at 14.0 and 12.0, respectively. And the backcourt duo of Isiah Osborne (10.9 ppg) and Alain Louis (10.2 ppg) provided a spark off the bench, not allowing opponents to catch a breath when they entered the game.
Carleton continued its dominance in the Wilson Cup playoffs, beginning with a 108-64 demolition of the McMaster Marauders in the OUA quarterfinal at the Raven’s Nest back. Joseph led all scorers with 22, while Louis had 21, and Biniam Grebrekidan added a double-double (12 points and 13 rebounds). And the defending champs ended up exacting revenge for that lone loss by running past the Gee-Gees 96-61 in semifinal play. Louis had a game-high 20 points and was again one of five Ravens to reach double digits.
It’s now down to four final quarters. History is on the line as the most prolific OUA championship men’s basketball team ever meets the current dynasty. Do the Mustangs keep riding that wave to yet another piece for the trophy cabinet or do the reigning national champs earn a 12th banner overall and third in a row? Only one will get to take the Wilson Cup home.
Fans can flock to the Ravens’ Nest for tip off at 8:00pm on Saturday, February 29 or tune in to the Wilson Cup championship live on oua.tv, CBC Sports, or CBC Gem.
