Huskies look to defend Can West title, improve on U Sports championship finish

They entered Kingston as the reigning champions of Canada and were ranked at the time, number two in the country.

However, they finished the season with a consolation final win at the Final 8 Women’s Basketball Championship, placing them at number five when all was said and done.

While nearly every University across the provinces and territories would likely take that result in a heartbeat, this squad run by head coach Lisa Thomaidis is always shooting for more.

“It’s tough, our returning players know there’s a high expectation, so it certainly puts pressure on that,” she said. “But, it’s good pressure, because they want to be the ones that continue the success, they don’t want to be the group that dropped off. Pressure is a privilege and I think this group really relishes that.”

Not only does this put pressure on newcomers when they join the program, or respected vets to continue the tradition, but it puts every other team on notice.

As the saying goes, ‘the higher the climb, the higher the fall’ and ‘everyone wants to beat the best.’

“We know that there’s always a big target on our back, and everyone else in the conference is gunning for us and trying to take us down,” added Thomaidis. “I think we have to realize that and understand, it’s one thing to get to the top, it’s another thing to stay there. While it’s a lot more difficult to stay there, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

This team will also have to go through a lot more opponents this year, as the return to a normal schedule has arrived.

Being much younger this year, Thomaidis explained it can provide some advantages.

“We were actually fortunate, even though the conference schedule was quite different, in that we played against the best teams in CanWest, with Winnipeg and Regina being in our division. It was tough, but it made us better,” she Thomaidis.

“This season, being able to play more teams, that’s always fun, because you’ve got more travel, more variety in terms of the teams that you have to prepare for, and different players and different coaching and playing styles that you get to see. It’ll be good for this group, because, they’re gonna be young, and they’re gonna have to gain some experience pretty quickly.”

Some of that experience has already been gained a little, as the Huskies have five exhibition games in the books, courtesy of the Cougar Classic and the Darcel Wright Memorial Classic. They finished with a record of 4-1.

And with the season set to tip-off, this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 4 & 5), at home, Thomaidis is looking for something in particular, early on.

“I think a big thing for us is going to be just finding our identity, how are we going to want to play and what’s going to be the recipe for success. We’ve played a certain style up to now and now it’s going to be different with different personnel. Just making sure that our culture is very well established and that everyone knows what the expectations are.”

“A lot of the focus for us is always on ourselves,” said Thomaidis. “How we can continue to improve and grow and be the best versions of ourselves and our team each and every week. It’s less and less about the opponent and more so about us continuing to grow and improve and gain that experience.”

The full Huskies’ season schedule is as follows:

Nov. 4, 6:00 PM, vs Mount Royal, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Nov. 5, 5:00 PM, vs Mount Royal, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Nov. 11, 6:00 PM, at University of Regina, Regina, SK

Nov. 12, 6:00 PM, at University of Regina, Regina, SK

Nov. 25, 6:00 PM, vs Brandon, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Nov. 26, 5:00 PM, vs Brandon, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Dec. 2, 6:00 PM, at University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Dec. 3, 5:00 PM, at University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

Jan. 6, 6:00 PM, vs Thompson Rivers University, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Jan. 7, 5:00 PM, vs Thompson Rivers University, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Jan. 13, 9:00 PM, at Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB

Jan. 14, 8:00 PM, at Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB

Jan. 20, 7:00 PM, at University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Jan. 21, 5:00 PM, at University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Jan. 27, 6:00 PM, vs Trinity Western University, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Jan. 28, 5:00 PM, vs Trinity Western University, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Feb. 3, 6:00 PM, vs Alberta Pandas, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Feb. 4, 5:00 PM, vs Alberta Pandas, Saskatoon, SK (Physical Activity Complex)

Feb. 10, 8:00 PM, at University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC

Feb. 11, 7:00 PM, at University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8

by Ben Tompkins

Huskies look to defend Can West title, improve on U Sports championship finish

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