Home-opener: U of S Huskies basketball host Manitoba Bisons

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It’s a steep learning curve for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s basketball squad.

Head coach Jamie Campbell knows that.

“Obviously not the start we were looking for — a bit of a tough weekend — but a great learning opportunity for a younger team with a bunch of players playing in new roles, getting to play an older, veteran team like Calgary in their gym and really getting a chance to see what Canada West basketball at the highest level is all about,” said Campbell after his team dropped a pair of games, 95-77 and 99-49, to the University of Calgary Dinos in Calgary last weekend.

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It showed what happens “if we’re not ready and focused and ready to compete right from the start of the game.”

Campbell — who is into his third season as head coach — is in the midst of a rebuilding year. The Huskies featured a veteran-laden squad last season.

Gone from the roster are graduates Alex Dewar, Chan De Ciman, Tyrese Potoma, Fisayo Moibi, Noah Nickel and Cameron Wright, along with Kymahni Bent and Erwin Loic.

“We had a tough start to the first game and set the gap to what it was and we kept trying to fight back but we could never break that three-four point barrier and then, the next night, they really got hot and all of a sudden, it led to a long night, which can happen,” assessed Campbell, whose Huskies host the University of Manitoba Bisons in their Canada West conference home-opening weekend Friday (8 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.) at the Physical Activity Complex.

“We talked about whether you lose by one, or lose by 50, you still lost and how do you respond to it? I think we responded well to it this week and I’m looking forward to the home-opener and seeing how our young guys respond.”

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Saskatchewan entered Canada West conference play ranked No. 8 in the pre-season coaches’ poll.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The returning group is led by forward Easton Thimm, who was the Canada West rookie of the year last season.

“(Thimm) is obviously the main guy,” said Campbell. “Had a great night Friday, learning how to be the main guy, the focal guy; the first guy in everybody’s scouting report is always an interesting new spot to be in, but his ability to read on the basketball at a high level, finish around the rim and score in the post has been huge, and defend for us.”

Another key player is guard Emmanuel Bonsu — “really being that other scorer, from the perimeter, being able to shoot the ball. Just a tough player, at both ends of the floor, that’s great for us.”

Fifth-years Ryker Wuttke and Griffin Sharkey provide leadership and defence, with “interior scoring from Ryker and being able to shoot the ball and create space for interior players from Griff is what we really look forward to.”

HUSKIES USHER IN FIVE NEW PUPS

There are five new faces on the Huskies roster led by local Saskatoon products Dillyn Morin (Walter Murray) and Owen Murphy Wiebe (Aden Bowman).

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Rounding out the 2024 recruiting class are Freddy Kapinga (Calgary), Maverick Burke (Holy Cross) and Ourael Mulutega (Surrey, B.C.)

“The ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, of being an 18-to-19-year-old in Canada West is what we’ve seen,” assessed Campbell. “They’ve had great moments and it really shows an exciting part of what the future can be. It’s how you can do it over two nights, over 80 minutes, is the hardest thing to find for young guys.

“Owen Murphy Wiebe had a stellar first evening. Now getting more attention as he makes more shots will always come with a tougher task.

“Dillyn Morin, it’s just learning to play and how intense and how physical it is at our level, but he also has the great ability to score the ball and he’s had some great moments throughout the pre-season and regular season.

“I think they’ve both responded. We’re really looking forward to the two of them and them getting a little more consistent, but that comes with time from high school kids.”

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