Top Teams Coming To Take On REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) UNB’s women’s and men’s basketball programs have made significant strides forward in recent years, challenging for supremacy in Atlantic University Sport and recruiting some of the region’s and nation’s top talent.
That’s being noticed regionally and nationally and has helped the REDS attract some top-notch talent to their upcoming pre-season tournaments.
The women’s team’s Helen Campbell Tournament and the men’s team’s REDS Invitational will take place the weekend of Oct. 3-5 at the Richard J. Currie Center.
In the Campbell Tournament, the REDS will host the defending OUA champion Ottawa Gee-Gees, the Lethbridge Pronghorns who were Canada West quarter-finalists last season, and the upstart STFX X-Women.
The men’s team’s REDS Invitational will see perennial AUS contenders STFX visit UNB along with the Manitoba Bisons, Canada West semi-finalists last season, and the Carleton Ravens.
Carleton has won 12 OUA titles and 17 national championships.
“In my mind, those are three of the top ten teams in the country,” said REDS’ men’s head coach Joe Salerno. “All three will be competing for their conference championships and maybe the national championship. Every team in the country wants good, strong pre-season games and we’re no different. We’re looking forward to seeing where we stack up with some of the best in the country.”
“This tournament has become a staple, nationally, and to host the 25th Helen Campbell Tournament is exciting for us,” said REDS’ women’s coach Erin McAleenan. “Having representation from Canada West and the OUA makes for an exciting event. We’re also happy to be able to invite Ottawa in a year where they have two New Brunswickers on their roster.”
The weekend gets started on Friday at 2:00pm when the X-Women take on the Gee-Gees. At 4:00pm, the X-Men take on Carleton. The REDS’ women face Lethbridge in a scheduled 6:00pm tip and the UNB men wrap up day one by taking on the Bisons in a game scheduled to begin at 8:00pm.
On Saturday, the Lethbridge and STFX women go at 1:00pm ahead of the X-Men and Bisons in a scheduled 3:00pm start. The UNB women take on Ottawa at 5:00pm and the REDS’ men face the Ravens in a game scheduled to tip-off at 7:00pm.
Sunday gets started early.
Lethbridge and Ottawa tip off at 10:00am in the first women’s game of the day. The Carleton and Manitoba men are scheduled for a 12:00pm start. The UNB women face STFX in a 2:00pm start and the UNB men take on the X-Men in a scheduled 4:00pm game.
“I always think this tournament gives us an early opportunity to see where we are in our development for the season,” said Coach McAleenan. “It gives us good information to take back to the drawing board with as we prepare for league play.”
Coach Salerno agrees.
“The pre-season can set the tone for how we want to play,” he said. “It can help set the bar, create expectations, and establish standards we would want our team to maintain in the regular season.”
“We have a veteran group who all want to compete for an AUS championship,” added Salerno. “This will give us a very good idea of where we stand, what we need to continue to work on, and if our compete level is where it needs to be.”
Both coaches say the early exhibition games are, primarily, for development, but both acknowledge that winning can be a component of development.
“We have a clear vision of how our team wants to play this year, so from our first exhibition game onwards we want to chase our goals and team identity,” said Coach McAleenan. “It’ll be in the details of how we carry ourselves, how we compete, and how we show up for each other that will set the standards.”
“Winning our own pre-season tournament, with such a tough field, would be great,” said Coach Salerno. “We’ve had success the last two years winning pre-season tournaments. Those really boosted the confidence level of our guys. I think winning does help player development.”
Regardless of their respective outcomes, both coaches agree, this year’s tournaments should be good for teams and fans alike.
“It’s a very strong field, which is great for our fan base,” said Salerno.
“I know it’s been a few years since we’ve won it, so our team has been working hard to be ready to defend home court against the strong competition coming in,” said McAleenan.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
FILE PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB REDS