The VIU Mariners men’s basketball team continues to win league games, but at the same time, it’s keeping the playoffs in mind.
So coach Tony Bryce demands more than just wins right now. After a pair of victories last weekend over Quest and Capilano, Bryce said his team had to toughen up on D.
“If you’re not willing to defend your own end, you’re not going to win when it counts,” said the coach. “We’ll do a lot of competitive defensive drills and if guys don’t want to do the job right, they’re going to spend a lot of time running in practice.”
It will take strong play at both ends of the court, he said, to win this coming weekend’s road games.
On Friday the M’s (7-1) visit the Kwantlen Eagles (2-6), a team that Bryce said scares him because the Eagles have nothing to lose.
On Saturday it’s the Langara Falcons (4-4) hosting the M’s. VIU defeated Langara in the season opener, but the Falcons were missing their best player in that contest.
“They’ll be ready to come at us with their full lineup and make amends for the loss early in league play,” Bryce said. “I fully expect that one to be a war; that’s if we show up to play.”
GAME ON … The next home action for Vancouver Island University's men's and women's basketball teams is Jan. 27, when the Columbia Bible College Bearcats will visit the VIU gym.
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