BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The Laurentian University men's basketball
players have become road warriors.
If the team is going to advance past the
first round of the 2004-05 Ontario University Athletics (OUA)
playoffs, they will have to do it on the road.
The men square off against the University of
Ottawa on Saturday in the nation's capital. Game time is 4
pm.
The game presents an interesting matchup as
the two squads have faced one another twice during the regular
season in intense and closely fought battles. They each won one
game.
Ottawa defeated Laurentian 73-70 back in
November in Ottawa, and Laurentian returned the beating back in
February 63-60 at the Ben Avery Gymnasium.
Andy Greig and Ben Palmer provided the
offence against Ottawa this year. Greig averaged 22.5 points
per game against Ottawa this season, while Palmer averaged 15
points per game.
Head coach Virgil Hill is looking for a total
team effort against Ottawa.
"When we get contributions from everyone, we
become a tough team to beat," said Hill. "At times, we relied
too much on Greig and Palmer, but for us to be successful we
must get production from our bench and other starters."
The boys in blue and gold are feeling fine as
they enter the sudden-death playoff game.
"We seem to be peaking at the right time,"
said Hill. "I thought we have played well over the last six
games, and that's a good way to be heading into the playoffs.
There is a real sense of team right now, which had been
intermittent throughout the season."
Laurentian will have to be careful of
Ottawa's Gregory Sam, who torched Laurentian for 22 points in
the November game, and Alex McLeod, who dumped in 11 points in
the February game.
Ottawa also features three players who are
averaging 10-plus points per game.
"Handling their pressure and controlling our
defensive glass will be key to our success," said Hill.
Last year, the University of Waterloo bounced
the Voyageurs 66-63 in the first round of the playoffs.
