The last time Carleton’s men’s basketball team went undefeated in the regular season was in 2007/08, when they coasted through the league before eventually falling to the Acadia Axemen in the national semifinals.
After capping off another 22-0 campaign with a 81-60 win over the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Feb. 18, the Ravens are hoping history doesn’t repeat itself this time around. Ravens head coach Dave Smart, however, said he thinks a similar outcome could be in the cards.
“If we can knock off a UBC or Trinity Western, it’s an upset,” Smart said after the game. “We’re undefeated, but we’re going to have to play above our heads to win a national championship.”
It was a playoff-like atmosphere Feb. 18 at the University of Ottawa’s Montpetit Hall gymnasium, as neither team was willing to give an inch in their respective regular season finales.
The crosstown rivals went back and forth right from the opening tip-off, on the court and in the stands — Carleton supporters showed up in numbers to counteract the exuberant Gee-Gees faithful.
After an evenly played first quarter, in which the Ravens held a narrow 19-15 lead, the Gee-Gees began to take control midway through the second.
Former Gee-Gee and current Ravens guard Willy Manigat’s consecutive layup baskets seemed to spark the home team, as guards Warren Ward and Johny Berhanemeskel hit late three-pointers to shift momentum to the Gee-Gees heading into the half.
The Gee-Gees kept things going in the third quarter and eventually tied the game at 48, but the Ravens kept their composure and outscored their Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East counterparts by a 22-7 margin in the fourth to secure the victory.
“I’m not very happy,” Smart said of his team’s play. “They really outplayed us but they got cold and a little tired in the second half. But we didn’t do very many good things.”
Just as he did on most nights this season, second-year forward Tyson Hinz led Carleton with 20 points. He also added 11 boards, recording a double-double for the fourth time this season. Guards Elliot Thompson, 18 points, and Philip Scrubb, 16 points, also chipped in for the Ravens.
Despite the team’s undefeated record, Hinz wasn’t ready to acknowledge the team’s success just yet.
“Season’s not over yet,” he smiled. “There’s still lots to go.”
As the top team in the OUA East, the Ravens have secured a berth in the OUA quarterfinals. They will host the Ryerson Rams, the York Lions, or the Laurentian Voyageurs Feb. 26 at the Ravens’ Nest. A win would then send Carleton to the Wilson Cup OUA final four tournament March 5-6 at McMaster.
In the meantime, working on defence should be the focus, Hinz said.
Smart, on the other hand, said while he would like to focus on the technical side of things, the team’s performance against the Gee-Gees may force him to talk to the team about discipline.
Back in 2007/08, Smart said the Ravens “were a great basketball team” that just got upset after shooting the ball poorly.
This time, “it’s a little different,” he said.
“Today we did things that are not in character of what our team’s ever done. I’m a little concerned.”
Ravens star second-year forward Tyson Hinz spoke to the Charlatan Sports after the game.
– with files from Erika Stark