CALGARY – Well, it's been a minute since we had Canada West Basketball in our lives. After a 20-month hiatus, the University of Calgary Dinos men's basketball team returns to the Jack Simpson Gym, starting the home portion of their 2021-2022 schedule.

The Dinos host the University of Alberta Golden Bears on November 26-27, with an 8 p.m. Friday tip-off, followed by 7 p.m. on Saturday.

LOOKING BACK
With everything that has happened, we can all be forgiven for needing a quick recap of events for the Dinos. Coming off four consecutive trips to the U SPORTS Final 8, the standard of excellence of the Dinos has shifted from the shoulders of two previous stalwarts – Brett Layton and Max Eisele. The pair leave the Dinos with a list of accolades, but as has been the case for the past decade, the torch appears to be with capable – if not crafty – hands. 

WHARTON'S WORLD
Second-year guard Noah Wharton has gotten off to a scintillating start to begin the new season, helping the No. 8 Dinos to a 3-1 start. After an opening night defeat to the Lethbridge Pronghorns, the road warrior Dinos have rattled off three straight victories with Wharton averaging 18 points per game during that stretch.

BATTLES OF ALBERTA
Age-old rivalries will blossom in 2021-2022 under the new Canada West regular season format. The Dinos will play four games against each Albertan foe before all 17 CW teams travel to Southern Alberta for the CW playoffs. With early-season clashes against the Pronghorns and Griffins in the books, the Dinos turn their attention to one of the premier teams in the nation. The second-ranked Alberta Golden Bears are a perfect 10-0 to start their season, including four conference wins, and will look to cap their fall in-conference schedule with a bang. The two-headed monster of Tyus Jefferson and Geoffrey James will present the top-ranked Calgary defence with a test worthy of final exams.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs. Alberta Golden Bears
Game Info Friday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. - Jack Simpson Gym 
2021-22 Record 4-0 (1st in Central Division)
2021-22 Leading Scorer Geoffrey James ( 17.0 PPG)

NOTES

• The Golden Bears tied a season-high 97 points against Mount Royal last week, with more than two-thirds of their points coming at the rim or the free-throw line 
• Fifth-year guard Tyus Jefferson has yet to shoot under 50 percent this season and has been in double digits in all four games
• Alberta swept all three matchups against the Dinos in 2019-2020 en-route to a silver medal at the CW playoffs and consolation championship at the USPORTS Final 8

UP NEXT
The Dinos remain at home next weekend when they will host the Mount Royal Cougars at the Jack Simpson Gym, Dec. 3-4.