The UNBC Northern Timberwolves are supposed to win a national title.

That's what the rankings say.

But, even though the Timberwolves are the top-rated team for the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association men's basketball national championship tournament, they are aware that seven other clubs also want to be celebrating victory after the gold-medal game in Calgary.

"We haven't spent a ton of time talking about our seeding," said UNBC head coach Mike Raimbault. "That's something that's out there for everyone else to take in but we understand that you prove yourself during the 40 minutes of the game. At this point in the year we're not expecting any easy games or anything to be given to us."

The T-wolves start nationals -- being held at SAIT Polytechnic -- with a Thursday afternoon clash (1 p.m. MT) against the eighth-ranked Fanshawe College Falcons of London, Ont.

See Wednesday's Citizen for more.