For the UNBC Timberwolves, there will be no easing back into league play after a long break.
The UNBC men's basketball team hasn't suited up for a Canada West Universities Athletic Association game since Nov. 28 in Calgary. That night, the Mount Royal University Cougars beat the Timberwolves 88-73 to salvage a split in a doubleheader.
The T-wolves will be back on the hardwood Friday and Saturday for games against the MacEwan University Griffins.
And the contests will be oh-so important for both clubs, as they are tied for fourth place in the Canada West Explorer Division with 3-5 records.
A top-three finish is required for a playoff spot and that position is currently held by the UBC Okanagan Heat (4-4).
"The way the league goes we play everybody four times and MacEwan is the only one in our division we haven't played yet," said UNBC head coach Todd Jordan.
"With us both sitting at 3-5, they're going to be big games to station yourself well going into the following weeks, which is the second half of the year. With everyone being so close in our division it's possible for us to get all the way up to second if we have a good second half and, at the same time, it's possible for us to be out. They're all tight, so we have to take care of business, especially at home."
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack of Kamloops has been the class of the Explorer Division thus far, with a 7-1 record. The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades are in second place at 5-3.
Tonight's game against the Edmonton-based Griffins starts at 8 at the Northern Sport Centre. On Saturday, the teams will tip off at 7 p.m.
Even though the Timberwolves haven't had a taste of league action in about six weeks, they did play a couple games during the Christmas break.
The team was in Costa Mesa, Calif., for the Bill Reynolds Holiday Classic and posted a 1-1 record against a pair of clubs that compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
First, the T-wolves lost 81-75 to the host Vanguard University Lions and then they beat the Dordt College Defenders 85-82.
"They were both pretty good teams," Jordan said. "We got a chance to burn some of the rust off after the Christmas break and it was good to see the guys play well, particularly on the offensive end. We're still tweaking a few things defensively and trying to get ourselves performing at the level we need to on that end of the floor and rebounding the basketball. Those are kind of two big question marks for us. I think if we can do a bit better job particularly on the glass it will go a long way for us this season."
Against the Griffins, the Timberwolves will have to pay special attention to a pair of highly skilled players, guard/forward Denzel James and guard Thadius Galvez.
"They like to get to the rim and score a bit so kind of keeping those guys under control will be a big piece for us, for sure," Jordan said.
Offensively, UNBC is being led by fourth-year guard Rhys Elliott, who is second in Canada West in points per game with an average of 22.8.
"He's very efficient and I like to think that our offence puts guys in position where they catch the ball in advantageous situations and have an opportunity to attack," Jordan said.
"I think if we as a group are patient, he's going to get his opportunities out of that."
The UNBC women's basketball team will also be back in uniform Friday and Saturday at the NSC.
The Timberwolves, in last place in the Explorer Division at 1-7, will have a tough task on their hands as they face the first-place Griffins (7-1).
"We just need to trust our preparation and everything the coaches have prepared us for this weekend - executing on defence, being confident in our offensive plays and our preparation for that," said UNBC forward Jasprit Nijjar.
The games will start at 6 tonight and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Saturday is also UNBC's Shoot for the Cure Night, a women's team fundraiser for breast cancer research.
