Found this in a Canadian paper re: our trip to Canada this weekend:
http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=40&id=1043569&more=0 NCAA hoops teams coming to Abbotsford
UCFV’s brand new Envision Athletics Centre will open its doors on Labour Day weekend to some top-notch NCAA men’s and women’s basketball competition.
Six NCAA basketball teams will be coming to town to take on the hometown Cascades in what promises to be an exciting and action-packed holiday weekend. The University of Marquette, which competed in last year’s NCAA tournament and features NBA prospect Dominic James, highlights the weekend with a Saturday, Sept. 1 tip-off at 8 p.m. against the UCFV men. In addition to Big East power Marquette, the men’s teams of Boise State, Idaho, and Air Force will play the Cascades. The women’s teams making the trip north are New Mexico State and Wichita State.
The weekend will mark the debut of the Cascades’ freshly-minted men’s bench boss, Barnaby Craddock. Craddock joined UCFV in June, hot on the heels of a season where he guided Brandon University to the CIS championship game and was named national coach of the year.
“It’s going to be a great weekend of basketball to be a part of,” Craddock said. “Fraser Valley basketball fans will get to see top-notch NCAA basketball up close, as well as an early look at our local UCFV team.”
Craddock’s tougher opponents on the weekend figure to be Marquette and Air Force. Marquette entered last year’s NCAA tournament as a No. 8 seed and lost in the opening round to Michigan State 61-49. Marquette has made four NCAA tournament appearances in the past six years, including a 2003 run to the Final Four that was captained by Dwyane Wade.
Air Force, meanwhile, posted a 26-9 record last season to establish a new school record, and was just one of 17 Division I teams to win at least 50 games in the last two seasons. They were a controversial omission from the NCAA tourney last year.
While NCAA men’s teams traveling north of the border to start the season has become a regular occurrence in the past few years, it will be the first time the UCFV women will host a Labour Day series. The Cascades will have their hands full with New Mexico State and Wichita State.
“This is a great opportunity for fans to watch the Cascades compete against very talented teams from down south,” said UCFV women’s coach Al Tuchscherer. “It also gives our fans the opportunity to preview an excellent roster that will compete for UCFV this season.”
Tickets for the weekend series can be purchased on-site. Tickets are $10 for adults (access to multiple games on same day), $5 for youth (ages 11-18) and $3 for UCFV students who present valid UCFV identification. Children 10 and under get in free, as do UCFV students living in Baker House, the new residence on UCFV’s Abbotsford campus. All new UCFV students who attend the New Student Orientation program on Sunday will receive a free pass for that day’s games.
NCAA Labour Day schedule
n Sat. Sept. 1: New Mexico State, 12 p.m.
n Sat. Sept. 1: Marquette, 8 p.m.
n Sun. Sept. 2: Boise State, 12 p.m.
n Sun. Sept. 2: Wichita State, 2 p.m.
n Sun. Sept. 2: Idaho, 8 p.m.
n Mon. Sept. 3: Air Force, 9 a.m.
