(HALIFAX, N.S.) – Atlantic University Sport held a press event Monday afternoon at the Scotiabank Centre to make several exciting announcements around the upcoming joint Subway AUS men's and women's basketball championships.
This is the second time the women's championship, presented by Wilsons Security, and the men's, presented by G-Series will be hosted together by the AUS conference office in one location over one weekend. Five women's games and five men's games will be played from Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 6 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
AUS executive director Phil Currie made several announcements around the upcoming championship weekend, including the naming of renowned Saint Mary's Huskies basketball alumnus Will Njoku as the event's honorary chair.
The 6-foot-9 forward spent four seasons with the Huskies from 1990 to 1994. The 1992-93 and 1993-94 conference scoring champion, Njoku was named the Atlantic conference MVP, an AUAA first team all-star and a CIAU first team all-Canadian in both seasons.
In 1993, he earned the Mike Mosher Memorial Trophy as the top university player in the nation and is the most recent player from this conference to do so.
Will was then drafted in the second round of the 1994 NBA Draft with the 41st pick overall by the Indiana Pacers.
He was a member of the Canadian team at the 1994 and 1998 FIBA World Championships.
For the last 25 years, Will has served as a coach and mentor to youth. He now works as a motivational speaker and coach through his organization: Will2Win.
"I am excited to share this amazing weekend with you, the fans and everyone that makes this a flagship event year after year," said Njoku. "I know fans will see discipline, intensity and unity displayed on each play. We will witness a level of commitment to executing the game plan that each and every individual from the ball boy to the bench boss brings. I've been there. And as a past champion, this is an experience you won't soon forget."
Njoku will also address participating student-athletes and coaches as the keynote speaker at this year's championship award banquet being held this Thursday night at the historic VIA Rail train station in Halifax.
With the final regular season games having been played this past weekend, the seeding and championship schedule are now set. As of 11 a.m. today, single tickets are on sale now through Ticket Atlantic and can be purchased by calling the box office at (902) 451-1221 or their toll-free line at 1-877-451-1221, or online at www.ticketatlantic.com.
Championship action will kick off Friday afternoon with the women's quarterfinals. The UPEI Panthers face the UNB Varsity Reds at 1 p.m. while the Dalhousie Tigers take on the Cape Breton Capers at 3 p.m.
In men's quarterfinal action Friday evening, the hometown Huskies will take on the UNB Varsity Reds at 6:30 p.m. and the Cape Breton Capers will face the Acadia Axemen at 8:30 p.m.
On the women's side, the reigning champion Huskies and the Axewomen earned the byes to Saturday's semifinals, where they will face off against Friday's winners at 1 and 3 p.m.
The defending champion Tigers and the UPEI Panthers earned the byes on the men's side. They will face the winners of Friday evening's quarterfinals Saturday at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
On Championship Sunday, teams will compete for their respective 2016 AUS basketball championship banners and the opportunity to reach their CIS national championships. The women's final is set for 1 p.m. and the men's for 4:30 p.m.
All 10 games of the championships will be webcast at AUStv.ca and broadcast live on Bell Aliant's FibreOP TV1 on channels 1 and 401.
Fans can visit the event website at AUSHoops.ca for standings, schedules and ticketing information.