Jimmy Dorsey and the Capers host the top two teams in the AUS this weekend in Sydney.
First round byes and playoff spot ramifications abound in what will be the most pivotal weekend thus far in the AUS regular season for men's basketball.
The first place UPEI Panthers (12-3. 32 pts) and the second place Acadia Axemen (9-4, 28 pts) will each travel to Antigonish to play a four point game versus the nationally ranked, third place Saint Francis Xavier X-Men (10-4, 24 pts), and to Sydney to do the same versus the fourth place Cape Breton Capers ( 8-6, 22 points)
First up for X will be the surging Axemen on Saturday night at eight o`clock (webcast- ssncanada). Acadia has won six in a row and are coming off an 88-77 win over SMU on Wednesday night in a game played at Horton High School due to a broken backboard at War Memorial Gymnasium. Anthony Sears has been the best player in the conference in 2012 and is averaging over twenty points per game this term.
Acadia will then travel up the road to Sydney to play the Capers after they host the Panthers on Saturday night.
The battle between Jimmy Dorsey, who should be fully healed from a knee injury, and Sears will make for a good one at the Sullivan Field House. (webcast- gocapersgo.com).
The team buses of the Panthers and Axemen may cross paths somewhere between Antigonish and Sydney as the X-Men will host the Panthers on Sunday afternoon in a game that could be ugly for UPEI if the X-Men come out thirsty for revenge.
The last time the teams played in Charlottetown, St FX had four key players suspended for a violation of team policy and the Panthers cruised to a 100-76 victory to pick up a crucial four point win in the standings.
UPEI had lost three in a row leading up to the game and the victory provided the impetus for their current six game winning streak.
Meanwhile the X-Men are only 3-3 in their last six games but still remain the conference’s only ranked team at number eight. Highly touted transfer Bol Kong may have finally broken out after a 13 point. 6 rebound performance vs the V-Reds last weekend in a 76-72 win while Terry Thomas is averaging 20 points. 8 rebounds, and 3 steals a game.
Goeff Doane and Aaron Robbins are playing well off the bench for the athletic Panthers who feature the best starting five in the conference, featuring four players averaging over 15 points a game each. (Donathan Moss leads with 18 ppg).
It is conceivable that the X-Men could be in first place by the time the dust settles around supper time on Sunday. If the X-Men sweep and the Capers beat the Panthers on Saturday night but lose to Acadia on Sunday there could be a three way tie for first place,
However it is also conceivable that the X-Men beat Acadia, but lose to UPEI, and the Capers find themselves alone in second place if they sweep. If Acadia sweeps, and UPEI loses both, then the Axemen would be alone in first place. If UPEI sweeps., they may have all the separation they'll need to cruise to a number one seed.
And so on and so on.
Confused? Here's the basic breakdown.
UPEI 32 pts (at CBU, at X)
Acadia 28 pts (at X, at CBU)
X 24 p (vs Aca, vs UPEI)
CBU 22 pts (vs UPEI, vs Aca)
First round byes at the AUS Championships could be on the line and any team that can pull out eight points could put themselves in the drivers seat for an automatic berth to Semi Final Saturday.
The X-Men and the Capers have the obvious advantage of being at home but the Axemen and Panthers are the two hottest teams in the conference. Should make for a fun weekend of Basketball.
