The week of Jan. 30, the St. Thomas University men’s basketball team moved up to third place in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference. A week later, they dropped slightly but remain in the CCAA top 10 and hold first place in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA).
The team’s remarkable achievement comes on the heels of an impressive nine-game winning streak, showcasing their ability on the court and their undeniable determination for success.
Evan Valanne, a third-year forward on the team, was quick to spotlight the collective effort that has propelled them to this unprecedented ranking.
“We’ve passed the ball around; we share the ball. It’s not just one person doing everything; we have the whole team contributing in different ways,” he said.
Valanne continued to highlight the team’s depth as part of their current success.
“We have 10 or 11 guys that can consistently play … we kind of have an advantage where we have so many guys at this level that are able to go 100% at all times.”
However, Valanne remains grounded, maintaining a humble perspective on their ranking.
“We have to earn that ranking every week. It’s not just in games, we have to work for it,” he added.
In a message to motivate his teammates, Valanne encouraged them to think about the next level, once playoffs come around.
“We all know that feeling afterward in the locker room, where everyone’s angry and upset. We don’t want that feeling,” he said. “We want to be able to get past that adversity to get to the next level.”
Geoffrey Lavoie, fifth-year player and captain of the team, shed light on the team’s defensive ability as a pivotal aspect in their current achievements.
“I would say the biggest thing is our speed and our energy on defense. We’ve really been hustling,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from past heartbreaks in the finals, Lavoie revealed, “when you lose in the finals, like that, especially twice in a row, it’s heartbreaking and we use that as motivation.”
This motivation, coupled with the team’s maturity, according to Lavoie, has been a boost to their improved performance.
“We’re much more mature. We’re smarter, we understand the game,” said Lavoie.
As playoffs loom, coach John Hickey outlined the team’s preparation plan, stressing the need for proper physical care and mental resilience.
“We need to make sure that we take care of our bodies,” he explained. ”Continue to talk about scenarios and put ourselves in positions when adversity strikes that we handle it the right way.”
Hickey stressed the need for consistency on both ends of the floor. Defensive precision, effective communication and a willingness to win tough battles are key areas of focus.
“You have to be willing to win the dirty battles, we say. So you have to be willing to dive on the floor for loose balls, you have to be willing to take charges,” he said.
Hickey believes team chemistry has been critical.
“When you’re willing to do whatever it takes for the person sitting beside you, that’s the true definition of teams,” he said.
In closing, Hickey emphasized the significance of finding joy in the effort.
“Working hard is fun if you’re doing it with the right people. We just hope all that hard work finally pays off.”
With only four regular season games left, the STU men’s basketball team is poised to make a lasting impact on the CCAA conference and beyond, driven by their collective determination and unwavering team spirit.
