SEASON PREVIEW: Gee-Gees men’s basketball have sights set on big 2021-22 season

Following a 6-0 undefeated preseason, expectations are high for the Gee-Gees men's basketball team as they look to kick off their 2021-22 campaign this weekend. 

The Garnet and Grey are set open the season at home on Friday, Nov. 5 against York. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. and tickets are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca. 

After a successful year in 2019-20 that ended in the consolation final at the U SPORTS Final 8, the Gee-Gees have retained a significant chunk of talent and alongside key additions, the team is poised for national contention this season.

"I'm looking forward to the regular season getting started," said head coach James Derouin. "I'm thrilled with where we are, we've got a long way to go. We're really committed to putting the best team together for March and we're trying to keep that perspective every game and every practice."

Familiar faces returning to start for the Gee-Gees include All-Star forward Guillaume Pépin, who is back for his third-season in garnet and grey and is set to be one of the top threats in the OUA. Fourth-year guard Borys Minger will continue to be one of the nation's elite defensive stoppers in the back court. 

Also back is fifth-year senior Gage Sabean and third-year point guard Kevin Civil, who look to be key leaders on the team's second unit, further bolstering the team's depth featuring nine total returning players. 

"It's really great to be back," said Sabean. "We've been ready to go since last year really, from Zoom workouts, everyone online to being back scrimmaging since the summer, I think that everyone is just ready to go." 

The Gee-Gees also come equipped with a trio of high-impact additions that have featured in the team's starting lineup thus far.

Fourth-year forward Maxime Boursiquot headlines the bunch transferring back home after three seasons playing in NCAA Division I with Northeastern, joining him is first-year point guard Quincy Louis-Jeune, who has impressed in the preseason. Second year forward Josh Inkumsah will further bolster the front court joining the team after spending two years at Purdue Fort Wayne in Indiana.

"Everything's been great," said Boursiquot. "I love the environment, I'm an Ottawa kid, so being back home is amazing. I love the guys, they bring a lot of intensity, which I bring a lot of too, I feel like we gel really well."

Ottawa plays a shortened 16-game slate this season facing off against OUA East competition with two games each against York, Toronto, Ontario Tech, Nipissing, Laurentian, Queen's, and the ever emphasised matchups with Carleton and the Rams. 

After kicking of the season at home, the Gee-Gees will have back-to-back road weekends in Toronto and Oshawa to close the semester, before hosting the Bytown Battle against the Ravens on Jan. 8 at Montpetit Hall. Feb. 16 is another date to circle as the Capital Hoops Classic returns to TD Place to close the regular season.

The Wilson Cup playoffs get underway in late February, and the 2022 U SPORTS Men's Basketball Final 8 is taking place Mar. 10-14 in Edmonton, Alta.