U SPORTS Final 8: Victoria named top seed for the second straight year; Ottawa takes final spot

Photo: Greg Mason.
Photo: Greg Mason.
March 3, 2024

The Victoria Vikes, who claimed the Canada West championship after downing Winnipeg 96-91 on Feb. 25, are the top seed going into this week's GreenShield U SPORTS Men's Final 8, presented by Michelob Ultra. U SPORTS announced the seeding on Sunday for the 2024 national tournament, which runs from Friday to Sunday at the PEPS-Amphithéâtre Desjardins on the campus of Laval University in Quebec City. This is the second consecutive top seed for the Vikes, who are looking to put their hands on the W.P. McGee Trophy for the ninth time overall.

Championship website: https://usports.ca/en/championships/final-8/m/info

The complete field, in seeding order, is as follows:

  1. Victoria Vikes (CW champions: 17-3 regular season, 3-0 playoffs)
  2. Queen's Gaels (OUA champions: 19-3, 3-0)
  3. UQAM Citadins (RSEQ champions: 11-5, 2-0)
  4. Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions: 11-9, 2-0)
  5. Brock Badgers (OUA finalists: 11-11, 3-1)
  6. Ottawa Gee-Gees (At-large berth: 19-3, 0-1)
  7. Winnipeg Wesmen (CW finalists: 15-5, 2-1)
  8. Laval Rouge et Or (hosts: 6-10, 0-1)

The Ottawa Gee-Gees were awarded the at-large berth by the tournament seeding committee, which is made up of U SPORTS men's basketball coaches, after posting a 19-3 regular-season record but being upset by Brock in the OUA playoffs.

Once the eight participating teams are established, the teams are seeded with the requirements that conference playoff results be respected, that conference champions be seeded no lower than No. 6, and to avoid intraconference matchups in the first round.

All four quarterfinals will be played on Friday, as follows: (all times Eastern)

  • 1 p.m.: No. 6 Ottawa vs. No. 3 UQAM
  • 3 p.m.: No. 7 Winnipeg vs. No. 2 Queen's
  • 6 p.m.: No. 1 Victoria at No. 8 Laval
  • 8 p.m.: No. 5 Brock vs. No. 4 Dalhousie

Consolation games will take place on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m., with the semifinals set for 6 and 8 p.m. On Sunday, the fifth-place game is set for noon, with the bronze medal game following at 2 p.m. and the championship game at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the event are currently on sale at usports.ca/en/championships/final-8/m/tickets

All 11 games from the eight-team competition will be broadcast live on CBC Sports digital platforms in English. In French, the games will be carried on Radio Canada's digital platforms (French), with Sunday's gold medal game being aired on TVA Sports. The full schedule will be available throughout the tournament at usports.ca/en/broadcast.

via U SPORTS