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The Naismith Notes: The Senior Men's National Team looks to Remain Undefeated in World Cup Qualifiers
The Senior Men’s National Team are looking to remain undefeated in the final two games of the FIBA Basketball Men’s World Cup 2023 Qualifiers when they face Argentina and Venezuela next weekend with both games being broadcast live on Sportsnet. The Senior Men’s National Team is a perfect 10-0 in qualifiers and has already qualified for the FIBA Basketball Men’s World Cup that will kick off this August in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking to finish undefeated 😤<br><br>Here are the 13 players who will be a part of 🇨🇦's training camp roster ahead of the sixth and final window of FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifiers. You can watch both games LIVE on SPORTSNET 📺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWCQ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWCQ</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sportsnet</a><a href="https://t.co/Z0bfaU11I8">pic.twitter.com/Z0bfaU11I8</a></p>— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanBball/status/1625859209882669056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Senior Women’s National Team just finished a training camp in France where they spent the week working together on court and bonding off of it before playing an exhibition game against ESB Villeneuve-d’Ascq. Kia Nurse led the way in their exhibition with 29 points on 10-for-14 field goals. After signing with the Seattle Storm, Nurse recently spoke with WNBA media about lessons learned while she was sidelined last season, as well as her work as an NBA analyst during the WNBA offseason.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kia Nurse was introduced as a member of the <a href="https://twitter.com/seattlestorm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seattlestorm</a> today! <br><br>Asked her about how her time with TSN and deeper foray into broadcasting while she was sidelined with injury helped shape her perspective/see the game differently! <a href="https://t.co/IQrOz6IG4k">pic.twitter.com/IQrOz6IG4k</a></p>— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1623476595854909441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander heads to Salt Lake City, Utah to participate in his first NBA All-Star Game, he’s provided plenty of highlight-worthy plays leading into the weekend’s festivities. In a recent 138-129 Oklahoma City Thunder road win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 44 points, matching a career-high set previously this season.
With the Thunder trailing by nine early in the fourth, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 10 of his 44 in the final frame as Oklahoma City used a 16-2 run to take back control and go on to the victory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No analysis, just damn SGA is good. <a href="https://t.co/wyvqV3jWLr">pic.twitter.com/wyvqV3jWLr</a></p>— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoDakhil_NBA/status/1624278098060673025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gilgeous-Alexander was all but unstoppable in the win, shooting a blistering 13-for-16 from the floor and making 18-of-19 free throws to become the first Thunder player in franchise history to score at least 40 points while shooting 80 percent from the floor. The 24-year-old also added seven assists, two steals and a block in 39 minutes against the Blazers. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in his fifth NBA season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Players with 1,000+ PTS, 50+ STL and 50+ BLK this season:<br><br>— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander <br><br>SGA has over 1,500 points. <a href="https://t.co/HkokQPXZTY">pic.twitter.com/HkokQPXZTY</a></p>— StatMuse (@statmuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1624285555184832513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The NBA announced on Monday that Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 31.3 points, 6.3 assists and 1.33 steals per game while shooting 57 percent from the floor for games played last week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠. 💼 <a href="https://t.co/syKPAIXFAm">pic.twitter.com/syKPAIXFAm</a></p>— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) <a href="https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1625239712389558274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Indiana Pacers rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, as well G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller, will be joining Gilgeous-Alexander in Utah as both were selected for the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars game featuring the NBA’s best rookie and sophomore players. Mathurin brings a 17.3 point-per-game average with him as one of the league’s best sixth men this season while Nembhard, who was selected 31st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has emerged as a draft day steal, starting for a young and talented Pacers squad. In the G League, Miller is nearly averaging a double-double putting up 15.6 points per game to go with 9.3 rebounds per game.
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This past Monday, Mathurin scored 21 points against the Utah Jazz, crossing the 1,000-point threshold already in his young NBA career.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bennedict Mathurin surpassed 1,000 career points tonight.🔥<br><br>21 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST <a href="https://t.co/kS7h0GvtXo">pic.twitter.com/kS7h0GvtXo</a></p>— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1625327444923236353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kelly Olynyk had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 123-117 Utah Jazz win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. On Friday, he finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, a block and a steal in a dramatic 122-116 comeback road win against the Toronto Raptors.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">a little home cookin' for KO 🍽️ <a href="https://t.co/0qPrAeWoCH">pic.twitter.com/0qPrAeWoCH</a></p>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1624240076799758339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Olynyk is averaging 11.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 28 minutes in his 10th NBA season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Today we just went out and played together on both sides of the floor... We just put our head down, kept playing, and in the end, it came out well.”<br><br>🎤 <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyOlynyk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KellyOlynyk</a> with our <a href="https://twitter.com/lhmauto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lhmauto</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WalkoffInterview?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WalkoffInterview</a><a href="https://t.co/y4o2Bq8QHQ">pic.twitter.com/y4o2Bq8QHQ</a></p>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1624249226782810113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In U SPORTS news, the Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team moved into first place in this week’s U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Top 10 after a pair of back-to-back blowout victories against the Laurentian Voyageurs and the Nipissing Lakers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏀 U SPORTS WBB Top 10: <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a> 1️⃣🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a><br><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChaseTheGlory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChaseTheGlory</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViserHaut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViserHaut</a><br><br>EN: <a href="https://t.co/7EE68lwIOb">https://t.co/7EE68lwIOb</a><br>FR: <a href="https://t.co/VyyvMH6Yhc">https://t.co/VyyvMH6Yhc</a><a href="https://t.co/CKuwEImv1Y">pic.twitter.com/CKuwEImv1Y</a></p>— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1625570714056069131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On the men’s side of things, the University of Victoria Vikes men’s basketball team is back in the top spot on the U SPORTS men’s basketball Top 10 after sweeping the UBC Thunderbirds in back-to-back games last week. This is the third time that Victoria has been in the top spot this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏀 U SPORTS MBB TOP 10<br>@uvicvikes1️⃣🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/AUS_SUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AUS_SUA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RSEQ1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSEQ1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OUAsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OUAsport</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadaWest</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChaseTheGlory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChaseTheGlory</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViserHaut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViserHaut</a><br><br>EN: <a href="https://t.co/QUFYNK0g73">https://t.co/QUFYNK0g73</a><br>FR: <a href="https://t.co/sV5C2V3PIZ">https://t.co/sV5C2V3PIZ</a><a href="https://t.co/skpm0jjzae">pic.twitter.com/skpm0jjzae</a></p>— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPORTSca/status/1625570712877469721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Speaking of UVic, Former University of Victoria basketball star Geoff McKay made a donation to the men’s basketball program as a way to give back for all that he had gained from his experience with the program. McKay, a former junior national team member as well, said the donation will be used for scholarships, recruiting and travel.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Feb 11. Vikes alumnus Geoff McKay donates 250K to men's basketball, making in the largest single donation in program history. <a href="https://t.co/FyrtKaEVse">https://t.co/FyrtKaEVse</a></p>— UVic Vikes (@uvicvikes) <a href="https://twitter.com/uvicvikes/status/1625176451262861317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Drexel’s Keishana Washington’s incredible senior season continues. The Pickering, Ontario native was named to the Dawn Staley Award Later Season Watch List on Tuesday. The award recognizes the top guard in all of college basketball and Washington has put herself firmly in that conversation after averaging 26.9 points per game, third in the NCAA.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More props for Keishana Washington as she is named to the Dawn Staley Award Later Season Watch List as the top guard in the country!!<br><br>📰 | <a href="https://t.co/2S6RD0uMTZ">https://t.co/2S6RD0uMTZ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FearTheDragon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FearTheDragon</a><a href="https://t.co/rQpI5hIjvi">pic.twitter.com/rQpI5hIjvi</a></p>— Drexel Women's Basketball (@DrexelWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrexelWBB/status/1625556325328646144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Finally, as we head into All-Star Weekend, check out Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe’s entry for dunk of the year with this gorgeous baseline slam:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">sʜᴀᴇᴅᴜɴᴋ <a href="https://t.co/vprzx66VSG">pic.twitter.com/vprzx66VSG</a></p>— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1625719926613856256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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