2024-25 Schedule: Griffins will push for a playoff spot under new regional-focused format
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Primed to make some noise during the 2024-25 season, the retooled MacEwan Griffins men's basketball team will kick off the new campaign at home vs. Mount Royal University Nov. 1-2.
Their regular season will end Feb. 14-15 with a visit across the river to meet Alberta on Feb. 14-15 as they aim to sew up a playoff spot in Canada West's new divisional format that puts an increased focus on regional rivalries.
SEE THE FULL 2024-25 SCHEDULE HERE
"There are no easy games, so it's going to be a grind with character building," said Griffins head coach Mike Connolly. "We've just got to attack each game individually. Every game you have a chance to win, but there are no for sure games in our conference.
"Our goal is to make the playoffs. Hopefully, we can get through it, get some upsets and get some games that we should win when we're in control instead of blowing them at the end.
"I just think it's another year where we take our learning experience from the past and continue to grow and develop."
A home highlight will take place on Nov. 29 when the Griffins host Brandon in an afternoon 'School Day' game in front of a packed house of school groups from across the city making a road trip to MacEwan.
"I think it's a great experience," said Connolly. "Any time you get schools coming in, you get a good crowd that's very supportive and creates a good atmosphere. Any time you have a good atmosphere, it allows the guys to play and dig a little bit deeper when they know people are supporting them."
Other home games include matches vs. Lethbridge (Jan. 17-18), Saskatchewan (Jan. 31-Feb.1) and Manitoba (Feb. 7-8).
All home games are held in the David Atkinson Gym.
Road trips out of town in 2024-25 include visits to Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina and UFV.
The Griffins are looking to return to the Canada West post-season for the first time since 2016. To do so, they'll need to finish among the top seven teams in the Prairie Division, who will join five playoff-bound teams from the B.C. Division.
Playoffs will revert back to a multi-site format in 2024-25, with all games hosted by the higher seed. Single elimination play-in games will take place Feb. 21 and 22, featuring No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.
Single elimination semifinals will take place Feb. 28/March 1, with a winner-takes-all final set for March 7 or 8.
The U SPORTS national championship will be held in Vancouver March 14-16, hosted by UBC.
