The Varsity Blues will play a home/road double-header, this weekend against divisional rival Ryerson Rams. Toronto (15-5) will need to have a strong end to their season following a split in their previous two games against York and Laurentian. If they can win one of two against Ryerson, the team will tie the Ottawa Gee Gees for second place in the East division with 32 points. The Blues who lead the season series against Ottawa 2-0 would automatically be awarded second place and given a first round bye in post season play. The first round of the playoffs officially get underway on Feb. 20, but with a bye Toronto would not have to play again until the quarter finals on the 23rd.
Things didn’t get off to a good start this past weekend against York. Facing the crosstown Lions for the second time in 2008, the Blues fifth ranked defense were simply dominated, losing in an improbable 76-67 decision. The game had all the makings of a Blues’ blowout early in the first half as they jumped to a 20- 6 first quarter lead, displaying why they’re ranked fifth in the country.
However, Toronto’s offence cooled as York, refusing to lay down and die, kept the game within arm’s length by whittling U of T’s lead down to single digits before the half time buzzer 36- 18. At the half, York’s leading scorer Tut Ruach had scored only a single point on a free throw, after shooting 0- 7 from the field.
“When I saw he only had one point at the half, I was thinking, you know what, he’s too good for that,’” said Blues head coach Mike Katz. Ruach exploded out of the gate in the third quarter, in what Katz characterized as “A scoring record for the second half.” The fourth-year guard garnered York’s first 14 points, outshooting U of T’s entire team 21-12 in the quarter. Rauch finished with 31 points in the half equaling the Blues total.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s an unbelievable game.” Katz remarked of Rauch’s performance. “I mean he was due to break out all year. And that team is coming,”
Also contributing for the Lions was 6’10 centre Stefan Haynes who was a tower of power on the defensive end, finishing with 14 rebounds, and five blocks to go along with his nine points. Blues forward Ahmed Nazmi was the Blues best player with a double double, scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Nick Magalas had 15 points of his own, while fifth-year guard Mike DeGiorgio had 11 assists for the Blues.
After the game U of T coach Mike Katz was gracious in defeat: “They’ve struggled a lot all year, but I really felt that it was a team on the rise…they just beat us tonight,” Katz said. Still Katz points to his team’s own uncharacteristic play on Friday night as another factor in the upset. “I thought we panicked a bit, and didn’t stay with our offence,” Katz said. “Maybe guys started to think that all he had to do was show up and win. You gotta do it on the floor, so we can get back to work.”
Despite the loss Toronto was able to salvage the second game of the weekend with a 94-71 win against Laurentian. Despite resting all of its starters in this game, in anticipation of the playoffs, the Blues were able to rely on the solid contributions of guard Nick Magalas who finished with a team leading 17 points for the Blues.
