The Varsity Reds and the Eric Garland national menâ??s basketball tournament get a new home.

The 2011 Eric Garland national men’s basketball tournament should be a memorable one for a number of reasons. Taking place during the UNB Homecoming Weekend - September 30 through Oct 2 - the tournament will mark the first official games in the new Richard J. CURRIE Center.  

 

The steadily improving Reds will look to improve on last year’s return back to the AUS playoffs as they embark on a new season, however, the competition will be tough. “I think the momentum we generated with our resurgence last season, coupled with the opening of the Currie Center and the Garland tournament should launch our program into a new phase.  It’s up to us as a basketball program to capitalize on the building blocks that are now in place and get to a championship level.”

Contributing to the wow factor, along with the facility itself, the fans will see some excellent basketball.  Joining the Varsity Reds will be the 2011 defending National Champions the Carleton Ravens (featuring Fredericton native Elliot Thompson); perennial CIS Top 10 squad the Laval Rouge et Or and the Saint Mary’s Huskies with reigning CIS leading scorer Joey Haywood.

 

Coach Baker is excited about the new digs, “It’s everything and more than was promised when I arrived at UNB three years ago. The Currie Center will be the focal point for our players and our stakeholders moving forward. The whole building is state of the art in every phase, from the performance court to the strength and cardio rooms that will offer our players the necessary venue to take our program to the next level.”