Varsity Reds Open 2016-17 On The Road

(HALIFAX, NS) Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2016-17 men's and women's regular season basketball schedules. Both seasons are set to begin on Thursday, Nov. 3.

The men's and women's format will once again see teams compete in a single division where they will each play a total of 20 regular season games. Following the regular season, the top six teams will qualify for post-season play at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S.

The winning team from each AUS championship will advance to their respective CIS championship. This season the Atlantic conference will also have a second host berth at the men’s national championship.

All AUS regular and postseason games will be webcast at AUStv.ca powered by Bell Aliant. All 10 games of the Subway AUS Basketball Championships, as well as select regular season games, will be broadcast live on Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 on channels 1 and 401. 

Link to full 2016-17 AUS women's basketball schedule here. 

WOMEN

All eight AUS women's basketball teams will see action during the opening weekend of regular season play.

The regular season will kick off in Wolfville, N.S. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. when the Axewomen play host to the four-time defending AUS champion Saint Mary’s Huskies. The two teams led the conference in the 2015-16 regular season, with Saint Mary’s finishing first in the standings and Acadia finishing second.

The StFX X-Women will look to start their season off strong after missing the 2016 postseason. They will visit the Panthers in the UPEI home opener Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. UPEI advanced to the 2016 Subway AUS Women’s Basketball Championship, but was eliminated by the UNB Varsity Reds in the quarterfinals.

In a rematch of the other 2016 championship quarterfinal, the Cape Breton Capers will visit the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. The Capers ended the Tigers’ season in the first round of the 2016 playoffs and went on to become championship runners up. 

The Memorial Sea-Hawks will be looking to rebound after missing the 2016 playoffs. They will host the UNB Varsity Reds in a Saturday and a Sunday matchup on opening weekend in St. John’s, N.L.

The women's 2016-17 regular season concludes on Saturday, Feb. 25.

The 2017 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship will once be hosted by AUS in conjunction with the men's championship. The joint championship, which began as a two-year pilot project in 2015, has been extended another year thanks to the event’s success.

This year’s event will take place March 3 to 5 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S.

The AUS champion will advance to the CIS Final 8 championship. This year's women's national championship will be hosted by the University of Victoria, March 9 to 12 in Victoria, B.C.

MEN

The 2016-17 AUS men's basketball schedule will once again run parallel to the women's, and will also kick off on Thursday, Nov. 3.

The Acadia Axemen will host the Saint Mary’s Huskies in Wolfville, N.S. at 8 p.m. After strong regular season performances, both teams were eliminated in the semi-final round of last year’s championship.

On Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. the two-time defending AUS champion Dalhousie Tigers will play host to the Cape Breton Capers in the first of two weekend matchups between the teams. The Capers fought their way into last year’s postseason but were eliminated in a tight 69-68 quarterfinal versus the Axemen.

These will mark the first AUS games for new head coach David Petroziello who was recently appointed to lead the Cape Breton squad. 

Also on Friday night of opening weekend, the UPEI Panthers—2016 AUS championship runners up—will play host to the StFX X-Men in the first of two weekend matchups. The X-Men will look to start the new season on the right foot after having missed the last two postseasons. 

The Memorial Sea-Hawks, who also failed to make the 2016 postseason, will look to rebound as they kick off the season hosting the UNB Varsity Reds in two opening weekend games, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Two-time AUS MVP Javon Masters and his UNB Varsity Reds teammates will look to start the season strong after having been eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the AUS championship the last two seasons.

The 2016-17 regular season also concludes on Saturday, Feb. 25.

The 2017 Subway AUS Men's Basketball Championship will once again be hosted at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax from Friday, March 3 to Sunday, March 5.

The winner of the six-team tournament will earn the AUS banner and a berth in the 2017 CIS Final 8 championship which will be hosted by Dalhousie University at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S. March 9 to 12.

As hosts, the Dalhousie Tigers are guaranteed a berth in the CIS championship. Should they claim the AUS banner, the runners up will earn the other CIS championship berth.

The remainder of the 2016-17 AUS schedules will be released later this week.