Happy New Year! The first half of the OUA season has been riveting. This is the second power rankings list of the season, and it is based on the performance of OUA teams thus far.
HM: Brock Badgers
The Brock Badgers earned a well-deserved honourable mention on this list because of their impressive play in the first half of the OUA season. The Badgers are currently on a 4-game winning streak with a 7-3 record and look to continue this streak into the second half of this season. The Badgers can attribute much of their success to their tenacity on defense and the depth in their lineup that they bring to every game. The Badgers have many key players including Anthony Heyes, Thierry Tshibola, Nathan Charles, and Davante Hackett who lead the charge and make up most of their scoring this season. With this key core Brock continues to improve to avenge their loss in the finals of last year’s Wilson Cup Championship.
5. TMU Bold
Heading into the second half of the season the TMU Bold have proven themselves as a team to lookout for with an imposing 8-2 record. These wins are not surprising because the Bold, led by their 4th year guard Aaron Rhooms have one of the best offense and defenses in the OUA. Offensively TMU is one of the most efficient teams in the OUA, placing second in the league in field goal percentage with an admirable 46.1 percent. Having this field goal percentage while also being one of the highest scoring teams in the OUA, with an average of 82.9 points per game, will make TMU one of the hardest teams to game plan for during the second half of the season. The prolific scoring of Aaron Rhooms, who ranks 6th in the OUA in points,
averaging 18.5 points per game is a huge reason why TMU’s offence has been so strong, thus far this season.
On the defensive end it is hard to not call TMU’s defense the best in the OUA. TMU averages only 64.2 points per game allowed whilst, keeping opponents field goal percentages to 35.7 percent on average. This coupled with the Bolds tenacity on the offensive and defensive glass where they rank third in both offensive and defensive rebounding allow TMU to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the OUA. Having an outstanding offense while keeping a formidable defense has been key to TMU’s success.
Heading into the second half of their season where they play many of the top teams in the OUA the Bold are definitely a team to watch out for.
4. Carleton Ravens
Carleton heads into the break with a solid 9-2 record, though they’ve recently suffered two consecutive losses against formidable opponents like Ottawa and Lakehead. They’ve managed to stretch the floor effectively, currently ranking third in three-point shooting percentage, and sit fifth in points scored per game. Their rebounding prowess has also been commendable, placing second in both offensive and total rebounds per game. Leading the charge for Carleton is sophomore Augustas Brazdeikis, who averages 17.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, placing him fifth in the league for rebounds.
We hope to see Carleton bounce back from their recent setbacks and make a strong push for a top spot in the standings.
3. Ottawa Gee-Gee’s
As winter break approached, the Ottawa Gee-Gees capped off the first half of their season with an impressive six-game winning streak. A major factor in this success has been their outstanding defense, which boasts the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the league at just 35.6%. They also rank second in points allowed per game, giving up an average of 64.5, while leading the league in blocks with 6.2 per game.
On the offensive side, they have found a strong balance, holding the fourth highest offensive efficiency, the most three-pointers made per game at 10.5, and the second best three-point shooting percentage at 34.1%. A standout player this season has been Kit Choudhary, who is averaging 17.3 points per game, shooting an impressive 44.7% from the field, 39.6% from beyond the arc (leading the OUA), and an exceptional 94% from the free-throw line. This level of success isn’t unexpected, considering they finished last season with a remarkable 19-2 record.
The program has earned bronze medals in the last two years, raising the question: will Ottawa finally break through this season? Their playoff experience could prove crucial in their quest for a championship.
2. Lakehead Thunderwolves
Lakehead has been one of the biggest surprises this season, making waves in the OUA. After finishing last year with a 10-12 record, they’ve already hit 10 wins before January this time around. They currently sit at the top of the OUA Central Division and are ranked 10th in all of U Sports.
Offensively, the T-Wolves have been a high-scoring team, ranking 4th in the OUA with an average of 82 points per game, shooting 42.9% from the field. Nate Bilamu has been a key contributor, sitting 8th in scoring with 18.2 points per game. Lakehead also boasts one of the best big men in the league, Harold Santacruz. Santacruz averages 15 points and 7 rebounds per game and ranks 3rd in the OUA in field goal percentage. His impact goes beyond the box score—he’s 6th in the league in offensive rebounds, creating plenty of second-chance opportunities for the T-Wolves.
On defense, Santacruz has been a rock in the post, but as a team, Lakehead’s defense has been “good enough” so far. They rank 9th in defensive efficiency and 9th in points allowed, showing that while they can hold their own, there’s room for improvement.
With notable wins over Carleton, Western, and Ontario Tech, Lakehead is shaping up to be a serious contender. If they continue their strong play, they could be poised for a deep playoff run this season.
1. Queen’s Gaels
Queen’s takes the top spot in our power rankings, having been the hottest team in Ontario. They’ve been on an impressive 8-game winning streak, with their last loss coming on November 1st. The Gaels are currently ranked #1 in the OUA East, with a 9-1 start.
As they head into the second half of the season, Queen’s leads the conference by a wide margin in points per game, averaging 93.6 points per contest. Their offense is efficient, shooting 44.6% from the field. Their unselfish style of play has made them one of the hardest teams to defend against. Oliver Engen continues to lead the charge, sitting in second place for scoring in the OUA.
On defense, Queen’s has been solid, ranking first in steals per game with 12.0 steals. Freshman Jalen Sikemma has been a key contributor, ranking third in the conference with 2.8 steals per game. His defensive presence has been vital to the Gaels’ success on that end of the floor. However, they do rank among the bottom six teams in the conference in points allowed per game – which should definitely be a point of focus for the latter half of the team.
The challenge for Queen’s in the second half of the season will be proving they deserve to be considered one of the league’s elite teams. Despite their strong record, they’ve yet to face four of the top five teams in the OUA: Ottawa, TMU, Carleton, and Brock. How they perform in those matchups will ultimately determine whether they’re primed for another deep playoff run.
