For the first time since 2018, playoff basketball is back at Investors Group Athletic Centre. As the No. 2 seed, the Herd earned a bye to the quarterfinals, and will play the winner of Friday's play-in game at IGAC the following evening at 7 pm. 

Friday's matchup sees the No. 7 ranked Trinity Western Spartans taking on the No. 10 ranked Calgary Dinos. 

TWU and Calgary meet for the first time since the second round of the 2022 playoffs, when the Spartans upset the Dinos at Jack Simpson Gym. That loss may have lingered in Calgary, as the Dinos began this season 5-8 leaving them in danger of missing the postseason before closing their schedule with wins in six of their last seven. Conversely, TWU has only three wins in its last seven after surging out of the gate 9-4.

For the Spartans, their offence runs through fifth-year guard Mason Bourcier, who's been all over the map, playing for perennial powerhouses like UBC and Carleton before settling at TWU last season. He can shoot from anywhere, was fourth in the conference in three-pointers made and was also third on the team in rebounds per game, at 5.59. 

The 6'4" playmaker went over 30 points on three different occasions this year, and was fourth in the conference in scoring, with 20.3 points per game. Last time he faced Calgary, he went off for 41 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in an upset win.

Other players to keep an eye on for TWU include Tre Fillmore, David Mutabazi and Connor Platz. Fillmore was second on the team with 42 treys (and is third all-time for three pointers made in a game), while the 6'5" Mutabazi was second on the team in points per game, with 15, along with 7.89 rebounds per game. The 6'10" Platz led TWU with 8.1 rebounds per game. He had over ten in eight different games with a high of 16. 

Calgary is a team that excels with their speed and ball movement at the guard position. Fifth in the conference with 85.4 points per game, they're led in the front court by Noah Wharton and Ezeoha Santiago, who both finished in the top 25 in scoring, with 15.4 and 14.7 points per game, respectively. Overall, five Dinos averaged in double figures.

At the forward position, 6'10", 240 pound post Spencer Roberts was second in CanWest, with a .594 field goal percentage on 96 attempts, however the calling card for Calgary is Selkirk, Manitoba native Mason Foreman, who knows a thing or two about winning in the playoffs, having been to nationals with the U of C. 

One of the best players in Canada, the former All-Star and All-Rookie member finished in the top three in scoring, with 20.7 points per game, while leading the Dinos with 12.20 rebounds per game as well. If the 6'7" forward is on, the prehistorics will be tough to stop, as once teams focus on him, their shifty, sharpshooting guards are able to find more space and get going. 

What does this all mean for Manitoba? 
Manitoba led the conference in every key statistical category, including blocked shots (99) and steals (210) and gave up the least amount of points in the conference, at 70.4. They're prepared to face anyone, bolstering one of the deepest rosters in the nation. 

The Herd's ability to play consistent full court defence at a relentless rate make them a pain to play against. Five different Bisons had at least 20 steals this year, led by Mason Kraus' 53, the most in a single season since 2013, and the third most ever for the program. Veteran forward Isaac Miller-Jose's 33 blocks are also the most in a season since 2009. 

If Manitoba faces TWU, look for Kraus to be locked down on Bourcier all game. He's proved he can defend any player in Canada, including Jahmaal Gardner from Brandon, who finished in the top five in scoring, with over 20 points per game.

If it's Calgary, look for Miiler-Jose, as well as the long Cieran O'Hara, who was second on the team with 6.22 rebounds per game, and 6'7" physical presence Jonam Kazadi to be among those looking to contain Foreman. 

Offensively, U SPORTS Rookie of the Year favourite Simon Hildebrandt led the Bisons with 16.85 points per game, with his 49 treys raking sixth in Canada West. Fellow sharp shooter Elijah Lostracco averaged over 13 points per game, and can rain down buckets in bunches at any time. 

Overall, Manitoba's depth and confidence should give them the edge against either team. Ten different players recorded at least 163 minutes this year, and anyone can step up when asked to.