An original GPAC rivarly will be re-ignited this weekend at IGAC, as Manitoba welcomes to Regina to town for two games. Saturday's games at 5 and 7 pm are also part of Spirit of the Bison Night. Click here for more info on the event.

Women's preview
Last season, Manitoba (1-2) split their two-game weekend set at home against the Cougars. The squad's 74-67 victory in game two was their first over Regina in over 16 years, and the Herd will look to duplicate that success on the weekend.

Versatile forward Emerson Martin led the way offensively in last year's win, with a career-high 25 points. Seventeen of those came in the first half, including four triples, as the Dakota product didn't miss from distance at any point in the opening 20, converting on five-of-six in the game overall. Martin has 21 points in three games so far this season (all starts), including three triples.

Meanwhile, 6'2" sophomore sensation Anna Miko is second in Canada West in field goal percentage, at 63.2. She also leads the Herd with 33 points on the year, and 12 field goals.

Miko and rookie Paige Schatkowsky are both averaging in double figures in points per game, at 11 and 10.3, while fellow rookie Darya Rom has contributed 22 total points as another key player off the bench.

Defensively, Manitoba had ten steals against Regina in last year's win, and they also enter the weekend second in Canada West, with 33 defensive rebounds per game. Leading the charge is fifth-year starter Autumn Agar, who was a team-best 18 boards, 14 of which have come on the defensive end.

Overall, four different Bisons have at least 11 defensive rebounds, and the squad will need a collective effort on all fronts to contain the 5-1 Cougars, who are second in points per game, at 75.8. They're also allowing just 53 points per game.

Once again, the U of R is led by dynamic wing Jade Belmore, last season's Canada West Player of the Year. The 5'10", fourth-year playmaker is second in the conference, averaging 18.2 points per game. She's also third in rebounds per game, at 8.7, while guard Maddy Seida leads Regina with 11 threes, and is fifth in shooting percentage from distance, at 42.3 percent.

It'll also be a homecoming this weekend for the Fust sisters, Izzi and Kyu (8.2 and 6.5 points per game, respectively). The duo were both provincial champs at Dakota, and will go toe-to-toe with a few former teammates.
 

Men's preview
For the fourth time in the last five years, Manitoba's men's basketball team has started the conference season 3-0. They'll look to continue their run against 3-3 Regina, a team they've won three of their last four games against.

The Bisons are the only team in Canada West with two 20+ point per game scorers, in wing Daren Watts and guard Mason Kraus.

Watts is coming off a combined 40-point weekend against Saskatchewan, and is fourth in Canada West, averaging 22 points per game. His teammate Kraus is coming off the best scoring weekend of his career, putting up 26 and 23 points, respectively against the Huskies. Kraus' 26 points were a career-high, and he was instrumental in the Herd's 15-2 comeback run in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter to beat the U of S in the Saturday rematch.

Kraus -- who leads Manitoba with eight steals -- can also break the school record in that category with three against Regina. He has 152 in his career entering play.

The Herd's collective effort defensively has also been critical to their early season success, as nine different players have at least one steal so far.

Notably, versatile centre Cieran O'Hara can guard one through five, and is fourth in Canada West, with 9.7 rebounds per game. He also set a personal best, with six blocks against Brandon to open the season.

Transfer Manyang Tong, who's started games in the past for Calgary, has also been a massive addition. Known as "The Connector" for his ability create momentum in a variety of ways, he's started all three games for the Bisons and has been one of the team's most reliable players, especially late in the second half. His field goal percentage of 62.5 leads Manitoba, and he's added 11 rebounds, nine assists and two steals.

Regina -- who've won three games in a row including a sweep over last year's bronze medalists UNBC -- have also had success by committee, specifically on the offensive end. Five different players are averaging at least 11 points per game, while six players have at least five steals.

Cade Mather, a 6'5" guard, has shown his length with a team-leading 12 steals, fourth in Canada West. On the offensive end, Ben Kamba has paced Regina with 16 points per game. Jamie White (12.8), Jordan Persad (12.6), Lodi Kenyi (11.8) and Christian Tabiri (11) are also scoring more than ten points per game.

White -- a St. FX transfer -- is coming off a career-high 29 points against the Timberwolves last Saturday, while Kamba scored a personal best 27 as the Cougars put up 100 points as a team. The night prior, Kenyi -- Regina's leading scorer last season -- racked up a career high 28 points.

There's a Calgary connection in this one, as Kamba, Kenyi and Tong are all from the city, and have ties to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. Tong played for Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) last year, while Kamba and Kenyi played together for Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Kamba was an all-star for NAIT, and won an ACAC title with SAIT, in 2020, while Kenyi averaged 10.3 points per game for NAIT in 2022-23.