Manitoba and Winnipeg meet for the first time in conference play this Friday, with the men's and women's basketball teams facing off at 6 and 8 pm, respectively. Click here for tickets. It's the introduction to what will be a spirited affair in the second half of the season, with the two teams, along with men's and women's volleyball, competing in the annual Duckworth Challenge, won each of the last two years by the Bisons. 

Manitoba's women's and men's basketball teams went a combined 4-2 against the Wesmen last season in Canada West play, and will look to build on that momentum in 2025-26. 

On the women's side, the Herd (1-8) are coming off two thrillers against nationally ranked, undefeated Calgary where they held leads for periods of time in both contests. Rookie point guard Taylor Schepp scored a career-high 17 points in Friday's contest, while three different Bisons scored in double figures on Saturday, including Kyu Fust, who had a Bisons single-game career high of 11 points. Manitoba also won the rebounding battle in the second contest, and a collective effort on the glass will be key in topping a 2-7 Wesmen side that is allowing 48.2 rebounds per game. 

Winnipeg's two wins this year have been in part due to their success from the perimeter. In a two-game sweep of MacEwan between October 31 and November 1, they drained 14 triples, and their 6.7 three pointers made per game ranks sixth in Canada West. They also attempt 23.6 treys a night, fourth in the conference. Veteran Raia Guinto has once again been the catalyst for the team offensively, converting on 18 shots from distance, double any other Wesmen teammate, and her 13.1 points per game lead the way. 

Schepp leads the Herd with 10.7 points per game, while five other Bisons are averaging at least six points per game. Samantha Onyebuchi has also recorded 23 combined points in her last four games, and she's one of ten Bisons who play over 11 minutes per contest, showcasing Manitoba's depth. 

On the men's side, just two wins separate first from fifth in Canada West's Prairie Division. Winnipeg and Manitoba are included in that log jam, sitting in third and fourth respectively, at 6-3 and 5-4, making for what will be an enormous battle for playoff positioning entering the winter break. 

Manitoba is coming off a weekend split against the defending conference champion Calgary Dinos. They took the W on Saturday 66-59, holding a conference opponent under 60 points for the fourth time dating back to the 2024-25 season. 

The Herd's resiliency was on full display, as they knocked off the Dinos despite missing star point guard Mason Kraus due to injury. In his absence, Manitoba's group collectively stepped up, including fellow point guard Brandt Lenz, who posted 15 points in both games for a single series career high. 

Meanwhile, wing Daren Watts is averaging 18 points per game, fifth in Canada West entering play. He's coming off a double double on Saturday with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while the team's leader in the latter category, Cieran O'Hara, racked up a double double on Friday with 15 points and ten boards. Rookie Ramogi Nyagudi -- who transferred back home this summer from the NCAA -- has also made an immediate impact for the Bisons, scoring in double figures in seven different contests while averaging 11.7 points per game. 

Defensively, Winnipeg and Manitoba are well known for their suffocating pressure, and Friday's contest should be much the same. The Bisons average 8.4 steals per game, sixth in Canada West, and both sides have forced just over 16 total turnovers per contest.

Offensively for Winnipeg, household names Malachi Alexander, Kato Jaro, Alberto Gordo, Elijah Mensah and Ryan Luke are all averaging double figures in scoring per game, with Gordo, Luke and Jaro combining for 37 three-pointers.