Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign
[00:00:04] Speaker B: welcome to the Canadian Basketball show, your go to spot for the latest news stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host Lee Ban Osman.
On today's episode, we're previewing the Canadian senior men's national team beginning window number two of the FIBA World cup qualifiers. There are 2, 0 so far sitting in first place in in group B that consists of them the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. They won back to back games against the Bahamas in window number one. The first game, absolutely a blowout almost W by 40. The second game back in December in Toronto, I was in attendance. Bahamas made it a real fight despite missing some guys, I think some border issues from my understanding. But Canada still managed to pull out the win 9488 at the Matamy Athletic Center.
Now beginning window two, Canada will face Puerto Rico on Thursday, February 26th and then they'll travel to Kingston, Jamaica to take on jamaica on Sunday, March 1. Both games available to stream live on TSN. Plus I don't know why there's a subscription for this kind of stuff making it so hard to watch. But joining me to preview Canada's roster and talk some Canadian basketball is my guy, Oren Weissfield, the author, respected author back on the podcast of the book the Golden Generation.
My guy also was just in the Globe and Mail. I seen a photo you posted on ig. I haven't read the story yet but I'm going tap in soon. How you doing my man? Welcome back to the podcast.
[00:01:40] Speaker C: Doing good man. Yeah, always, always a pleasure to have to be here. I think, I think from what I was told that the this window is on TSM plus but I think starting in the summer games should be free. Should be like on the regular cable network, I hope. I mean it's, it has to, it has to be free. It has to be, you know, available to as many people as possible. If we're trying to grow the game, we have to grow the game because as you know man, hockey, it's not our sport anymore.
[00:02:07] Speaker B: It's not our sport and they just lost to the US I didn't watch that game. Shout out to anybody that Woke up at 8am Real like you're real patriot. That's not me. I'm not waking up that early.
[00:02:17] Speaker C: I woke up for the third period, like the end of the third, the overtime. So I wasn't, I was happy because if I woke up for the whole game and they lost, I would have been so pissed.
[00:02:28] Speaker B: I'm fasting. I can't wake up. I got to sleep in On Sundays when I can. So Ramadan Lee ban in full effect. But like second windows getting underway. Canada dropped the 12 man roster. We'll get into that in a second. But two zero to start off.
What were your first impressions of the first window? How they performed against the Bahamas? Obviously like the first game we talked about blowout, second game pretty close.
What were your thoughts on just that first window?
[00:02:55] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it was a little tighter than I expected. Maybe that was a little bit of ignorance. But coming off the kind of last winter core, the those guys were really dominant by the end. Right. And I feel like they had so much experience playing together.
Kind of led by the Scrub brothers and Kyle Alexander. Some of those guys, they just had a lot of experience together and by the end of it it was just they were kind of rolling through.
So I kind of expected a bit more of that. But this was a very different group. Even though very experienced group, they didn't have that much experience playing together. Like it was a new winter core. So I think we really saw that. And the second game was just super tight and super close game.
So they pulled through all that really matters. As a result they got two wins and that was I guess the first impression. Bahamas played really well and they really just couldn't get stops in that second game at Mattamy. So credit to the Bahamas. Canada struggled to get stops, but I think, you know, just quick like going through this roster, they shouldn't really have problems on defense.
[00:04:02] Speaker B: Yeah, a lot of wings, a lot of forwards in terms of lack of bigs and we'll get into that. Lack of bigs, Lack of point guard depth too. Shout out to Cherry Bell Haynes. I hope he's getting healthy. I know he's dealing with some injuries. We'll talk about all that kind of stuff. But my impressions of the windows, I could care less about the game they want. 20 the crowd. I've mentioned this before. I wasn't impressed. It feels like the lack of support. I mentioned this so many times on the podcast. Just like basketball in the city is dying down, which is kind of sad. Why can't they sell out the Madame Athletic Center? I know it's not the name brand, guys. It's not Shay pulling up, it's not Dylan Brooks, it's not Jamal Murray. But why can't we appreciate basketball in this city? Because I feel like we always reminisce when things are gone. Like I'm thinking of like Crown League. When that was going on, we loved it. But I don't know if Like I think the arc, our thought process and our support for it now and our appreciation for it is way bigger than it actually was during it all. Maybe I could be wrong but yeah makes me think like I don't think Global Jam's gonna come back because like can they sell 2,600 tickets? Cost way too much to put on.
[00:05:12] Speaker C: But wasn't that crowd though better than the previous crowds you've seen for Canada basketball? Like exhibition games and winter games.
[00:05:21] Speaker B: I disagree. I think St. Catharines the game that I think we, we both went to, packed crowd.
It's just the city, it's just Toronto. That's my issue. I think if they did a game in Halifax, sellout crowd. Halifax loves their basketball. They always shout to that, to that arena. They watch the U sports finally they always go out to those tournaments.
Even maybe if they did a game in Calgary, I feel like people would show up. But it's Toronto. They only care about the Raptors for some reason and maybe the Temple coming up right now. But yeah, my issue is with.
Yeah my issues with, with just. I feel like the crowd in Toronto is just terrible. So, so what are your thoughts on that? Just like the lack of crowds in Toronto.
[00:06:01] Speaker C: Yeah, well like I'm sure you saw how TMU advertised the, the All Toronto Classic against U of T. Right with the like mandam ring. You know you that that looked like a really good crowd. So I feel like that's part of it is like the branding and the advertising is like definitely Canada basketball did more to advertise that game than I've seen them done in the past for like winter qualifying games. But I think that's part of it too is like creating some sort of like interesting way to brand the games too. To really get like people out is like I thought TMU did a really good job with that for their game against U of T. I think they can do more of that. But I don't know. I think, I think we're going to slowly build it up. I think like Global Jam will get bigger and bigger. So I'm still optimistic. But yeah, I mean it's not the best crowd.
[00:06:57] Speaker B: Talking about crowds.
Canada basketball just announced games against Puerto Rico and Jamaica on July 3 and July 6 in Hamilton in partnership with TD Coliseum. I think now Shay Gilders Alexander has like a little stake in that. I think he owns part of that, that that place. And they'll host back to back home Games and Windows 3 of the FIBA World cup qualifiers. Here's a quote from President CEO Michael Bartlett. He said with many of Canada's top NBA athletes expected to be on the roster, fans and Hamilton can look forward to an incredible level of competition and unforgettable two days of basketball at TD Coliseum.
How excited are you for that? Because I'm thinking, I'm expecting it to be sold out, similar to what St. Catherine's looked like when I was there a few years back. I think it was like FIBA America qualifiers. It was like two years back. Yeah, that we were. Both of us were there for. So I think, I think Hamilton will show up. I. I want to vouch for Toronto, but if no one's going to fill up 2,600 seats at the Miami Athletic Center, I'll say best not to do it there. But yeah, I'm excited because Norman Powell might be playing. So he's. He might be playing for Jamaica this summer.
Thompson Twins. I don't know if Amend Thompson will be playing because I feel like USA Basketball is going to call Scotty Barnes media day with the Raptors. If he would play for Jamaica, he would be. It would be cool if he plays, but maybe USA Basketball's calling now that he's having another breakout year. But Norman Powell is probably guaranteed with Jamaica. How excited are you for that? And yeah, game and game in Hamilton. I don't like the check, but, you
[00:08:28] Speaker C: know, I'm excited, man. Like, I, I don't know if you were around for this conversation, but talking to someone at Canada Basketball for the last window and they were saying new head coach Gordy Herbert wants to kind of get the squad this summer for the 2028 Olympics. Like he wants to form a squad this summer and have the same group together for the next three years. So that's why I won't be surprised to see guys like Shea and those type of guys playing in Hamilton in July. I think Gordy really wants to kind of get the ball rolling on having a group together and keeping them together.
So that should be fun to see what that kind of core group actually looks like because I don't know if it's going to change that much by time 2028 rolls around.
I do sit think they missed a bit of an opportunity to have the Jamaica game in Toronto just because I feel like the Jamaican crowd.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: Oh yeah.
[00:09:21] Speaker C: Would have came out in full force and it would have been a good like 50, 50, kind of like Canada Jamaica crowd. I don't know if there's as many Jamaicans in Hamilton, so I feel like they missed a bit of an opportunity there. But I think, I think they're trying to avoid like what's happening with the FIFA World Cup. They don't want to get caught up in that happening in Toronto at the same time. So I think that's part of the reason they went to Hamilton. And obviously Shea has a big impact, you know, has a stake in that venue. They want to please him. They, they're, they're working with him too. So that all factors into it. But I'm excited for this summer. Man, those games should be really good, especially the ajamaica, if some of those guys are playing.
[00:10:01] Speaker B: Yeah, maybe put in Scarborough next time. I know Scarborough has a lot of Jamaican population. Maybe over there they released a photo of guys talking about like kind of anticipating.
Let me name the guys that they put in this graphic. Dylan Brooks, Andrew Nemhardt, RJ Barrett, Shay Gilgis, Alexander, Nikhil Alexander, Walker, Jamal Murray and Lou Dort. How many of these guys do you actually expect to suit up? Like, if you had to guess right now, do you think it's a majority of these guys?
[00:10:31] Speaker C: Yeah, I think the guys who don't go deep into the playoffs play like at one of the games probably, you know, maybe you could see like each of the NBA guys play one game and then kind of be on the bench for the second one. So I think we'll see the majority of them in one game.
[00:10:47] Speaker B: Yeah. Excitement for that, obviously. July 3rd, July 6th, go get your tickets. I think it's starting at 25 public on sale. I think February 27th. So get your tickets, man. I'll be on Hamilton. Hopefully. Hopefully. Hopefully I can make the trek all
[00:11:01] Speaker C: the way there, but I got you, bro. I'll drive you.
[00:11:03] Speaker B: It's pretty deep.
[00:11:04] Speaker C: I got you.
[00:11:04] Speaker B: You'll drive me?
[00:11:05] Speaker C: Drive us?
[00:11:06] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm still trying to get my license. I'm still trying to get my license. So, you know, it might be. Maybe I'll be skirting the. I'll skirt, I'll skirt over there. Maybe, maybe I got the, the car working. But let's break down Canada's 12 man roster for the second window.
Canada, like we said, got through. If they can get through these two games pretty smoothly, they're like one step closer for World cup qualifying. They're going to make it to probably the second round. It's probably guaranteed at this point, especially with the NBA guys playing.
But yeah, they can put themselves in a really good positions where they don't have to like need NBA guys to qualify for the second round. But let's go through the roster. Aaron Best, Charles Bediako, Marcus Carr, Nate Darling, Kazak Kajami, Keane Kerr Yonkic Dave, David Manicat, Cassius Robinson, Jackson Rowe, Thomas Scrubb, Kevon Vino, Kyle Wilcher. That's the 12 man roster for you. Like what jumps out immediately? A lot of these guys obviously playing overseas. All these guys playing overseas, except for Charles Bediako who went back to college, which we'll get back to in a bit.
But what are your thoughts on this roster? First impressions?
[00:12:21] Speaker C: Yeah, I think the first thing that stood out is like there's going to be a good defensive squad. Like even though there are lacking bigs, which we'll get into.
Jackson Rowe is a huge pickup that they didn't have in the last window. Just one of the best wing defenders I think Canada has.
And I mean, yeah, look at it. They have a ton of really good point of attack and wing defenders from Aaron Best to Marcus Carr to Keza to David to Jackson Rowe. Like I mentioned, like, I think the, the kind of like pressure defense is going to be really good. The kind of like ability to force turnovers and maybe like double team and scramble because they're lacking bigs, that sort of stuff. So that was probably the big thing that stood out right away. But the flip side is definitely like who, who's creating offense on this team? I think a huge amount of pressure is going to be on Kyle Wilcher and Marcus Carr, guys like that who just like, like you mentioned without Trey Balhanes there, they don't have a ton of offensive guys to kind of break down a defense and set all these like shooters up. So that's what would be the concern for me.
[00:13:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Because I'm wondering who's the backup point guard like Marcus Carr is going to start but I'm concerned like who's going to take off those duties. And like when you watch Marcus Carr, he's not, he's not like a trail boy Haynes when it comes to like a true point guard. Like he can sometimes play off ball which they've done with Trey Bo Haynes and Marcus Carr playing them together at points. Like Marcus Carr, I think at times also has a scoring mindset. So I'm concerned as like who's going to set the table. Maybe Aaron Best, he's been very reliable during a lot of these windows. Shout out to tmu, he's alumni there. They're playing in the OUA semifinals against Brock on Wednesday.
First time I think they had a chance, first time they have a chance to, to go back to the U.S. sports Final tournament, I think since Rona left. So that was.
It's going to be exciting. I'll be in the building for that. Shout out to U of T head coach too. My guy Muddy, he's also has a chance to get U of T.T. to the U.S. sports Final Eight for the first time since.
I don't know, probably since I was. Before I was born, man.
[00:14:36] Speaker C: Like they started this season, I swear, like two and like eight or something. And they, they've been killing it in the playoffs. So shout out to them.
[00:14:44] Speaker B: Yeah. Upsetting everybody, taking names. So it'll be exciting to see, see. See what, what they can do.
[00:14:50] Speaker C: Now I'm thinking in terms of the offense, it's gonna have to play through the bigs a lot more just because like you said, there's not a lot of pure point guard ball handlers on this team. Like Wilcher will have the ball in his hands a lot, right. And he'll be doing like the triple hand.
You know, I was really impressed with Thomas Scrubb, like that game we saw in Toronto without him. They just want to won that game. So I think like the offense will flow through guys like Wilcher and Scrub and yeah, it'll have to flow through the bigs a little bit more and, and kind of, kind of how the Raptors play. I think cutting off that because there just aren't a ton of guards who you're going to see run a bunch of pick and rolls in this game. So definitely more, more pressure on those two guys. I think Scrubb and Wilcher to, to give some of the offense and then guys kind of knocking down their shots around them.
[00:15:38] Speaker B: Let's talk about Trey Bo Haynes. He's injured.
I think he was playing through an injury too and a lot of people kind of like doubted him.
Left hand injury, playing through it in Spain. Got a lot of criticism but decided to shut things down. And I think he's still trying to make a return maybe before the season ends. But let me just run through the time that he's played because I was looking at him like, how many times has Trey Bo Haynes played for Can? Because every single time I pop up to one of these, these qualifiers or whatever it is, the one guy I know will be there is Cha Boa Haynes. And he was averaging through the first two games 13.5 points, 8.5 assists against the Bahamas. So let me just run through like the last seven years that he's shown up in 2019, the FIBA World Cup, 2019 qualifiers, he was there. The FIBA America Cup 2022 qualifiers, he was there. Averaged 7.5 points, I think played in just two games, but the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria was there. The FIBA America cup in 2022, where Delano Banson was also playing, averaged 9.2 points, he was there. The FIBA Basketball World cup in 2023, he was there.
The World cup, he was there.
The 2025America qualifiers, he was there. Averaging 10 point, 10.7 points a game. The FIBA America this past summer, 2025, he was there.
And then we talk about the qualifiers. He's the guy that like, we talk about, like Kelly Olenek as captain Canada. I feel like he deserves that name to me because, like, seven years, always showing up. I feel like if he wasn't injured, he's guaranteed to be there. How much are they going to miss this guy?
[00:17:29] Speaker C: Yeah, it's going to be weird. I feel like the previous winter core, I feel like Phil Scrub was kind of like that guy. He was like the guy who was maybe considered one of the bigger leaders,
[00:17:40] Speaker A: the starting point guard.
[00:17:41] Speaker C: And then that kind of naturally evolved to Trey Bell Haynes. And not having either of those guys there is going to be really weird for, I think, head coach Nathaniel Mitchell because those have been the two guys who were really relied upon to kind of get guys in their places, run sets. And I think Trey has just been kind of considered like the captain of this team for the last few, few sessions in terms of the winter core. So it'll be weird for sure not having him there. And they're going to miss his offensive creation, his, his shot making quite a bit. And, and like I said, like, you know, Marcus Carr has been really good in the last couple windows he's played for Canada. It's going to be even more pressure not having Trey Bell Haynes there and just being like the, the lone point guard on this roster. So a lot of, A lot of that kind of responsibility in terms of like the leadership falls on Marcus Car now.
[00:18:33] Speaker B: Yeah, I think a lot of this is going to fall on, like you mentioned, Marcus Carr. He's going to generate a lot as the lead guard. Will it be a lot for him? That's my question. He's still fairly young, playing for Canada. I don't know how many times he's played, but sometimes can be a bit turnover prone. But this will be a big test for him, you know, and kind of like being the next. I don't know if you call him next. Treble Haynes, in terms of like leading guards for Canada, in terms of helping them qualify in, in the next five or so years. But a big test for, for Marcus Carr. We, we obviously talked about the roster a bit, but just looking at the 12 guys, like what would you grade this roster if I, if you had to give it a. A grade? Cuz I, I honestly to me this is, I'm being generous and I think I might give it a C. I think that's generous. Just in terms of. I'm just concerned that there's not much balance, very heavy on wing depth, not much point guards and bigs, which I think, and someone might argue, I think those are the most important positions in FIBA basketball. The point guard to set the table and then the big, to be able to just sit in the paint and be able to like deter shots. So not having a two point guard. And then the Charles Beniako question I'm also concerned about too, which we'll get into.
[00:19:54] Speaker C: Yeah, it's, it's definitely not their best roster and some of that, maybe some of that fault falls on Canada basketball, but some of it, you have to admit, is out of their hands. Like Trey Bohain's injured. I just got the word that Thomas Kennedy hurt his ankle. That's the reason he's out. And he's been a really good big for them the last couple years.
So some of it is those injuries.
[00:20:16] Speaker A: Right.
[00:20:17] Speaker C: And then we're also in a transition period where I don't know if it's a transition period but like more and more Canadians are in the Euroleague than ever before and as a result of that for this window, we just don't get our best talent. And for whatever reason, you know, where we are kind of in a transition with this new winter core that they're, it's not the most well balanced roster for sure in terms of those point guards and those traditional big men.
There is still a lot of talent on it. So I think that's like a fair rating.
I just think like Nathaniel Mitchell has a lot of work cut out for him because of the lack of like pure point guard play on the roster.
There's a lot of talent, but it's like how many of these guys can you get on the floor without sacrificing, spacing in terms of like, you know, some of these like really good wing defenders like Best and Jackson Rowe and, and you know, these guys are good shooters but like how many like wing sized guys can you get on the floor at a time? Right. That's what I think is going to be the challenging part.
But it's not yeah, on paper it's not the most impressive roster. They do have a lot of collective experience together, this group of players though.
And yeah, I think like having a guy like Wilcher though too is something that we didn't have in the previous windows in terms of like the previous winter core. And he's really a huge X factor in terms of a guy who can just take over a game and go score, score 30 points.
[00:21:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I feel bad for Nathaniel Mitchell because like the roster itself, like talent wise, it's there but just not balanced, you know, so like having to, to go out and win and it's like, like we'll talk about like, would you be disappointed if they don't go 2 0? But I'm also just like concerned of like, of like, can they actually, like, is the roster so unbalanced that it's going to be too hard for them to actually compete, you know, against Puerto Rico and Jamaica, especially teams that are stacking up.
[00:22:24] Speaker C: I would have liked to see Canada basketball get like Kevin Pangos back in this mix. Like he would be the pure, perfect, pure point guard to have Kyle Alexander. Right. Like a big man who really experienced could be really helpful.
Even like Khalifa Young, guys like that. I'm surprised there's not like another seven footer on this roster. So yeah, there's some questions in terms of why they didn't get some of these guys that I just mentioned. But let's, let's see.
[00:22:53] Speaker B: Yeah, and I think for a lot of these guys too, there's probably a reason that there's just one seven footer and we're just not like, if you ask somebody, they'll probably tell you exactly why certain players are not playing. And we're going to talk about guys you probably wanted to see on this roster that are not there. But we talk about the lack of big man in this country is just, it's astonishing. It's sad. Charles Berryak was the only 7 footer on this roster.
[00:23:18] Speaker C: It's like goalies, right? It's like ice hockey goalies.
[00:23:22] Speaker B: And we'll get into it.
He might like, is he a guaranteed, like, I'm recording this, recording this on Monday, we're going to drop this tomorrow on Tuesday.
And he is appealing his decision that a court ruled that he's ineligible to play in college basketball. But going through a situation in college basketball right now. Charles Bediaco, a guy that we've had on the podcast, a guy that I've chatted with in depth.
So just letting you know, that's my Guy I have a little bit bias and I also will talk about like he returned to Alabama, like let's just break it down obviously to seek nil opportunities, secure his degree and kind of like reset kind of his professional career. He's dealing with some injuries just in the G League he signed originally. He went through the job process in 2023, signed a two way deal with with the San Antonio spurs but then got injured. And I think a lot of people thought he would actually return to college basketball the year that he decided to go to the job process. Because I think like Alabama even set up a game between them and Purdue in Toronto. I think both of us were there and that was supposed to be Zack Edie vs. Charles Baro, like a home return type of thing. Like a big matchup didn't happen.
But a lot of guys from the G league have been going back to college basketball and James Najee was the guy that kind of like blew things up. Second round pick and I think it was also the 2023 draft. He was the 31st pick going back. That kind of threw me for a loop because I'm like, how can you get drafted in the NBA and allowed to go back to college basketball? The rules are just different for overseas guys if you didn't play in college basketball and you're allowed to go back. But the NCAA looked at Charles Case and was like, no, we're putting our foot down on this one. Just because he went through the college system and then decided to leave and go professional.
And I don't know. My issue with guys going back to college is that when you officially declare for the draft and Charles Bediaco did you forego your entire eligibility?
So that to me is when it gets murky in my opinion, which Charles did.
I think he knew there was a chance that there might, he might not go, he might not get drafted. I think there's probably interest in the 40 range, but that kind of stuff, like it doesn't matter usually. Often we've talked about it like sometimes the draft, like you're not getting drafted by a team. Like if you're in the 40 range, teams are not drafting you. Like it's a lot of like agents maneuvering things in the second round. So him not getting drafted didn't mean much. But he gets hurt, suffered a torn left MCL injury, was about injured for like about 2 months I believe and then was waived. So he's been dealing with all that kind of stuff, decides to go back to college basketball. I think he spent time with the Denver Nuggets G League team last year was in Mortar City. So I don't fault him, especially for a guy that, during that time, it was very hard for Canadians to make nil money when he was playing college basketball. And I probably watched it and saying, I want the piece of the cake, too. And Alabama, Alabama needs a big, They've been struggling. They, they need that room protection. So I don't blame them for trying to, you know, seeing what everyone else is doing. But it's a tricky situation because now he just literally today appealed his decision to consider going back to college basketball and trying to fight that and say, can I get eligibility while they review the process and I appeal it? Can I go and return to play for Alabama? So that's my question. It's like, will he play in this window or will he get that, that, that a judge to sign off and return back to college basketball? Because I don't know. Let me search up Alabama's schedule right now because, like, are they playing? I, I, I believe they're probably playing on Tuesday.
So they're playing on Wednesday against Mississippi State, and then they have a game this Saturday against Tennessee, and they're ranked 25th. So in the AP polls, they're ranked 25th. So they're making a run for the tournament. They're going to be a team that's in the mix. So Saturday's game is on the 28th. He can't do both. But what are your thoughts on just, like, the Beako situation and guys going back to college basketball? Because I, obviously I have a soft spark because I know this guy, you know, and, and I think I watched other guys do it. So I'm like, you know what? If other guys are doing it? Go get your bag. I can't blame you if other guys are doing it. And the NCAA needs to fix their system and have an actual, like, rule for eligibility, which they don't. They have a terrible system.
It's on them. It's on the ncaa.
[00:28:06] Speaker C: Yeah, I think they should probably make this rule in the offseason. You know, it's like, it's not fair that Charles is getting caught up in the middle of it because of what he's trying to do.
So it would be definitely more helpful if they kind of delayed this process until the off season and then made a ruling on it and just kept it standard across the board at that point. But, yeah, it often happens that these Canadians are kind of, like, caught in the forefront of, like, these new systems, and they kind of get screwed because they're testing the water and the NCAA doesn't have clear ruling until like the first person does it. Then that's when the rule comes down. So it's, it's definitely a weird thing. The NCAA right now is the wild, wild west.
So I just hope whatever is best for his career happens. At the same time, for Canada basketball right now, they really need him. He had a really good window in the last window with Canada. I thought he really broke out and felt like a lot more comfortable as a player.
[00:29:08] Speaker A: And as I mentioned, without guys like
[00:29:10] Speaker C: Thomas Kennedy in the mix, they're going to need Charles even more. So the NCAA is one way for sure. It's, it's probably the best way to kind of improve his career stock in the NBA going forward. But playing really well internationally is another way. Right. Not just for like NBA scouts, but like Euroleague scouts.
[00:29:30] Speaker A: Right.
[00:29:30] Speaker C: And stuff like that. So I think he can have a big window and that can help his career just as much as playing in the next couple games with Alabama could.
[00:29:38] Speaker B: Yeah, he played in five games for Alabama, started in two average, 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks. Yeah, they granted him that, that TRO, which is the temporary restraining order, and yeah, he was solid for Alabama. They desperately needed him. They went three and two in those five games and. But on February 9th, that's when the judge ruled that he was ineligible. We'll see what, what happens, how it plays out. I'm just concerned. If Charles Bediako goes back to college basketball this week, what does Canada basketball do? Who are you calling to play? Big man? Is it, is it Kerr? Is Kerr Yankic? Is he going to be like the most reliable big on this roster for Canada? Because he's kind of undersized. He's like a six nine guy. But I, I just don't know, like, what can Canada do in this instance?
[00:30:23] Speaker C: You mean if, if he gets pulled and they don't have anyone to replace him on time if Bediako goes back? Yeah, if, if, if they couldn't like call up someone like a Kyle Alexander truck, replace him?
No, I really don't see a whole lot they could do here other than play really small ball and just like the Nick Nurse Raptors defense, like double teaming everyone in the post small ball. Because yeah, there's just not enough, you know, reliable bigs on this roster. So without him, they'd be really in a tough spot. I expect him to at least play the first game because, you know, camp starts like today, so wouldn't have put him on this list. If he wasn't in camp, I would assume he'd probably at least play the first game and then who knows if Alabama like. Because even this, this process of him appealing, it'll probably take a few days.
[00:31:14] Speaker A: Right.
[00:31:15] Speaker C: So I think he'd at least play the first game for Canada and, and let's see from there.
[00:31:20] Speaker B: Yeah, Nate Mitchell was obviously on that Nick Nurse staff that you're talking about. That, that pressure, pressure defense, all that. So maybe he takes some things from that.
Let's not just talk about our concerns. I feel like we've been, I've been rambling a lot about that. Let's talk about what we're excited about. Is there a name that you saw, I know you mentioned Jackson Rowe that you're like really thrilled or intrigued by that is on his 12 man roster for Canada?
[00:31:44] Speaker C: Yeah, that's probably the one. Because. Just because he wasn't there at the last window, like there was a lot of guys I was, I was happy to see at the last window, guys who just weren't part of the program for a while and basically came back. Whether it was because of Gordy. I think in a lot of their cases like Keza has a relationship with, with Gordy and I know talk to him a little bit after the game. I talked to Cassius Robertson after the game. I was curious why he wasn't around the program for a while and he told me he actually got a roster spot on the 2023 World cup squad but turned it down in favor of his, his Euro. I think, I think it was Euro League opportunity at the time or Euro cup opportunity. So that's why he actually turned it down. He basically said he kind of regretted that decision and, and wanted to be back with Canada basketball after that.
Kyle Wilcher, you know, like there's a lot of experienced guys that I was happy to see and, but I wasn't sure where Jackson Rowe was last window. And I think he's like an underrated guy a lot of Canadians might not know about, but he's been with Golden State warriors for the past couple seasons and like back and forth between the G League. But he's just like an outstanding defender, really reliable three point shooter at this point and I expect him to play a lot of minutes in this window. So that would be like the one guy who sticks out, I guess. How about you?
[00:33:02] Speaker B: Yeah, he was waived in December, like literally December 1st, the game that Canada was playing against the Bahamas. So I think that's why he wasn't Playing the last window was with Golden State warriors up until that point. He's the guy I think I was really excited about. He was great. The last time he played for Canada I think it was in like November 2024. Played in three games for the America qualifiers and averaged 13.7 points. I'm looking at stats right now, 7.7 rebounds overseas now. But yeah, he's a guy that. I think Canada's like foaming at the mouth, man. They got Jackson Row, Nate Darling I'm really happy with. I was really. I, I liked his minutes at the FIBA America Cup. They need a guy that can just knock down a three ball sharpshooter specialist. That's exactly the kind of player they need especially in a, in a, in a, in a, in, in this window where they're going to, I feel like desperately need three point shooting to just like to make up for a lot of the lack of bigs, a lot of point guard depths. So you're going to need guys that can just like get hot in a minute, get hot quick. Kyle Wilcher, obviously I'm just happy I know he, I knew he was going to be here. Averaged 18.5 points in the first window. Probably the ball's going to go through him. Like we mentioned, he's going to be the key to this, this Canada basketball roster. Go listen. I'm going to plug it in. Go listen to our interview with Kyle back in December during the last window. He's a guy that I think is going to be very key for, for Canada qualifying for the World cup and yeah, so those are probably the three names I'm looking at. Any other roster. I wonder if now that the Charles Bediako question. I don't know if Kerr Jankic gets a bigger role. He played in cbl, played at Temple. I think he's playing overseas in Germany. I don't know if he's played for Canada exactly. I just know he was around the team during the Bahamas game in Toronto. I think he also traveled to the team with Bahamas in the last window. So he's been around with the team. He just didn't get to, to play for whatever reason. But yeah, sort of an undersized big, a roller shot block or two. But yeah, I think he might be like six, nine. So I, I think he might be a guy that, I don't know, maybe they throw him out there and see, see what it works especially with the lack of a big depth. So yeah, it's going to be interesting just to see how Nate Mitchell uses his roster, how creative he gets with a lot of these guys. So it's going to be pretty interesting. We obviously talked about two just guys that you wanted to see. You mentioned Kyle Alexander. Was there anybody else that you were kind of upset? Not on this roster. And obviously like we talked about it. There's no way cannabis will didn't call like just call like you mentioned Kyle Alexander, Thomas, Kenny, you know, they called all these guys and they didn't get like the problem. The answer was probably no. I'm injured or I'm dealing with this or I'm dealing with that. So I'm not saying they didn't call these guys. They probably did. Something probably came up that we just not privy to at this point, you know. But was there any other names that you were kind of hoping to see or was it Kyle Xander, the main one?
[00:36:02] Speaker C: Yeah, I mentioned Kevin Pangos.
He was obviously part of their three year core last year, last quad dealt with a ton of injuries but now he's back on his feet and he's not playing in the Euroleague anymore. So I guess he would be like a really, almost too good, you know, point guard for like the winter core. He would really be able to like fill a lot of responsibilities.
But yeah, that would, that would be a name that I would love to see. But it's maybe a little bit unrealistic given like all the injuries he's dealt with in the last couple years and also with some of guards like that probably kind of hard to convince them to play when they know that in the summer there's a thousand NBA guards coming in.
[00:36:50] Speaker B: Yeah, that's why I just shout out Treble Haynes, man, that guy just, he shows up whenever.
Also like you can't blame guys that are going to be like hey, like I'm traveling mid season.
Honestly I would take a break and go to the Jamaica to and Puerto Rico to be honest. Just take a little break from my season. I be that is a nice just to play basketball there, play for my country, I might do it. But like some guys obviously sore they want to get this little break to just recoup all that kind of stuff and can't blame guys. Can't blame guys. But yeah, just another name that I was thinking of was like for us Amac another name. Averaged a double double and it's. I know he's played for Canada maybe once. I believe he averaged a double double in his final year in college at California.
And he was a name that I was kind of wondering, I think I Don't know where exactly he's playing now, but I don't think he's playing for Euro league team. But yeah, I think he's from numbers I've seen, I think he's, he's a double, double machine. So. And I think he might be a seven footer if I'm not mistaken too. So maybe they called him. Maybe he just said I'm not interested, I'm, I'm busy right now. But that's another name. Kyle Alexander was another name. I'm just worried like where are you going to get that production? Because he was playing what I think 18 minutes, 14 minutes in the second game against the Bahamas. Thomas Kennedy was also playing those backup big minutes like giving you 12 minutes. Like those are key minutes where like who go, who get, who gets that those minutes? That's my question. Right.
[00:38:15] Speaker C: So yeah, I think their backup big
[00:38:18] Speaker A: situation, if I were to guess, I think their backup big situation is probably
[00:38:22] Speaker C: going to be like Kyle Welch or Thomas Scrub. Like I think they're going to have
[00:38:26] Speaker A: to just play small in those kind of minutes with like, you know, guys
[00:38:31] Speaker C: like best and, and row around them to make up for some of that defense.
[00:38:37] Speaker A: But yeah, I, I think that's, that's, you know, unless I'm really underrating some
[00:38:43] Speaker C: of these like guys we haven't seen before, then that's what I would guess. Just like the experienced guys get those minutes even if they're small.
[00:38:51] Speaker B: That's putting too much on Kyle Wilson. Kyle Wiltzer, man, he, he's, he's like a stretch four type of, type of player and asking him to play big, man, that is tough. He did not sign up to leave Italy for this, you know, but I don't know, may, maybe he, maybe he's, he's down for. Maybe he's like whatever it takes to win. But yeah, he's, he's been great for Canada. So we'll see if they go small ball and, and how they use. I'm just like interested in the strategy that Nate Mitchell will have for this team and how it looks like in terms of this roster, this 12 man roster that we're obviously like, we're not the biggest fans of just because obviously we, we're talking about the injuries, we're talking about guys not being available, that kind of stuff. But is there anybody on this roster you see getting a call to play this summer for like maybe in that, in that maybe. They usually probably call a lot of these guys for, to play with some of the NBA guys in the and against Jamaica and Puerto Rico. But do you see a lot of these guys getting like, who do you see on this roster getting a call maybe for the World Cup?
[00:39:54] Speaker C: No, for sure. I think Gordy. If I were to kind of make an educated guess, I think Gordy's going to have more of a presence of European pros than just purely NBA players. You know, like we kind of saw in the last Olympics. I think this is going to be
[00:40:11] Speaker A: more of a mix going forward between
[00:40:12] Speaker C: NBA players and guys who, who are experienced in fiba. So Kyle Wilter would probably be my number one name who I think will be part of that like World cup squad going forward. But I also wouldn't be surprised if a guy like Jackson Rowe made that team. I wouldn't be surprised if a guy like Cassius Robertson even made that team as like a specialty shooter.
And then Charles be Diaco for sure. Just because the big men problem we have. Zach Edey is still injured. Don't know if he's going to play this summer with Canada. Wouldn't expect it. So those would be the three names I would. Yeah. Bidiaco, Roe and Wiltshire would probably be the three names that I could definitely see playing for. For the summer core.
[00:40:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree with that. I think the two names I'd probably look very closely at are Kyle Wilcher, Charles Bariako. You highlighted it clearly. Charles Bariaco. I think they're kind of trying to prep him up for that, for that role. Especially with the. I don't know, man.
We might have to tap into our younger talent pool for big man, but I don't know if they'll be ready by the time, you know, Olympics rolls around or anything like that. So Zach eating man, get healthy. We need you. We need you. Please, please stay healthy, man. That's. He's going to be key.
[00:41:24] Speaker C: Dwight Powell, welcome back.
[00:41:26] Speaker A: Dwight Powell, welcome back to the squad.
[00:41:28] Speaker B: I love Dwight Powell, but I don't know if I want to see that again.
I think it's. I'd rather go small ball. That cabin Gelli, suit up. You know it's time. I know you're doing your league basketball right now, but stay healthy.
It's a big, big next few years for you, man. Maybe he gets the who.
What's his name?
Yabu Selli. Call up to the NBA after he dominates in a World cup or something like that. Who knows, man. I can see that cabin girly man. Yeah. Kevin Gally, man. Suit up, get ready. We need you. Stay healthy. But Gordy Herbert, you mentioned him. Obviously going to you see him potentially relying on more overseas guys, European style play.
It's been almost a year though of no Gordy Herbert update. We know him and Bayern usually agreed to part ways in December.
So I was wondering maybe he makes an appearance early. I doubted it. But what are your thoughts? It's been almost a year and like not a war, not a peep. I don't doubt that he's doing his work, his groundwork, speaking to guys like Kyle Wilcher or came on the podcast, talked about him, obviously reaching out to him and he's probably talked to a lot of guys gone and visit a lot of NBA guys. But what are your thoughts on like no Goldie Herbert for a whole year leading up to potentially July?
[00:42:52] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean I think I've been
[00:42:54] Speaker A: critical of Canada basketball in the past for this kind of lack of transparency.
Maybe to give them the benefit of the doubt, they haven't been allowed to make him available for media or anything like that. But I wouldn't expect that to be the case considering he doesn't work for Bayern Munich anymore. So to me it's disappointing that they haven't made Herbert available for the media, even if it's remotely through like a zoom call. Like we have a new head coach like you said a year ago, and nobody in the general public knows anything about him because he hasn't been made available. They haven't done any media about him, introducing him. They're not even posting anymore on social media about like this roster. And this stuff, like this stuff has all come to us via email. Right, because we're press. But if you look at their social media pages, they haven't announced the roster, they haven't announced these games in Hamilton. So lack of transparency for me is disappointing.
[00:43:53] Speaker C: And I from talking to people, I
[00:43:56] Speaker A: do expect Gordy to be there even at these windows. I think he's going to be with the team. Obviously he now is freed up to do that without his job with Bayern.
So I actually expect him to be there and then I expect him to start coaching the team this July.
But yeah, I would wish Canada basketball made him a little bit more available, started introducing him to the public and stuff like that.
[00:44:19] Speaker B: Yeah, and it's not to say Gordy Herbert hasn't been around. I know during the FIBA America training camp, he was in Toronto, he was there. I could see him when, when they held a media availability, he was there. He did a coaches retreat around that time too with the, with the whole staff. So he's been around. It's just like you kind of like it's two years away from the Olympics and it's. There's not like, I don't know, maybe we're asking for too much. I don't know if we're asking for too much, but I don't get a hello, I don't get a high or anything. I like, I feel like there should be some sort of introduction and, and it's not to say like, Gordy's an established coach. He's won at the highest level. He's won a gold at the World Cup. He doesn't need to come to us and speak to us. But I do think there's be some sort of prep, some sort of like, hey, this is my vision, this is what it looks like. But it's also tough too, because there's a lot of like, basketball reporters. Obviously everyone's focused on the NBA, the Raptors, that kind of stuff. So maybe it's not going to be as in high demand during a time like this. So maybe maybe they're just waiting until like, okay, the summertime, everyone's going to focus on Canada basketball. This is when our roster drops. Here's Gordy. Here's where you talk to him. So, yeah, I'm not worried that he's not doing the groundwork, but I'm. I do wish we got to hear from him in some form, maybe make an appearance on this podcast, you know, so.
[00:45:44] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, they should. Yeah, they should get him for you. Yeah, no, it's not that. Like, he's definitely been talking to players and doing his groundwork. Gordy doesn't need the publicity, but Canada basketball does. Like, let's be honest, the FIFA World cup is coming to Toronto in the summer. That's what's going to be the storyline is Canada soccer this summer.
[00:46:02] Speaker B: Right.
[00:46:02] Speaker A: Like, nobody's going to be paying attention to these games in Hamilton other than the hardcore basketball fans. But to me, it's disappointing that he hasn't been made available to the media and stuff like that. Not because Gordy needs it, but because Canada basketball needs it. Like, they need to get this guy out there. They need to start selling his pitch, start selling his program, start having people understand what he wants to see going forward and stuff like that. So that. That's where I'm at.
[00:46:29] Speaker B: Yeah. And the one thing, even though I wasn't a fan of Nickners and like, all the stuff that happened with him, even the, the Jordy Fernandez stuff, I didn't like how it departed. Those guys are always around because you can you know, they're working in the NBA so they could. They were going to speak to you. They're going to say something, right. Just about stuff with. Within Canadian basketball, you know. But yeah, time will tell. Obviously you'll probably hear from Gordy eventually this summer, so.
[00:46:52] Speaker A: No, but I think that's a good point real quick. Like the fact that Nurse and Jordy, whenever they came through Toronto, they would get asked about the national team during their NBA teams. Right. And that just give free promotion to the national team. Now with Gordy, we haven't heard in a whole year a peep about the national team. So I think that's what's disappointing for me.
[00:47:10] Speaker B: Yeah. Talking about disappointment, would you be disappointed if this team does not go 20 in this window?
[00:47:16] Speaker A: A little bit, yeah. But I also think like especially that game in Puerto Rico. It's always hard to play in Puerto Rico. The fans are really good. It's a huge home court advantage. So I think. And they're 0:2 after losing two tight games to Jamaica. So I expect that game especially to be really hard.
[00:47:35] Speaker C: So I don't really, I don't think
[00:47:36] Speaker A: I'd be surprised at all if they went one and one in this window. But it's always disappointing at this point. That's the bar they've set is that they should always win these winter court games. So it would be a bit disappointing.
[00:47:48] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:47:48] Speaker B: Honestly wouldn't. Just because I feel like this roster was kind of like thrown together in necessity and if they lose Charles Beniako because of this college stuff, it'd be tough, honestly, I think to win two. So if, if they went to, I'd be impressed. And I think they have the leeway, even though I don't want to get this in. Nobody said they have the leeway at this point. Sitting on top of the group to obviously lose a game because they're getting the NBA guys this summer.
[00:48:16] Speaker C: Right.
[00:48:16] Speaker B: So they would likely take care of business, you'd hope against Puerto Rico and Jamaica this summer and easily advance to the second round of qualifications. But February 26th, Thursday, that's the first game against Puerto Rico and the second game on Sunday, March 1st against Jamaica.
[00:48:34] Speaker C: So.
[00:48:34] Speaker B: Yeah. Any last thoughts, Any last thoughts about this Canada basketball roster? Any Canadian basketball thoughts? It's been a while since the book launch. I know, I know.
[00:48:43] Speaker A: You're.
[00:48:43] Speaker B: You're in bc, right? What's going on over there?
[00:48:46] Speaker A: See, we're, we're doing an event tonight. Todd McCullough is going to pull up, be part of the panel.
[00:48:53] Speaker C: Should Be fun.
[00:48:54] Speaker A: But my, my only thoughts are, yeah, let's get, let's get people out. Let's get people, you know, supporting local sports. And even if people don't have TSM plus can't watch these games, you know, they don't have any excuse not to be at TMU or Brock or Carlton, you know, in the coming days for the OUA playoffs, support University basketball. You know, we got two Toronto teams in the semifinals of the OUA playoffs, so I hope people just go out and support and that's how we're going to build out this country as a basketball country and that's how we're going to overtake hockey.
[00:49:32] Speaker B: I don't want to jinx it, but it would be very cool to see TMU versus U of T in the finals. A Toronto basketball OUA championship game. I don't know if that's ever happened. If it has, probably back in the, in the early days, but that would make like, obviously, shout out to Brock. Shout out to. I think, what's the other team? Carlton? I think they're also in the, in the mix too. So shout out to them. But for as a Toronto guy, and I already know, I seen Dave Devera, I seen his coaching staff at a game this weekend watching some high school basketball. They're locked in on prep. They've lost two games to Brock earlier this year. So, man, Brock's got their number right now, but we'll see what happens. And yeah, you sports, basketball, man, it's. It's fun. We got to get more support out there. We got to watch it more. And please stop charging though. These, all these games are behind a paywall on oua. It's insane that I have to pay to watch OUA U sports basketball. That's literally should be illegal. Like whoever came up with, with that, literally we should have a conversation because. What are you doing? Just ruining the game. You're like literally making less people watch. I haven't watched a single game, to be honest, of esports playoff basketball. Because why am I going to pay if I can't make a game? Literally no sense, no sense. But I'll be in attendance on Wednesday. Should be fun. If you're there, hit me up, we'll chat. But yeah, Oren, I can't thank you enough for, for coming on and, and chatting with me. Any last thoughts?
[00:51:06] Speaker A: No, man, that's it.
[00:51:07] Speaker C: Just again, just encouraging people to, to get out there and watch local sports. But yeah, man, appreciate you having me on.
[00:51:16] Speaker A: And hopefully Canada keeps rolling through these. These Windows and 27 World Cup.
[00:51:21] Speaker C: They're in a better, more favorable group, you know, if they keep winning these games.
[00:51:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Shout out to Oren. Appreciate you coming on. Previewing Canada second window World cup qualifiers. This has been the Canadian Basketball show, your go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host, Lee Ben Osman and we out.
