The NAIT Ooks men's basketball team led by Head Coach Mike Connolly are looking to grind their way back to the top of the ACAC in 2017-2018 after a season of unfortunate setbacks.

At the Christmas break, the Ooks found themselves 1^st in ACAC and #4 in the CCAA. At the beginning of the second semester, NAIT faced a few setbacks. Some season-ending injuries combined with an academic eligibility issue, depleted the roster taking away three starters and an important bench player. The team battled hard and finished the season 17-7 and 2-1 in the ACAC championship tournament

"We were disappointed with our results at the ACAC championship tourney, but we also felt fulfilled, fulfilled in that the team competed and worked together to achieve the results we earned," said Coach Mike Connolly. "We play to win, but we can take away the intangibles of staying together as a group, we worked hard for the group. Last year's team was selfless."

NAIT is returning all eligible players from last year's team. They have added some depth at key positions and have added a very talented group of freshmen to learn the team's culture and will be leaned upon in key situations as the season moves forward.

"We have a deeper team this year with some over-all good size. We will need to defend well and play together while being mentally tougher than our opposition to have success," said Coach Connolly.

Connolly's squad will be hosting the Briercrest Clippers this Saturday at 3 pm in a Preseason game, before they head to British Columbia where they will face two USport opponents at Thompson Rivers University and the University of Northern British Columbia. The Ooks will open up there season at home against the Concordia Thunder on Oct.13 at 1:00 pm as a part of NAIT Open House.