A New Flight for the Eagles
A recap of the men’s tri-campus basketball team’s season so far
The 2025-2026 season was looking like a fresh start for the Men’s Tri-campus Basketball team as more than half the squad from the previous season consisted of seniors who have graduated. With the veterans, including both captains, now gone, many wondered how the Eagles were going to come back from this.
New faces, same mindset
Before the tryouts even began, people were asking how the team could rebuild with questions like, “Who’s going to be on the team now?” and “Who will the new captains be?” beginning to circulate around campus. This was only natural as change is something people won’t ever get used to. However, this was no problem for the team of young talent and returning students who are continuing to make a name for themselves rather than filling in the big shoes left from last year.
Practices are where it all started for the new Eagles as they managed to hit it off immediately. They all shared something in common—the hunger to win it all. The team looked promising and showed lots of potential, regardless of the unfortunate loss against Humber after coming up short in an exhibition game. The Eagles were a new team going against similar rosters from the year before. UTM’s rough start to the season continued into the regular season with two tough losses as well as some unforeseen events against UTSG Blue and UTSG Red at home. The poor results did not blur their vision that they all shared from the start. Team performance was and is more important than wins or losses. With this mindset, the Eagles went to the Goldring for their first away game to face UTSG Blue knowing what they had to do to win and ultimately coming out on top in an intense game.
Going into practice for the last game before the New Year, the Eagles were pumped and we’re starting to see what they were truly capable of. The team knew that the perfect way to end the year was to beat the defending champions at home—UTSC.
A dramatic finish to an enthralling game
This realization helped theEagles remain calm despite the fact that they were going into the game shorthanded with players missing due to injuries and other series of unfortunate events. To start the game, the Eagles kept it close and continued to trade baskets with UTSC. However, halftime hit and going back into the second half, it seemed as if the momentum for the Eagles began to die down.
For every missed opportunity that the eagles had, UTSC kept them in place and translated those possessions into points that gradually increased their lead. Despite this, the Eagles knew that the only thing that signifies the game is over is the final buzzer. With this in mind, they knew a comeback starts with the little things, and it came down to the Eagles staying disciplined on defense, making the extra pass for a better shot, diving for every loose ball, and trusting each other to give it their all on the floor. This brought the Eagles back in the game and cut the lead to only three with the score 70-67. It all came down to an inbounds play that Coach Howard drew up in a timeout during the final seconds of the game.
Coach Howard knew they needed a good chance from the three point line, and trusted Ricky Hu, a first year, to take the big shot. In a sideline inbounds play, Ricky came from the block on the side of the inbounds, where he received the ball and let it fly. Before this moment, Coach Howard assessed the team’s shooting capabilities in practices to figure out who the “green-light” shooters are, Hu was one of them. Even without this assessment, no one needed to tell Ricky how good his shot was, even if he was having an off day. Unfortunately for UTSC, Ricky was not having an off day. He drained a contested shot off the dribble from way beyond the arc. The game ultimately ended in a draw but proved to the Eagles and everyone else that the adversities you face are not what defines you. It’s about how you overcome them.
Going into the New Year, the Eagles will continue to prove who they are and what they’re worth as a team. As a young squad, they are bound to improve during the rest of this season and future seasons as well, as they look to become the next Men’s basketball Tri campus champions.
The Eagles return to the court on Sunday, March 1, at 1:00 pm to take on UTSC (University of Toronto Scarborough) at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Come support your Eagles on the road as they look to make the playoffs.
