The U Sports Men’s Basketball Championship is finally coming back to the University of Calgary after a 46-year absence. Since Calgary hosted the event in 1980, the profile of basketball in Canada has changed dramatically. “Calgary is a basketball town within a basketball country, too. The growth of the participation in the sport, the demographics that basketball brings in, it really shows the importance of the sport in the city,” said University of Calgary athletics director Ben Matchett. That enthusiasm for the sport was clear last September when the Toronto Raptors held their training camp at the university’s Jack Simpson Gymnasium. “The Stampede when we opened the doors to get down courtside was something I’ve never experienced before, and it was pretty cool,” Matchett told CTV News. The Final 8 begins Friday, March 6. The University of Calgary Dinos automatically have a spot in the tournament as hosts. Tipoff in their quarterfinal match will be 6 p.m. on March 6. By Sunday, a national champion will be determined.
