Given the glorious success of last week’s predictions by Swatter and myself, we’ve gotten back on the horse and are throwing out some thoughts on the Canada West conference playoffs that begin this weekend. So here’s us telling you how it’s going down, hopefully with spectacular results:

GREAT PLAINS DIVISION

#2 Regina at #1 Brandon

The most important player in the series will be (And why):
Sawatzky: I’m torn between Adam Hartman and Yul Michel, two fifth year guys playing their final games at the BU Gym. Ultimately, I’m picking Michel, because I don’t think there’s anyone on the Cougars who can contain him in transition and/or stop him from getting to the rim for steady stream of right-handed layups. The second most important player will be Regina’s Jeff Lukomski. He was 6-19 from the field in ast year’s Great Plains final, and the BU faithful were screaming for is head every time he touched the ball. Can he shut them up this time round?
Larkins: I’m throwing a bit of a curveball here and saying Brandon’s Yuri Whyms or — conversely — Regina’s Jamal Williams. If Whyms, and in relief Stevens Marcelin, can get theirs inside, the Cougars are going to be back on their heels. They’re going to have enough of a handful with BU’s backcourt, so if the big guys are also rolling for Brandon, that could make this a painful death to Regina’s season. On the other hand, if Williams — or even Kris Heshka — establishes himself and puts Whyms in foul trouble, well they’ve eliminated a weapon.

Regina will win because:
Sawatzky: Brandon is looking ahead to the Final Four (you have to think they’re going regardless of what happens this weekend).
Larkins: They can play the “no one believes in us” card and get fired up to be the team that no one is counting on to even win a game. Playing with a chip on your shoulder is a good intangible.

Brandon will win because:
Sawatzky: The Bobcats have won 10 straight against the Cougars, the Brandon faithful will be out for blood, and a trio of ‘Cats are playing their final games at the BU Gym… all of it adds up to a sweep.
Larkins: There really has been something going on with Brandon on home floor. The Bobcats have won games by blowouts, by getting ahead big and then hanging on, and by grasping victory from games that look like sure losses. It’s arguably the best home-court advantage in the conference and that’s why they win.

Final prediction (in games):
Sawatzky: Brandon in two.
Larkins: Brandon in three.

CENTRAL DIVISION

#2 Alberta at #1 Calgary

The most important player in the series will be (And why):
Sawatzky: All year long, people have mocked Larkins and me for giving lots of love to the Bekkerings. You people are idiots. That said, I’m picking Alberta’s C.G. Morrison. Great name, and something tells me he’s going to catch fire from the perimeter.
Larkins: Alberta’s Richard Bates. The Calgary posts are a tough group to handle, but Bates is one guy who could help the Bears win the battles down low. Truly it will be a team effort to win those battles, but if the 6-foot-11 Bates has a big weekend, Alberta might have the road win.

Alberta will win because:
Sawatzky: Do I need to-rehash the Don Horwood conspiracy theory? No? Well, in that case, I’ll say Alberta wins because a bunch of my friends have already booked non-refundable flights to Calgary for the Final Four, and the basketball gods frown upon assumption. The drive from Calgary to Edmonton is almost as boring as the drive from Brandon to Winnipeg. Enjoy it, boys.
Larkins: Alberta — with Horwood as the figurehead — is more battle-tested. The Bears will find a way.

Calgary will win because:
Sawatzky: The Bekkerings are good dunkers.
Larkins: They’re at home and we need not remind you that they’ve pumped U of A twice on that floor (95-74, 98-73).

Final prediction (in games):
Sawatzky: I made two upset picks last weekend (Winnipeg and Saskatchewan)… but I didn’t actually believe either team would win. Somebody has to keep this site fun and interesting, and since Larkins isn’t bringing the razzle-dazzle, I tried to step up. This week, I’m going with my gut… and my gut tells me Alberta gets the job done. U of A in three.
Larkins: Calgary in two.

PACIFIC DIVISION

#2 Victoria at #1 UBC

The most important player in the series will be (And why):
Sawatzky: When Blaine LaBranche played for the Bobcats in 2002-03… me, him, and Gene Shipley (he of San Jose City College fame) went to Boston Pizza one night for some grub. When the waitress brought us our cokes, Blaine couldn’t believe how thin the straws were. As such, he asked her to find us some thick straws. The waitress said they didn’t have thick straws. Blaine said they had to have thick straws somewhere. The waitress went to the back, and no less than two minutes later, she returned… with three thick straws in her hand. Moral of the story: Blaine LaBranche knows how to get the job done.
Larkins: I’m cheating here and saying a thing rather than a person. The Vikes D is the most important thing in this series. If UVic locks down and makes these games in the 60-70 point range, Victoria has a shot. If it gets to be more in UBC’s mode, then forget it. Victoria has to lock it down.

UBC will win because:
Sawatzky: I just said… Blaine LaBranche knows how to get the job done.
Larkins: There’s more weapons and they can fill it up, not what Victoria wants to see.

Victoria will win because:
Sawatzky: In a bizarre pre-game twist, Victoria coach Craig Beaucamp manages to convince UBC coach Kevin Hanson that this series is actually part of next month’s CIS National Championship. When Hanson relays this message to his team, it causes them to implode and the Vikes cruise to back-to-back 40-point wins.
Larkins: They’re one of the best teams (maybe the best) at taking teams out of what they want to do. Again, a defensive game is right up their alley and an absolute must for them to win this thing.

Final prediction (in games):
Sawatzky: UBC in three.
Larkins: UBC in three.