Toronto, ON – Who doesn’t love a good sequel? A few weeks back we took a look together at finding the best U SPORTS Men’s Hockey team of the 2010s and today we are going to try to find the kings of the U SPORTS Men’s Basketball court.

THE SAME DISCLAIMER AS LAST TIME: This is not my ranking system, this was developed by Bob Sturm now of the The Athletic way back in 2002 for the NFL, he brought it back in 2020 and The Athletic NHL used it for their Post-Lockout rankings between 2005 and 2020. This time we are going to give a nice U SPORTS Men’s Basketball Twist.

The Ground Rules Remain Mostly the Same

I had to add some adjustments for RSEQ otherwise only having five teams in the conference would severely overweight them.

Win the U SPORTS National Final: 11 Points

Make the U SPORTS National Final: 7 Points

Make U SPORTS Nationals: 5 Points

Make the Conference Final(OUA, Canada West, AUS): 4 Points

Make the Conference Final (RSEQ)/ Make the Conference Final Four (OUA, Canada West, AUS): 3 points

Make the Semifinals (RSEQ)/Make the Quarterfinals (OUA, AUS, Canada West) : 2 Points

Make the Play In 1st Round (Canada West and OUA): 1 point

There is no double-dipping so the point total each year is what ever tier the team reached. (I.E if they reached the U SPORTS final they get 7 points not 18 which would be every level added together). Lastly I am not going to count the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks because only one season in the OUA as an expansion team is too little to be fairly judged in my opinion.

Tier 1: The Perrenial Heavyweight

1. Carleton Ravens – 104 Points

2011: OUA Silver, CIS Gold
2012: OUA Gold, CIS Gold
2013: OUA Gold, CIS Gold
2014: OUA Silver, CIS Gold
2015: OUA Gold, CIS Gold
2016: OUA Silver, CIS Gold
2017: OUA Silver, U SPORTS Gold
2018: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Bronze
2019: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Gold
2020: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Gold

In perhaps the most unsurprising news of 2020, the Ravens top this list and it isn’t even close. Outside of losing in an upset in the U SPORTS Semi-final against Ryerson in 2018, the Ravens finished every year of the 2010s with a National championship and either OUA gold or silver. It can be summed up simply that the Ravens are the best program in Canada by a large margin.

Tier 2: The Heavyweights

2. Ryerson Rams – 42 Points

2011: OUA Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA Silver, CIS 6th
2013: OUA Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA 4th, CIS Bronze
2016: OUA Gold, CIS Bronze
2017: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Silver
2018: OUA Silver, U SPORTS Silver
2019: OUA Silver, U SPORTS Bronze
2020: OUA Quarterfinalist

The Ryerson Rams program truly peaked in the middle to back half of the 2010s but never hit the ultimate goal. Led by Head Coach Roy Rana now of the Sacramento Kings (and in 2015-2016 interim coach Patrick Tatham and 2019-20, Borko Popic) the Rams first made noise with their upstart run to the 2012 Wilson Cup final. When they hosted the 2015 CIS Final 8 and picked up their first Bronze medal that put the country on notice. Over the next four years Ryerson staked their claim with back to back OUA titles in 2016 and 2017 along with four straight years of U SPORTS medals. They never reached the ultimate goal but they were a strong team for the second half of the 2010s.

3. Alberta Golden Bears – 40 Points

2011: Canada West 4th
2012: Canada West Gold, CIS Silver
2013: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2014: Canada West Gold, CIS Bronze
2015: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2016: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS 7th
2018: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS 7th
2019: Canada West Semifinalist, U SPORTS 8th
2020: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS 5th

The Alberta Golden Bears come in as the top team in Canada West across the last 10 years. They have a full trophy case to show for it with three provincial titles and a national silver and bronze. Along with that, overall their 10 straight years of playoff appearances demonstrate their level of constant success.

4. uOttawa Gee-Gees – 40 Points

2011: OUA 4th
2012: OUA Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA Silver, CIS Bronze
2014: OUA Gold, CIS Silver
2015: OUA Bronze, CIS Silver
2016: OUA Bronze, CIS 6th
2017: OUA 4th
2018: OUA 1st Round
2019: OUA Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA Final Four, CIS 6th

The Carleton Raven’s fellow residents in Ottawa did not leave the 2010s with as stuffed a trophy case but they sustained success across much of the decade. Just like the Rams ,it was a strong four-year run for the Gee-Gees between 2013 and 2016 that catapulted them into attention. The peak being when they upset the Ravens to win the 2014 Wilson Cup. The Ravens got revenge defeating the Gee-Gees in the National title game in 2014 and 2015 but the Gee Gees left the 2010s with a significant amount of hardware.

5. Calgary Dinos – 37 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2016: Canada West Gold, CIS Silver
2017: Canada West Bronze, U SPORTS 5th
2018: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS Gold
2019: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS Silver
2020: Canada West Semifinalist, U SPORTS 8th

The Dinos are the only team in U SPORTS to topple the Carleton Ravens run of National Titles in the 2010s *after the Ryerson Rams toppled the Ravens themselves in the National Semi-finals in 2018. Either way the Dinos have a full trophy case coming out of the 2010s, three Canada West Golds and a Bronze along with the that U SPORTS Gold and two Silvers.

6. UBC Thunderbirds – 37 Points

2011: Canada West Gold, CIS Bronze
2012: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2013: Canada West Gold, CIS 8th
2014: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2015: Canada West 4th
2016: Canada West Bronze, CIS 5th
2017: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West Semifinalist
2019: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS 5th
2020: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS Bronze

The Thunderbirds reigned as the best in Canada West in the 2010s. They could not find a way to crack through Carleton at the national level but provincially they stuffed the trophy case with three golds, a silver and a bronze across 10 seasons. It was a very strong 2010s from the blue and gold in British Columbia.

7. Dalhousie Tigers – 38 Points

2011: AUS Gold, CIS 6th
2012: AUS Quarterfinal
2013: AUS Quarterfinal
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: AUS Gold, CIS 7th
2016: AUS Gold, CIS 4th
2017: AUS Gold, U SPORTS Bronze
2018: AUS Semifinalist
2019: AUS Gold, U SPORTS 4th
2020: AUS Gold, U SPORTS Silver

The Dalhousie Tigers ran away with the AUS in terms of the 2010s. Six Provincial Titles stuffed the Tigers trophy case to a breaking point. Like 99% of U SPORTS the Tigers did not find National Gold success but still picked up a 2017 Bronze and a 2020 Silver for their efforts.

8. McGill – 36 Points

2011: QSSF Semifinalist
2012: RSEQ Semifinalist
2013: RSEQ Gold, CIS 5th
2014: RSEQ Gold, CIS 5th
2015: RSEQ Silver
2016: RSEQ Gold, CIS 7th
2017: RSEQ Gold, U SPORTS 4th
2018: RSEQ Gold, U SPORTS 4th
2019: RSEQ Semifinalist
2020: RSEQ Semifinalist

McGill is red but they were golden in RSEQ in the 2010s. Five RSEQ Titles in six seasons with the 2015 Final still giving them a Silver. They never turned that success into a national title but they were easily one of the strongest teams of the 2010s.

9. Saint Mary’s Huskies – 35 Points

2011: AUS Quarterfinalist
2012: AUS Semifinalist
2013: AUS Semifinalist
2014: AUS Gold, CIS 6th
2015: AUS Silver
2016: AUS Semifinalist,
2017: AUS Silver, U SPORTS 6th
2018: AUS Quarterfinalist
2019: AUS Silver, U SPORTS 6th
2020: AUS Semifinalist

The Saint Mary’s Huskies had a very strong 2010s. An AUS gold in 2014 was the peak of their wins but three additional silvers helped grow their accomplishments.

10. Concordia Stingers – 30 Points

2011: QSSF Gold, CIS 7th
2012: RSEQ Gold, CIS 7th
2013: RSEQ Semifinalist
2014: RSEQ Semifinalist
2015: RSEQ Semifinalist
2016: RSEQ Semifinalist
2017: RSEQ Semifinalist
2018: RSEQ Silver
2019: RSEQ Gold, U SPORTS 7th
2020: RSEQ Semifinalist

The Concordia Stingers put in a strong showing in RSEQ across the 2010s. They never were able to turn that success into national success with those three seventh-place finishes but three RSEQ gold medals is nothing to be disappointed in across 10 years.

Tier 3: The Light Heavyweights

11. Saskatchewan Huskies – 30 Points

2011: Canada West Silver, CIS 4th
2012: Canada West Bronze
2013: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2014: Canada West Bronze, CIS 6th
2015: Canada West Silver, CIS 5th
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Canada West 4th
2018: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2019: Canada West Semifinalist
2020: Canada West Quarterfinalist

They couldn’t find that elusive championship but the Huskies were strong team consistently across the 2010s. Two silver and two bronze give them a decent amount of hardware and if you discount the anomaly of missing the playoffs in 2016 they consistently put up strong seasons.

12. Acadia Axemen – 29 Points

2011: AUS Silver, CIS 8th
2012: AUS Gold, CIS 5th
2013: AUS Silver, CIS 4th
2014: AUS Semifinalist
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: AUS Semifinalist
2017: AUS Semifinalist
2018: AUS Quarterfinalist, U SPORTS 6th
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

Outside of hosting the 2018 U SPORTS Championship in 2018 the Axemen struggled across the back half of the decade. In the first few years though they were one of the best in the AUS with three straight trips to the National Championship bookending a 2012 AUS Gold, their first AUS Gold since 2007.

13. St FX X-Men – 27 Points

2011: AUS Semifinalist
2012: AUS Silver, CIS Bronze
2013: AUS Semifinalist
2014: AUS Silver
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: AUS Quarterfinalist
2018: AUS Silver
2019: AUS Quarterfinalist
2020: AUS Silver

The X-Men end the 2010s with a respectable amount of hardware. Four AUS Silver Medals including one that punched a ticket to the 2012 CIS National Championships where they got a bronze is an admirable showing. It is not the same as the 2000s in which the X-Men picked up five AUS titles and two CIS golds but it was still a respectable decade.

14. Victoria Vikes – 25 Points

2011: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2012: Canada West 4th
2013: Canada West Silver, CIS 6th
2014: Canada West Silver, CIS 4th
2015: Canada West Gold, CIS 4th
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Canada West 1st Round
2018: Canada West 1st Round
2019: Canada West 1st Round
2020: Canada West Quarterfinalist

The Victoria Vikes had their best stretch of the 2010s between 2013 and 2015 when they made it to the Canada West Championship three times in a row before finally taking gold in 2015. It did not translate into success nationally but it was still a successful year.

15. Fraser Valley Cascades – 23 Points

2011: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2012: Canada West Silver, CIS 4th
2013: Canada West 4th
2014: Canada West 4th
2015: Canada West Bronze
2016: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West 1st Round
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2020: Canada West Quarterfinalist

Fraser Valley slots right into the second tier of Canada West teams. Strong moments including a 2012 trip to the National Championship following a Canada West Silver, but also never quite being the best team in Canada West.

16. McMaster Marauders – 23 Points

2011: OUA Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA Final Four
2013: OUA Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA Bronze, CIS 6th
2015: OUA Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA 1st Round
2019: OUA Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA Quarterfinalist

McMaster had a frustrating decade. This was a team that had first round in year after year and still only made it out of the Quarterfinals twice. Obviously their best season came in 2014 picking up their only hardware with an OUA Bronze medal.

17. UNB Reds – 23 Points

2011: AUS Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: AUS Quarterfinalist
2015: AUS Semifinalist
2016: AUS Quarterfinalist
2017: AUS Semifinalist
2018: AUS Gold, U SPORTS 8th
2019: AUS Semifinalist
2020: AUS Semifinalist

The UNB Reds are not unlike a lot of teams in U SPORTS basketball across the 2010s. Some bad seasons, a couple okay seasons and one great season in 2018 which won their first AUS Gold Medal since 1967.

18. Windsor Lancers – 23 Points

2011: OUA Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA 4th
2014: OUA 4th
2015: OUA Silver, CIS 6th
2016: OUA 4th
2017: OUA 1st Round
2018: OUA Final Four
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: OUA 1st Round

Windsor embodies the phrase, “always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” The Lancers managed to lose three bronze medal games and a gold medal game in the 2010s. The 2014 OUA Silver gave them some hardware to hold on to but you feel like this team had more in it.

19. Cape Breton Capers – 22 Points

2011: AUS Semifinalist
2012: AUS Semifinalist
2013: AUS Gold, CIS 7th
2014: AUS Quarterfinalist
2015: AUS Quarterfinalist
2016: AUS Quarterfinalist
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: AUS Semifinalist
2020: AUS Quarterfinalist

For the AUS squad from Cape Breton their peak of the decade came in 2013 with their AUS Gold Medal which booked them a trip to the 2013 National Championships. Otherwise they comfortably sit right in the middle of AUS teams that were just good enough.

20. Lakehead Thunderwolves – 21 Points

2011: OUA Gold, CIS 5th
2012: OUA Final Four, CIS 8th
2013: OUA Bronze, CIS Silver
2014: OUA 1st Round
2015: OUA Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA 1st Round
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: OUA 1st Round
2020: OUA 1st Round

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Thunderwolves opened the decade with a bang, picking up the 2011 Wilson Cup. They followed up with back to back trips to the OUA Final Four including an OUA Bronze and National Silver in 2013. After that though? They really have just became another first round fodder team in the OUA West. They started strong but have a ways to get back to that peak.

Tier 4: The Middleweights

21, Bishops Gaiters – 20 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: RSEQ Silver
2014: RSEQ Silver
2015: RSEQ Gold, CIS 8th
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: RSEQ Semifinalist
2019: RSEQ Semifinalist
2020: RSEQ Gold, U SPORTS 7th

Bishop’s had a roller coaster of a decade. Starting slow, leading into a pair of RSEQ silvers before finally winning Gold in 2015. Crashing to last place for the next two seasons, then losing in the semifinal twice before winning Gold again. All told it gives the Gaiters an impressive trophy case for a solid decade.

22, Laurier Golden Hawks – 19 Points

2011: OUA Final Four
2012: OUA 1st Round
2013: OUA 1st Round
2014: OUA Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA 1st Round
2017: OUA 1st Round
2018: OUA Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA Final Four
2020: OUA Final Four

The Golden Hawks most memorable moments of the 2010s came in their two trips to the OUA Final Four in 2019 and 2020. In 2019 Laurier hosted their first Conference Semifinal matchup since 1976 but fell to Ryerson 99-84. In 2020 the Golden Hawks had one of the wildest OUA Semifinal games of all time as they squared off against the Western Mustangs. Guard Ali Sow’s 41 points duelled against three Mustangs scoring over 20 with Western ultimately taking the game in overtime 104-103.

23. Manitoba Bisons – 19 Points

2011: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Canada West 1st Round
2016: Canada West 4th
2017: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS 8th
2018: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2019: Canada West 1st Round
2020: Canada West Semifinalist

The Bisons are another team entrenched in the second tier of Canada West. One magic season in 2017 that led to a Silver medal and a trip to Nationals and eight relatively decent years altogether. Not the best but not the worst, a good B overall.

24. UQAM Citadins – 19 Points

2011: QSSF Semifinalist
2012: RSEQ Silver
2013: RSEQ Semifinalist
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: RSEQ Silver
2017: RSEQ Silver
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: RSEQ Silver
2020: RSEQ Silver

You have to feel for the Citadins, in a five team conference in RSEQ they managed to finish in second 5 out of the 5 times they made the RSEQ Championship. I suppose the goal in the 2020s is get that elusive title.

25. Laurentian Voyageurs – 18 Points

2011: OUA 1st Round
2012: OUA Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA 1st Round
2020: OUA Quarterfinalist

The Voyageurs disappointed me in this decade. The reason being they had one of they most prolific scorers in Kadre Gray and couldn’t find a way to get past the OUA Quarterfinals. I can absolutely commend them for 10 straight appearances but what do they have to show for it?

26. Western Mustangs – 17 Points

2011: OUA Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: OUA Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA 1st Round
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: OUA Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA Final Four
2020: OUA Silver, CIS 4th

The Western Mustangs had a subpar decade with a strong ending. Like a lot of middle of the pack OUA teams they were able to make the playoffs and occasionally pick up a play-in round win but in the last two years they took off. In 2019, the Mustangs got to the OUA Final Four before losing an 89-88 heartbreaker against the Brock Badgers. In 2020, Western got their own opportunity to give some heartbreak to the Laurier Golden Hawks with a 104-103 OT win in the Semifinals before inevitably falling to the Carleton Ravens in the Wilson Cup. They did get to their first National Championship of the decade though which can make it fair to say they ended the decade on a high note.

27. Brock Badgers – 15 Points

2011: Missed the Playoffs
2012: OUA 1st Round
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: OUA 1st Round
2016: OUA Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA Bronze
2018: OUA Final Four, U SPORTS 5th
2019: OUA Final Four
2020: OUA 1st Round

Only one medal (the 2017 Bronze) sits in the Badgers trophy case but they had a fascinating decade. Between 2014 and 2018 the Badgers went from missing the playoffs all the way to playing in the National Championship. It was not the grand success that they may have hoped but among second tier OUA teams the Badgers had a strong showing.

28. Laval Rouge et Or – 15 Points

2011: QSSF Silver
2012: RSEQ Semifinalist
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: RSEQ Semifinalist
2015: RSEQ Semifinalist
2016: RSEQ Semifinalist
2017: RSEQ Semifinalist
2018: RSEQ Semifinalist
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Rouge et Or just could not break through in the 2010s. After their 2011 silver, they lost in the semifinals in six of the next seven seasons. They slipped hard into last place in the last two season so it will be a challenge to get back to the playoffs and hopefully they can finally break through.

Tier 5: The Welterweights

29. Lethbridge Pronghorns – 14 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Canada West 1st Round
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West Semifinalist
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2020: Canada West Quarterfinalist

Did the Pronghorns make the playoffs seven times in ten seasons? Yes, did they do anything really significant? No, so this is about where that puts you.

30. UPEI Panthers – 14 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: AUS Quarterfinalist
2013: AUS Quarterfinalist
2014: AUS Semifinalist
2015: AUS Semifinalist
2016: AUS Silver
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Panthers had the weakest decade of the AUS with only one AUS medal in 2016 to show for their efforts. The hope will be in 2020 to break the four year streak of missing the playoffs.

31. Thompson Rivers Wolfpack – 13 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2015: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2016: Canada West Silver, CIS 8th
2017: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West 1st Round
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Canada West 1st Round

The Wolfpack had an up and down decade. They started poorly missing the playoffs three straight seasons but across the middle really found their momentum. They peaked in 2016 with a Canada West Silver and a trip to the CIS National Championships but overall it was a respectable decade for the Wolfpack.

32. Winnipeg Wesmen – 13 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Canada West Bronze
2014: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2015: Canada West Round 1
2016: Canada West Round 1
2017: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West Round 1
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2020: Canada West Round 1

The Wesmen have one medal to their name in the 2010s with a Canada West Bronze in 2013 and beyond that they have essentially been first round fodder for most of the decade.

33. Memorial Seahawks – 11 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: AUS Quarterfinalist
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: AUS Quarterfinalist
2018: AUS Semifinalist
2019: AUS Quarterfinalist
2020: AUS Quarterfinalist

The Seahawks have been remarkably average across the 2010s. five playoff appearances but only one win, so right near the lower middle is where they fit best.

34. Queen’s Gaels – 9 Points

2011: Missed the Playoffs
2012: Missed the Playoffs
2013: OUA 1st Round
2014: OUA 1st Round
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: OUA Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA 1st Round
2018: OUA 1st Round
2019: OUA Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA 1st Round

The Queen’s Gaels have a storied history in U SPORTS hockey, in U SPORTS basketball their last Wilson Cup came in 1957. The Gaels of the last decade were a lot like the other teams in the middle of the OUA, a couple interesting seasons scattered about in 2016 and 2019 and consistency in making the playoffs across seven of ten seasons. At the same time like other OUA teams the Gaels trophy case sits frustratingly empty after the 2010s.

35. Regina Cougars – 9 Points

2011: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West 1st Round
2018: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2020: Canada West 1st Round

The Cougars actually did a respectable job turning their program around after a dismal first half of the 2010s. Five straight playoff appearances and a few upsets along the way give me hope for the future in Regina.

36. Toronto Varsity Blues – 8 Points

2011: OUA Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA 1st Round
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: OUA 1st Round
2016: OUA 1st Round
2017: OUA Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA 1st Round
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

Much the same as their hockey program the Varsity Blues Basketball program struggled through much of the 2010s. The program did qualify for the playoffs in six season but only managed to make it out of the play-in round twice.

37. Trinity Western Spartans – 8 Points

2011: Canada West Bronze, CIS Silver
2012: Canada West 1st Round
2013: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Spartans had one high and a whole lot of lows in the 2010s. In 2011 TWU had their best season of the decade with a Canada West Bronze and going all the way to the 2011 National Final where they fell to the Carleton Ravens. Since then it’s been a lot of lows with seven straight missed playoffs and this past season had an ineligible player debacle with star Ja’Qualyn Gilbreath. It will take a lot to get this once top team back with the best.

38. Guelph Gryphons – 7 Points

2011: OUA 1st Round
2012: OUA Quarterfinalist
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: OUA 1st Round
2015: OUA 1st Round
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: OUA 1st Round
2020: OUA 1st Round

Yet another team stuck in the mushy middle of the OUA. The Gryphons made the playoffs six times but only have one win to show for it. It is a frustrating life for teams in the middle of the OUA, never quite peaking at the right times but also good enough to be dissapointed.

39. York Lions – 6 Points

2011: OUA 1st Round
2012: OUA 1st Round
2013: OUA 1st Round
2014: OUA 1st Round
2015: OUA 1st Round
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: OUA 1st Round
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Lions spent most of the 2010s declawed (I’m sorry for that). Seriously though, York did rattle off five straight play-in round appearances but across the six times overall they made it they couldn’t find a way to win.

Tier 6: The Lightweights

40. Brandon Bobcats – 5 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Canada West 1st Round
2018: Canada West 1st Round
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2020: Canada West 1st Round

The Bobcats had a very poor first six seasons missing the playoffs in each but have managed to get a spot in four straight. The goal for them will be getting out of the Canada West Quarterfinals and to as far as they can take themselves.

41. UNBC Timberwolves – 5 Points

2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2019: Canada West 1st Round
2020: Missed Playoffs

Another young program at only eight seasons in Canada West, three playoff appearances is respectable for UNBC. They have to hope for more though in the 2020s.

42. Waterloo Warriors – 3 Points

2011: OUA 1st Round
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: OUA 1st Round
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: OUA 1st Round
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

Between 1973 and 1987 the Waterloo Warriors won the Wilson Cup seven times. This program is what feels like a million miles from those heights at this point. Missing the Playoffs seven times and really just being first round fodder the other three times leaves the Warriors without a lot of answers on where to go. With Troy Stevenson transitioning fully into the Head Coaching role it will be up to him to help the Warriors out of the abyss.

43. Nipissing Lakers – 2 Points

2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: OUA Quarterfinalist
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Nipissing Lakers do have the Caveat of only having played half of the decade in the OUA but it has not really been a successful six seasons. The peak of the Lakers basketball program so far was in 2017 when they won a nail-biting 77-74 win over the Queen’s Gaels to advance to the OUA Quarterfinals where the nationally ranked Ryerson Rams took care of them. Heading into the new decade the Lakers are left to hope for the future.

44. MacEwan Griffins – 1 Point

2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Canada West 1st Round
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

Much like the Lakers in the OUA, the Griffins have only been in Canada West for six seasons. That time has mostly been spent at the bottom of the conference save for 2016 when they lost a tight first round series to the Alberta Golden Bears. The Griffins are still in reality a young program and they have to look to the future more than anything.

45. Mount Royal Cougars – 1 Point

2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Canada West Round 1
2020: Missed Playoffs

Eight seasons in and only one point for the LA Clippers to the Calgary Dinos LA Lakers.

46. Algoma Thunderbirds – 0 Points

2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The “They haven’t played the full decade” caveat exists but I don’t really know what difference it would make as Algoma puts up the first goose egg in these rankings. I have absolutely nothing against the Thunderbirds but they have missed the playoffs in every season since joining the OUA prior to 2013-2014 and it has never really been that much of a surprise.

47. UBCO Heat – 0 Points

2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

I mean I don’t have much I can say about the Heat except that they essentially spent the decade extinguished.