From the same group who put on the fantastic Atlantic Slam a season ago, On Ice Entertainment, and in conjunction with the ENMAX Center and the City of Lethbridge, another new Canadian event will be coming your way this upcoming basketball season, the Western Slam. Dates are set for November 28-30 with an identical format. Three games per squad, full round-robin event.
WHY THE WESTERN SLAM?
The Western Slam invites the entire community to rally behind College Basketball, creating a collective spirit that will resonate both on and off the court.
The Western Slam Event stands as the only NCAA Division I event of its kind in the Western Canadian region, marking a significant milestone for both the event and the city of Lethbridge, Alberta.
The event promises not only an electrifying spectacle but also a substantial economic boost for the community.
The Western Slam Event 2024 celebrates the essence and significance of NCAA college basketball, highlighting the talent and dedication of young athletes and the vital role of collegiate sports in shaping athletes' futures.
THE FIELD
KENNESAW STATE - The Owls program soared to new heights in 2023 by winning the ASUN Tournament and Regular Season trophies. That led to several opportunities for the former staff to advance their careers and for the Owls to hire a well-respected rising Head Coach in Antoine Pettway. Now KSU is also on the move. The Owls will compete in Conference USA for the first time. There’s no doubt that the competitive Western Slam will help prepare them for a tougher league. Simeon Cottle is coming off of a splendid Sophomore season and will continue to lead this group into 24-25 as a Junior.
KENT STATE - The Golden Flashes have been consistently successful in the MAC. They followed up a run to the 2023 NCAA Tournament with a run to the 2024 MAC Championship Game a season ago. Head Coach Rob Senderhoff received excellent news when VonCameron Davis decided to remove his name out of the portal and return to Kent State. Davis will help lead a talented group during the 24-25 campaign.
TOWSON - The always competitive Tigers will continue its trend of scheduling challenging games this coming season under Pat Skerry. The Tigers program has finished in the Top 150 of KenPom rankings in three consecutive seasons. They’ve fallen short in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament for three straight years. So Towson will be hungry and on a mission all year long to get over that hump. Towson plans to bring back as many as eight significant contributors for the upcoming year.
UC IRVINE - Off of another Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, Russell Turner and the Anteaters will be ready to come to Canada and learn more about this new team. Losing Derin Saran and Carter Welling certainly isn’t ideal, however, UCI does have a good chunk of production coming back. That list includes the big man, Bent Leuchten, who was in the portal for a while but opted to return.
THE SCHEDULE
At Press Time - all games are tentatively scheduled and subject to a different order.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH
UC Irvine vs. Kennesaw State
Towson vs. Kent State
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH
Kennesaw State vs. Towson
Kent State vs. UC Irvine
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH
Kent State vs. Kennesaw State
UC Irvine vs. Towson
THE VENUE
EnMax Centre
A 5,479-seat multi-purpose arena, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Renovations to upgrade the facility were completed in spring 2012. Among the improvements are an expansion of 40,809 square feet, the addition of 18 luxury suites, improved concessions and washrooms, a new press box, and a restaurant/lounge.