Image credit: Will Thompson

By Marty Hastings

CANADA WEST

‘They slept on us’: WolfPack men post historic wins over UBC, finding motivation in coaches’ poll

Nov 4, 2025 | 5:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — Tommy Olsen had known only defeat in games against the UBC Thunderbirds — seven losses over four years, a few of them lopsided.

“It was just nice to go in there and get two huge wins and make program history,” said Olsen, a fifth-year TRU WolfPack forward from Surrey.

TRU earned its first sweep over UBC in Vancouver since joining U Sports in 2005, topping the T-Birds 85-74 on Friday and 73-68 on Saturday in War Memorial Gym.

The wins marked the WolfPack’s fourth and fifth victories over the Thunderbirds in program history and the first since 2016.

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“I think we’re really being slept on,” Olsen said. “Coming in ranked 14th [in a Canada West pre-season coaches’ poll], I don’t think people considered our transfers,” Olsen said. “They saw we lost a bunch of guys and they slept on us. They forgot about us.”

Jayden Stephens is among the first-year recruits to whom Olsen is referring.

He voiced his displeasure with the coaches’ poll last week — noting he felt tossed aside like garbage — and backed his words up on the weekend, leading the ‘Pack in scoring in both victories over UBC, the fourth-ranked team in the country.

“I just feel like our team was well prepared and we were mentally stronger than them,” said Stephens, who is fourth in Canada West scoring and averaging 24 points per game.

“Our team definitely has something to prove. What it says is respect your opponents. Don’t come into the game thinking you’re just going to win off talent. Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

TRU (3-0) is among three undefeated teams in Canada West, along with the reigning Canada West champions, the Calgary Dinos (2-0) and U Sports champions, the Victoria Vikes (4-0).

“If you’re looking at these games and see the results, obviously you think TRU can play with anybody, compete with anybody,” WolfPack head coach Chad Jacobson said.

“We’re not really worried what other people might be thinking about us. We’re trying to get better every time we’re on the floor. I believe in the group we have. The group believes in each other.”

The WolfPack have yet to play a home game and will square off twice against the MacEwan Griffins (2-2) this weekend in Edmonton.

“They’re a much-improved team,” Jacobson said. “They’ve got a new coach this year. They brought in a lot more talent. They’ve got some athleticism. They already have a couple of big wins.”

Whether rookie Cason Scott makes his much-ballyhooed debut for TRU this weekend remains to be seen.

The Westsyde Secondary graduate is among the most highly touted players in his age group in the country.

Scott was a full participant in practise on Tuesday for the first time since suffering an injury in TRU’s pre-season opener on Oct. 3 in St. Catharines, Ont.

“Sitting on the bench, you still learn a lot, so I’ve been trying to try to make sure I’m still taking everything in,” Scott said. “I feel like when I get back, I’ll be just as confident — if not more — going into it because I have that little bit of experience just watching the guys play.”