Competing in his first regular season action in the Canada West Conference, Ross Bekkering is the Dino of the Week for November 1, 2005.

On Friday night, despite the 97-89 loss, Bekkering was the talk of the Dinos line-up. Showing his ability to rebound, score, and to handle the pressure himself bringing the ball up the floor, Ross was everywhere. Skying for rebounds, and hitting key jump shots, Ross finished the game 9-11 from the field for 22 points in only 25 minutes of action. Ross also finished 4-4 from the line, grabbed 8 rebounds, and added 1 block and 1 steal.

On Saturday night, Ross continued his strong play. Despite poor shooting from the floor, Ross made 8-11 free throws, and finished with 12 points in 26 minutes of action. Ross once again added 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 assist in an all around game.

This weekend, the Dinos continue to prep for Canada West League play when they travel to TCU and Southern Mississippi to play in two NCAA exhibition games.

An early season exhibition trip to Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas and Hattiesburg, Mississippi is on tap for the Calgary Dinos this coming weekend. The boys will play two NCAA Div. 1 opponents starting with Texas Christian University ( Fort Worth).

The purple clad ‘Horned Frogs’ are moving leagues this season. After having played in Conference USA with the likes of Louisvillle, Memphis, and Marquette, the ‘Frogs will switch to the Mountain West. The league includes Wyoming, New Mexico, BYU, UNLV, Utah, Colorado
State, San Diego State, and the Air Force Academy.

TCU had a strong season in 2004-05 with an 8-8 league record and went 21-14 overall. They had wins over Texas Tech, Marquette, Alabama-Birmingham, and Miami (Ohio). The Horned Frogs qualified for the NIT and advanced to the quarter-finals before losing to Maryland.

This year’s squad is without their high scorer Cory Santee, and their biggest 3 point threat, Marcus Shropshire, both of whom graduated last year. The press guide describes this years team as more physical and more inside oriented. TCU plays an up-tempo game, and the Dinos
will have to step up their defensive efforts to slow down this emerging team from Texas.

Game time is 2:30 pm in Fort Worth on Saturday, November 5.

The Second game will be the next afternoon in Hattiesburg, MS, which is 2 hours North of New Orleans, LA. The Dinos will have little rest between games, as they leave on Sunday morning, fly to New Orleans, then travel by road to Hattiesburg. The opponent will be the Universitry of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles of Conference USA.

The Eagles of 20004-05 were 11-17 overall and only 2-14 in their conference. Their last game of the season was a 66-64 home loss to TCU. The Dinos will be the first opponent of this 2005-06 season. This is one of two ‘warm-up’ games prior to their opening tournament in Alaska, the ‘Top of the World Classic’ in Fairbanks.

Southern Miss schedules in Football and other fall sports were effected by damage from Hurricane Katrina, but the campus is almost back to ‘normal’ and basketball will go as scheduled. The Eagles have only three returnees and will feature 3 freshmen including a 6′10″
Lithuanian centre, Donatas Visockis.

The Dinos will return home late Monday after travelling through Mississippi back to New Orleans.