Men’s Final 8
Farwell and Walker of TMU named U SPORTS basketball players of the week
U SPORTS announced Thursday that Université Laval will host the 2024 men’s basketball Final 8 championship at the Amphithéâtre Desjardins-Université Laval in Québec City next March.
2024 marks the first time in U SPORTS history that its national men’s basketball championship tournament will be contested in the Province of Québec.
U SPORTS is thrilled to partner with Université Laval to bring the Final 8 men’s basketball championship to Québec for the first time,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “Over the past decade, the Rouge et Or have hosted numerous U SPORTS championships contested in front of enthusiastic crowds. We know basketball fans in la Vieille Capitale will pack the venue for the first U SPORTS men's basketball Final 8 in la Belle Province!”
Université Laval hosted the U SPORTS women's basketball championships in 1987, 1991, 1996 and 2015 while presenting 15 U SPORTS national championships in the past decade.
“We are honoured to host the 2024 U SPORTS men's basketball Final 8," said Julie Dionne, Athletic and Recreation Director at Université Laval. "We take great pride in presenting this championship for the first time in Québec. We will draw upon our previous hosting experience and amazing facilities to make the 2024 U SPORTS Final 8 an unforgettable experience for participants and fans."
The Rouge et Or have participated in five previous U SPORTS Final 8 championships dating back to their first appearance in 2001 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008). With the growth in the popularity of the game in Québec, the Rouge et Or have become a major draw for hoops fans in the region, attracting 1200 fans per game this season. Four of their games drew crowds in excess of 2000 fans, including 2400 at the final contest of the season.
"Hosting the 2024 U SPORTS Final 8 is the culmination of the efforts in recent years to make Québec a basketball town," said Rouge et Or men's basketball head coach Nathan Grant. "Our team has incredible momentum, and the atmosphere at our home games is electric. The local fans are knowledgeable and have a passion for our university game. The Final 8 also allows young basketball players to see elite hoops played in person. We know that when young people see these events up close and in person, they realize they can live out their dreams."
The Road to the 2023 U SPORTS Final 8 in Halifax continues this evening when the Rouge et Or host the Bishop’s Gaiters in their RSEQ semifinal tonight at 8 pm at the Amphithéâtre Desjardins-Université Laval. Tonight’s only other post-season game features Concordia at UQAM in the other RSEQ semifinal. The OUA and RSEQ championship games will be held on Saturday, while the draw for the 2023 Final 8 will be announced on Sunday.