It is the most anticipated game of the year. Flocks of Viking fans will crowd the gym to see their beloved men’s basketball team take on Western’s biggest rival: Central Washington University.
Tip off for the game, which will be televised on Root Sports, is at 7 p.m. on  Jan. 18.

Though the team is currently traveling in Alaska, when they return they can start focusing on the Central game.

“Everyone is going to be buzzing about it,” senior forward Zack Henifin said. “Everyone is going to be fired up, and there is going to be a lot of energy at practice coming up to that game. It’s going to be a good one.”

So far this year, the Vikings are off to a good start with a current record of 5-1, ranking them at number two in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Central is ranked at eight with a record of 1-5.

Since 2000, the Vikings have won 16 out of 22 of their games against the Central Wildcats.

Coach Brad Jackson, who scored his 500th win last week, has faced the Wildcats his fair share of times and said the teams have similarities, such as playing pressure defense.

Jackson also said the fact that both teams know each other fairly well has a huge bearing on the game and has added to the rivalry that he said is probably one of the oldest and best college rivalries.

“The biggest thing is the recognition that this game is a dog fight from start to finish,” Jackson said.

It isn’t just the teams that will be matching up against each other next Wednesday. Viking super-fan, junior Kevin Ernest, said last year the Viking Territory cheering section definitely out-matched Central’s.

“I think I could have single handedly yelled louder than them,” he said.

Both Jackson and Henifin said the spirit of the fans has a huge impact on the outcome of the game.

 “If there are a lot of fans there it always helps for sure,” Henifin said.  “[They] get in the other team’s head a little bit and it helps us have that extra energy.”

So far this season, the Vikings have been led in points by senior forward Rory Blanche, averaging 15.9 points per game, and John Allen, who averages 13.3 points per game. The Wildcats’ top scorer is sophomore forward Kevin Davis, who averages 13 points a game.

Despite the favorable odds, this season the Wildcats have averaged 84.1 points per game, about two points more than the Viking’s 81.9. While the gap isn’t large, it could be something to watch for on Jan. 18.

“They are strong, but I think we are a little bit faster than them on the offensive end,” Henifin said. “We want to get ahead a little early and put them out at half time.”

Expect to hear more and more buzz about the game as Jan. 18 approaches. Carver Gymnasium began advertising it last week, and students are already talking, especially since it will be televised.
“I think [the game] pumps itself up,” Ernest said. “I mean it’s on TV, everyone wants to have their moment on TV.”

Come next Wednesday, fans will pack Carver Gym to root for their favorite men’s basketball team, all hoping that a Viking’s sword can easily slay a meek wildcat. It is only a cat after all.

Related articles:

• Online Exclusive: Men’s Basketball versus Central Washington
• Men’s basketball falls to Central
• Men's basketball topples Central by twenty