Vancouver Bandits 2023-24 Offseason Preview

The Road To Redemption

The 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season featured highs and lows for the Vancouver Bandits as part of an audacious campaign that saw increased attendance and notable individual player performances but also faced the weight of championship aspirations as the host city for Championship Weekend. 

After a tough 1-4 start to the season, Vancouver responded with three straight wins to help the club level its record at .500. Sadly, the team could not maintain its momentum and struggled to find its rhythm; finishing the season with an 8-12 record heading into Championship Weekend. 

Vancouver won three of its last four games heading into the postseason, which proved to be a key bright spot given two of those three wins were against Ottawa and Scarborough – both of which sported records above .500 and were competing for playoff seeding. 

As hosts of Championship Weekend, Vancouver received an automatic berth in the Western Conference Finals against the Calgary Surge, whom the Bandits sported a 2-1 record against during the 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.

Late turnovers and a failure to execute proved costly as the Bandits endured heartbreak for the fourth straight season. 2020 ended with a championship game loss, 2021’s postseason ended in a semifinal three-point dagger, 2022’s playoff hopes were dashed prematurely in the play-in round and 2023’s dreams were put to rest with a three-point dagger from Calgary’s Stefan Smith that cemented a 77-75 defeat. 

Turning Progress into Momentum

The Vancouver Bandits are gearing up for 2024 with a clear focus on progression. Here are some key names to watch as the CEBL postseason ensues and members of the Bandits embark on their next overseas or U SPORTS playing opportunity. 

Diego Maffia made a notable impact during the 2023 season. He now returns to the University of Victoria for his U SPORTS season. The Oak Bay Secondary product showed flashes of promise, scoring 15 and dropping 11 assists in a June 3 home opener victory against Calgary, but struggled to find consistency with his shot, hitting 30 percent of his three-point attempts, while nailing  91.7 per cent from the free throw line. Maffia is a promising U SPORTS Development Athlete to watch and will be eligible to be re-drafted by the Bandits next spring. After leading U SPORTS in scoring with 24.5 points per game in 2023, he is primed for further development at Victoria after a 2022-23 season that saw him take the Vikes to the Final 8.

Earlier this fall the Bandits announced its protected list of players for the 2023 offseason. Notable players featuring an exclusive period to be re-signed by the Bandits for the 2024 season include Duane Notice and Nick Ward. Notice and Ward received defensive player of the year and most valuable player honours, respectively, as part of the Bandits’ team award proceedings, and now will look to assert themselves in the offseason. Nick Ward has taken his talents to Lithuania where he is playing for BC Gargzdai. 

Athletic big man Kur Jongkuch has joined Horsens in Denmark where he will continue to develop in his second professional season after graduating from Temple University in 2023.

2023 Areas of Success
In the 2023 season, the Bandits made a statement with their prowess in rebounding. Giorgi Bezhanishvili averaged 6.6 defensive rebounds per game and played a pivotal role in securing possessions for the team. The Bandits as a whole led the league with an impressive average of 42.7 total rebounds per game.

2024 Areas of Improvement
The Bandits need to bolster the club’s shot-blocking capabilities. Last season's average of 2.2 blocks per game was the lowest in the league, making it challenging to protect the paint. While Nick Ward led the team in blocks with 0.9 per game, there's room for improvement to enhance the team's rim protection.

Turnovers and fouls were also significant concerns in 2023. Averaging 16.2 turnovers and 19.2 fouls per game disrupted offensive flow and defensive stability. Reducing turnovers and fouls is essential to creating more efficient possessions and reducing the opposition's free throw opportunities.

2024 Outlook
The Bandits understand the need for a more consistent and athletic primary point guard for the upcoming season. A player who can contribute 12-16 points per game, prioritize ball security, and lead the team for an entire season of play is expected to be at the top of the agenda for Bandits head coach and general manager, Kyle Julius. While they can choose from both domestic and American or international free agent options, the primary point guard should be a reliable leader on and off the court.

In addition to the primary point guard, the Bandits can benefit from a secondary point guard to provide 15-20 minutes per game in support of the primary floor general. Someone who has a 35 per cent or greater three-point average and can exhibit smart decision-making to contribute quality minutes and get the Bandits’ secondary unit involved could be the missing piece needed. 

Improving offense and defense is crucial for the team's success in 2024. On the offensive front, the Bandits will aim to enhance shooting accuracy. With 71.4 field goal attempts per game, the team made an average of 30.4 of those shots. This indicates the importance of enhancing their accuracy to boost overall offensive efficiency and scoring output. They will also aim to continue promoting ball movement as the Bandits (18.8 assists per game) were just 0.8 shy from the league leader Ottawa Blackjacks dedicated effort in improving their teamwork, Vancouver can become a more competitive force in the league. Improving their free throw shooting is imperative. The Bandits attempted 22.1 free throws per game but made only 14.5 on average, resulting in a free throw percentage of 65.6 per cent, which was the lowest in the league. 

Defensively, they're working on reducing points allowed. In 2023, the Bandits committed an average of 16.2 turnovers per game, the most in the CEBL. By reducing turnovers, the team can improve ball possession and limit the opponent's scoring opportunities, while also creating turnovers through steals and blocks.

The 2023-24 CEBL offseason is a key opportunity for Julius to retool the Bandits, who are looking to make improvements on both the offensive and defensive side of the basketball. Anticipate a few returning players but also a new wave of athletic and polished talent that Julius will look to recruit from some of the top league’s around the globe. Consistent contributions from role players and elevated production from the team’s stars will inspire a fanbase that delivered multiple sell-out crowds in 2023 and is hungry for an improved contender in 2024.