Not in his house
Curcic’s shot-blocking skills earning AUS kudos
Vasilije Curcic’s face lights up when you ask him about his shot-blocking ability. “The defensive part is as important as the offensive part of my game,” Curcic said before a practice earlier this week at the MUN gym.
“Every time I get to jump and block a shot, I’ll do it. I really enjoy it and I think my teammates and the fans appreciate it.”
The 6-9 Memorial Sea-Hawks forward is third in the Atlantic University Sport conference so far this season with 17 blocks, despite missing seven games due to a foot injury.
He led the AUS in blocks last year with 26, but he’s taken that defensive strength and added a little extra offence in this his third season with the Sea-Hawks.
Curcic is scoring at a 22.3 points-per-game pace this season, up from 16.5 ppg. last season. He would be in third place in official conference scoring if he had enough games under his belt, the injury having kept him out of the lineup until January.
Memorial coach Peter Benoite appreciates Curcic’s enthusiasm and love for the game.
“He plays with emotion,” said Benoite.
“He likes making good plays, but he also likes it when his teammates make good plays as well.
“He’s such a dominant player in the league. He’s a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.”
One of the most dynamic players in the AUS, Curcic was so intent on making a difference this season, he stayed in St. John’s over the summer to train instead of returning to his native Serbia.
“I was in really good shape. My shooting form was OK, and then I picked up an injury,” noted Curcic.
“It was very frustrating. I must be honest, there was a point I was doubting if I could come back and play well, but everything turned out fine. So I’m pretty satisfied with my game right now.”
The sixth-place Sea-Hawks (511, 14 points) take on the seventhplace Acadia Axemen (4-13, 10 points) 8 o’clock tonight and 1 p.m. Sunday at the Field House in important games to both clubs.
Saint Mary’s defeated Acadia 78-73 Wednesday.
Curcic and his teammates are anticipating the weekend games which could decide the team’s fate in terms of a playoff hope.
“Everybody is feeling ready for these games,” said Curcic. “The last few years were tough without making the playoffs and that is our ultimate goal this season. But they will be two hard games.”
Curcic refused to bite when asked if he would guarantee two wins this weekend.
He laughed before replying, “I’ll just say we’ll do our hardest, and I believe we are good enough to win both games.”
Benoite said both teams are in a similar situation with their playoff hopes on the line.
‘We’re thinking win’
“We’re thinking win and so is Acadia,” the MUN coach said.
“They shoot the three really well and that worries me. If they get hot, it’s something that’s hard to stop. Hopefully, we can contain their shooting and go inside on them.”
Having said that, Benoite added, “When we’re playing well, I think we can beat anybody in the league but, obviously, we have to prove it.”
MUN finishes the regular season with a pair of games against 12-4 University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds next weekend.
“I really don’t want to go to UNB and have to win a game,” said Benoite.
“I’d like to try and take care of things this weekend.”