PREVIEW: Huskies Play Host to Davenport and Grand Valley State
Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Feb. 20 • 7:30 p.m. vs Davenport • Sat. Feb. 22 • 3 p.m. vs Grand Valley State
Michigan Tech (17-8, 11-6 GLIAC) vs Davenport (19-8, 11-6 GLIAC) and Grand Valley State (20-5, 13-4 GLIAC)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule
2019-20 WEEK 14 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech split two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games this past weekend at Ferris State and Lake Superior State. The Huskies came up just short against the Bulldogs 76-71 Thursday night before bouncing back on Saturday with a 69-63 triumph at Lake Superior State.
On Thursday night against the Bulldogs, Senior Kyle Monroe tied the school record for career points with a game high 31, matching Larry Grimes for 2,360 points in the Tech record books. Monroe made 10 of 17 shots from the field on his way to a game high 31 points for the Huskies Thursday night. Monroe also hauled down four rebounds for Tech against the Bulldogs. Sophomore Owen White followed with 13 points and four rebounds while junior Isaac Appleby tacked on eight points and a game high six rebounds and eight assists. Senior Ryan Schuller chipped in seven points and five rebounds off the bench while junior Dawson Bilski and junior Trent Bell wrapped up the night with six points.
On Saturday at Lake Superior State, the Huskies overcame an early 10-2 deficit and senior forward Kyle Monroe broke Tech's all-time scoring record of 2,360 points, which was held by Larry Grimes since 1972. Bell powered the Huskies with a career high 23 points while adding five rebounds, two assists, and four blocks to the stat sheet. His previous career high was 22 points at Northern Michigan on January 26, 2019 and his six three-point makes matched a previous career high set in that game. Monroe and Bilski followed with 16 points while Appleby chipped in eight points and a team high 11 rebounds. Monroe also had seven rebounds while accumulating four assists and three steals.
KYLE MONROE GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michigan Tech senior forward Kyle Monroe was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week for the sixth time this season, announced by the conference office Monday. Monroe broke the career scoring record at Michigan Tech and helped lead the Huskies to a key GLIAC win on Saturday at Lake Superior State.
Monroe, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin had another big week for the Huskies, averaging 23.5 points per game, including a high of 31 points at Ferris State on Thursday night. Monroe tied Tech's all-time scoring record Thursday and then broke it Saturday with 16 points in the victory at Lake Superior State. Monroe currently has 2,376 career points with the previous record being 2,360. For the week, Monroe found the target on 51.5% of his field goals and averaged 5.5 rebounds per game for the two contests. He also averaged 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Monroe is averaging 21.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds for the Huskies this season. His points per game average leads Tech and the GLIAC.
SENIOR DAY
Michigan Tech will honor three seniors between games against Grand Valley State in the SDC Gym Saturday afternoon. Forward Kyle Monroe, guard Tommy Lucca, and forward Ryan Schuller will be recognized for their contributions to the program during their careers at Tech. A banquet honoring the senior classes for both the women's and men's programs will be held in the SDC Gym shortly after the conclusion of the doubleheader.
GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
Michigan Tech was picked to finish third in the GLIAC North Division for the third consecutive year, pulling in 45 points and one first place vote in the Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Wednesday by the conference office. Ferris State once again sits atop the North Division with 55 points and six first place votes. Parkside checks in just behind the Bulldogs with 51 points and five first place nods. Lake Superior State is slated to finish fourth with 33 points, Purdue Northwest fifth with 17 points, and Northern Michigan sixth with 15 points.
Over in the South Division, defending GLIAC Champion Davenport University is penciled in to the No. 1 spot with 61 points and 11 of the 12 first place votes. Ashland University is second with 50 points and one first place vote while Grand Valley State holds down the No. 3 position with 39 points. Northwood is fourth with 26 points, Saginaw Valley State is fifth with 24 points, and Wayne State is sixth with 16 points to round out the bottom three teams in the poll.
GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Through 25 games of the season, the Huskies are ranked near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech is fourth in the conference in free throw shooting percentage (74.4%) and first in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 10.4. The Huskies are also first in the GLIAC in overall field goal percentage (49.1%) and first in three-point shooting percentage (42.6%). Tech checks in second in assists per game (17.7) and second in fewest turnovers per game (10.4). The defense is seventh in fewest points allowed per game at 69.4 and are second in blocks at 3.9 each time the team takes the floor. The Huskies are second in the GLIAC in scoring at 79.7 points per game. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 21.8 points per game, ninth in rebounding at 6.6 boards per contest, and 13th in free throw shooting percentage (77.3%). Junior Tommy Lucca is second in the conference in assists per game (6.6) and first in assist to turnover ratio (3.8). Three Tech players are ranked one through three in three-point shooting percentage with Owen White (48.4%, 1st), Eric Carl (48.1%, 2nd), and Dawson Bilski (47.7%, 3rd) landing in that group of players.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Davenport is 19-8 overall and 11-6 in the GLIAC entering Thursday's game with the Huskies. The Panthers have won three in a row, including a 84-74 victory at Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday. Davenport ranks fourth in the conference in scoring at 74.4 points per game and is third in three-point baskets made per contest (9.1). The defense is giving up the second fewest points in the conference per game at 66.4 and racks up 7.8 steals per night, third most in the league. Evan Hines paces the Panthers in scoring at 13.1 points per game followed by Chris Rollins at 12.8 ppg and Tafari Beckford along with Robbie Bramhill at 11.2 points each time they take the floor. Beckford is also the top rebounder on the club at 6.9 boards per night. Davenport leads the all-time series with Tech 3-2, but the Huskies won the first meeting of the season on January 25th in Grand Rapids 69-61. Monroe powered the Tech offense once again on Saturday with a game high 23 points while also posting nine rebounds on the stat sheet.
Grand Valley State is 20-5 overall and 13-4 in the GLIAC heading into a battle at Northern Michigan on Thursday. The Lakers fell at Northwood 67-64 in their most recent outing on Saturday. GVSU is third in the conference in scoring at 75.4 points per game and second in three-point shooting percentage (38.6%). The defense limits opposing teams to a 41.6 percent shooting clip from the field, tops in the conference. Jake Van Tubbergen pours in 18.9 points per game while hauling down 9.9 rebounds each time out. The Lakers lead the all-time series 46-38 and escaped with a 95-93 win in overtime against the Huskies on January 23rd. Monroe powered the Huskies with his record setting 53 points, which broke the previous standard of 50 points.
COACH LUKE
Kevin Luke, the winningest coach in Michigan Tech basketball history is in his 26th season leading the Huskies in 2019-20. He has earned a plethora of accolades since his appointment as the program's 11th head coach in May of 1994. Luke has guided the Huskies to five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, earned eight NCAA Tournament berths and won his 300th game in a 74-72 victory over Grand Valley State on March 2, 2011. He reached the 400 win mark on January 19th, 2017 with an 83-72 win over Northwood at home. He owns an impressive 433-286 overall record, including a 289-196 mark in conference play. His winning percentage of .602 ranks as the best in Husky hoop annals.
UP NEXT
The Huskies close out the regular season next Thursday when they travel to Marquette to face rival Northern Michigan. The Wildcats are 11-14 overall and 8-9 in the GLIAC as they get set to host Grand Valley State and Davenport this week as well.