PREVIEW: Huskies tipoff GLIAC slate Thursday

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech hopes to turn its road fortunes around with conference matchups at Wisconsin Parkside (Thursday, Dec. 1) and Purdue Northwest (Saturday, Dec. 3) this week. The trip wraps up seven games in a row away from Houghton, which has included a pair of losses to Top-25 nationally ranked opponents. Fans can listen to the action on Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ or online at pasty.net.

LAST TIME OUT

• Marcus Tomashek came alive from the 3-point line in the second half but Michigan Tech still fell short at St. Cloud State 74-56 Sunday afternoon at Hallenbeck Hall.
• SCSU led by as many as 22 points in the game, boosted by Luke Taylor, who finished with 18 points.
• Tomashek helped the Huskies cut the margin back to 10 with 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting, including 6-for-10 from beyond the arc but it was not enough.
• In addition to leading the team with 20 points, Tomashek also grabbed a team-high six rebounds and played 34 minutes.
• Fellow freshman Dan Gherezgher also chipped in on offense, with 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including four rebounds, and four assists.
• MTU connected on 22 of 53 total shots (41.5-percent), and went 10-for-26 (38.5-percent) from long range.

CALCATERRA TAKES A STEP

• Sophomore guard Pete Calcaterra (Boyne City, Michigan) appeared in 17 games off the bench last season. He has seen his time on court increase from 5.6 minutes per game to 16.9 this season.
• He posted a season high 16 points on 7-11 shooting against Minnesota Crookston on November 18. 
• Last weekend, Calcaterra posted seven points apiece at No. 14 Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State.
• After the graduation of key pieces last season, openings abound for players like Calcaterra, who had a season high nine rebounds against McKendree on November 13.

SIMONSEN SAYS

• Another sophomore with high aspirations is forward Brad Simonsen. Simonsen earned a start against Minnesota Crookston on November 18 and has hit double-figure scoring on two occasions.
• His season high offensive production was 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting versus Maryville.
• Simonson first showed a glimpse of his versatility last season against Davenport, where he impressed on the boards and got hot from beyond the arc.
• The Houghton High School graduate appeared in 28 games as a second-year freshman and averaged 4.1 points.
• Through seven games, Simonsen has seen his minutes increase from 10.8 to 16.3 and has 8.0 points per game to show for it.

GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Max Bjorklund of Northern Michigan is the GLIAC Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after two stellar road performances.
• Bjorklund scored 28 points at St. Cloud State and followed it up with 26 points at No. 14 Minnesota Duluth en route to a 90-76 victory.
• On the season, he is averaging 25.1 points/game on 50.9% field goal shooting, 40.5% three-point shooting, and an 81.1% clip from the free-throw line. He is averaging 5.3 rebounds/game to boot.
• His 25.1 PPG average is currently the 5th best mark across all of Division II hoops.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (4-2, 0-0)

• Redshirt sophomore guard Jamir Simpson was named to the Preseason All-GLIAC Second Team. He started 28 games last season and finished second on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg). 
• The Rangers returned eight players. 
• Sophomore Rasheed Bello was GLIAC Freshman of the Year and averaged 9.1 points while shooting 46-percent from the floor. 
• 2020-21 GLIAC Freshman of the Year Colin O'Rourke led the team in blocks for the last two years, with 18 last year.
• Transfer Sanmi Fajana (6-8, 255 redshirt sophomore) spent time at Blinn College (Texas) and was born in Dublin, Ireland.
• Head Coach Luke Reigel is in his 20th season and has helped Parkside qualify for the NCAA tournament six times.
• Parkside won the 2018-19 GLIAC North Division title.
• Parkside was selected 8th in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, returning three of its top four scorers.
• Last time out, the Rangers lost 74-73 to #18 ranked Florida Southern in Lakeland, Florida.
• Colin O'Rourke led the Rangers with 22 points on 9-17 shooting.
• Jamir Simpson recorded his third 20+ point effort with 20 points on 8-15 shooting.
• Rasheed Bello finished with 17 points and five rebounds. He was 8-10 from the free throw line on the night.
• Parkside shot 43-percent.
• Wisconsin Parkside is the GLIAC's most stingy defensive team (66.0 points against).
• Parkside also leads the league in blocks (5.0) and turnovers (11.0)

SCOUTING THE PRIDE (5-2, 0-0)

• Brian Roberts is in his fifth season as head coach.
• Junior guard Anthony Barnard led the squad in scoring last year at 14 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game, garnering All-GLIAC Second Team honors.
• Senior guard Mikell Cooper averaged 12.6 points and dished 39 assists.
• PNW brought in eight newcomers, including transfers Alou Dillon, Obi Ezekwesill, Andrew Bradford, Jaylon Gentry, Brevin Jefferson, and Tyran Rodgers. 
• Purdue Northwest was picked to finish 10th this season in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• A slow start hurt PNW on Saturday in a 77-67 loss to Cedarville.
• Mikell Cooper (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished four assists.
• Junior Anthony Irvin (Chandler, Ariz.) chipped in nine points off the bench.
• The Pride shot 28-for-64 (43.8-percent) from the field and went 7 of 20 (35-percent) from deep.
• Purdue Northwest plays at Central Michigan University Tuesday at 7 p.m., the hosts Northern Michigan Thursday at 7 p.m. before taking on the Huskies Saturday.

BIG PICTURE

• Tech has been selected for entry in the NCAA Region Tournament two of the last three years and has not finished below .500 overall since 2018-19.
• In 101 seasons, the squad has made 11 NCAA appearances and won three GLIAC Tournament titles.
• The Huskies were selected fifth in the D2SIDA Preseason midwest region rankings poll.
• Tech was picked to finish fourth in the GLIAC Standings this season, which are no longer separated into North and South Division.
• Adam Hobson was selected as Preseason First Team All-Conference.