Huskies Host Walsh in GLIAC Quarterfinal

THIS WEEK'S NOTES

STAT OF THE WEEK
10 • League players of the year in Tech men's basketball program history—one in the NIC and nine in the GLIAC. Ben Stelzer was named the 10th on Monday.

STELZER NAMED GLIAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ben Stelzer was named Michigan Tech's ninth GLIAC Player of the Year (seventh in the last 14 years) on Monday. He led the GLIAC in scoring all season, finishing at 22 points per game. The recently-named Academic All-American posted 20 or more points in 18 games with three 30-point performances. He leads the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (3.96) and ranks among the national leaders in scoring and 3-point percentage (45.0). Stelzer, with 572 points this season, has totaled 1,709 career points—seventh most in Michigan Tech history. The senior guard also reset Tech's record for 3-pointers made (355). Stelzer was the preseason GLIAC Player of the Year and four-time GLIAC Player of the Week during the 2014-15 campaign. Other GLIAC MVPs from Michigan Tech were Ali Haidar (2011-12 and 2012-13), Josh Buettner (2003-04 and 2004-05), Matt Cameron (2001-02 and 2002-03), Matt Trombley (1994-95) and Russ VanDuine (1980-81).

CHARTIER HONORED BY GLIAC
Jordan Chartier earned spots on both the All-GLIAC Second Team and the GLIAC All-Defensive Team as the league's postseason awards were announced Monday. The junior point guard ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game. He leads the GLIAC and ranks seventh nationally in  assist-to-turnover ratio (3.26-to-1) with 88 assists and just 27 turnovers all season. The 6-2 Chartier also averages 4.5 rebounds—second most on the team—while playing 36.2 minutes of each contest.

HOME FOR GLIAC TOURNAMENT PLAY
Michigan Tech owns a 9-3 record at home in GLIAC Tournament play. Tech opened postseason a year ago with a 78-72 victory over Grand Valley State in the GLIAC Quarterfinal. The Huskies have won five consecutive first-round games in the league tournament and are 25-16 overall in the event.

ROMBACK CONTINUES TO PRODUCE
Phil Romback scored 14 points with a game-high seven rebounds last Thursday (Feb. 26) at Northern Michigan. The senior has turned in games of 15, 15 and 14 points in his last three and is averaging 12.6 in the five games since Feb. 12. Romback joined the starting lineup Feb. 5 at No. 17 Ferris State, and the team is 6-1 since then.

HELLER ON PACE FOR SCHOOL RECORD
Junior post man Luke Heller is shooting 63.8 percent from the floor this season, having made 104-of-163 attempts. The school record for season field goal percentage is 62.9 by Willie Wesley in 1988-89. Heller averages 9.4 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds on the season.

LOOKING FOR A FIRST WIN VS. WALSH
Michigan Tech has never beaten Walsh in a short series history between the teams. The Cavaliers defeated Tech 93-83 two years ago (Dec. 7, 2013) in their only game in Houghton. Earlier this season in Canton, Ohio, Walsh shot 55 percent to defeat the Huskies 69-63.

HUSKY BITES
Michigan Tech winter sports teams are a combined 67-17-2 (hockey 24-8-2, women's basketball 24-2, men's basketball 19-7) for a .791 winning percentage … Michigan Tech was No. 5 in last week's Midwest Region rankings, which determines the eight-team field for the NCAA Tournament … The Huskies are 2-2 vs. ranked teams … The Black and Gold are 14-1 when putting up 70+ points … Tech is 5-0 in games played in lower Michigan.

COACH LUKE'S RECORD AT 380-225
Head coach Kevin Luke has coached in more than 600 career games with a 380-225 record (.628). Luke is in his 21st season on the bench for the Huskies and has led Tech to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and six GLIAC Titles. He is a four-time GLIAC Coach of the Year and was the 2002-03 NABC National Coach of the Year.

WHERE THEY RANK (as of 3/3/15)
Category    Value    In GLIAC    In Nation
Fewest TO/Game    9.8    1    3
Fewest Fouls    398    1    9
3FG Pct    41.1    1    16
Assist/TO Ratio    1.51    2    8
Free Throw Pct    76.8    2    9
Scoring Defense    64.0    2    21