PREVIEW: Huskies Entertain Minnesota Duluth in Home Opener

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Saturday Nov. 23 vs Minnesota Duluth • 2 PM • (SDC Gym)
Michigan Tech (2-1) vs Minnesota Duluth (4-1)
Radio: WKMJ Mix 93 FM (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 TWO IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech suffered the first loss of the 2019-20 season this past Sunday with a 62-59 non-conference setback at Winona State University. The Huskies trailed 32-23 at the break, but battled back to take the lead late in the second half. However, the Warriors connected on some key shots down the stretch to secure the decision in their favor. The Huskies had a chance to tie the game on their final possession, but a triple at the buzzer hit the right side of the rim as the horn sounded.

Senior Kyle Monroe guided the Huskies with 28 points and six rebounds after firing in 12 of 22 shots from the field. Junior Dawson Bilski followed with 14 points, four rebounds and four steals while sophomore Owen White rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and five rebounds. Senior Tommy Lucca added four points and had a team high five steals and three assists. Junior Isaac Appleby chipped in three points, four rebounds, and two assists.

As a team, the Huskies made 24 of 61 shots from the field (39.3%), were 7 of 25 from three-point range (28.0%), and 4 for 6 at the free throw line (66.7%). Tech's defense forced 15 turnovers which led to 17 points on the offensive end of the floor.

THREE OVER 10
The Huskies have three different players averaging over 10 points per game this season and one right at nine points per game. Monroe leads the pack with a 26.7 points per game scoring average followed by Bilski at 14.0 points per game through the first three contests of the 2019-20 season. Lucca is just outside the 10-point threshold with a 9.0 points per game scoring average early in the year. Bilski has poured in 14 points in each of his first three games while Monroe has point totals of 29, 23, and 28 points. Monroe has 1,910 career points and needs just 90 points to become only the fourth player in school history to reach 2,000. Larry Grimes is the record holder for most points in a career with 2,360 from 1968-72.

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 the first three games of the season, the Huskies are ranked near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech leads the conference in free throw shooting percentage (79.5) and is fourth in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 9.0. The defense is second in fewest points allowed per game at 63.0 and are third in steals at 7.7 each time the team takes the floor. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 26.7 points per game, is third in rebounding at 8.3 boards per contest and seventh in free throw shooting percentage (85.0%) while Lucca leads the GLIAC in steals per game (2.7) and is 10th in assists per game (3.3).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Minnesota Duluth is 4-1 coming into Saturday's game against the Huskies. The Bulldogs have reeled off three straight wins, including an 89-69 victory over Parkside Wednesday night. Minnesota Duluth also has a win against Northern Michigan 84-62, making them 2-0 against GLIAC teams in 2019-20. The Bulldogs other two wins were recorded against Stonehill (91-77) and ninth ranked Southern Nazarene University 115-109 in double overtime. Their lone loss was suffered at the hands of Southeastern Oklahoma State University 95-86.

Alex Illikainen, a graduate transfer from NCAA Division I Wisconsin, leads the Bulldogs in scoring with a 20.4 points per game scoring average. Brandon Myer and Drew Blair are each averaging 19.2 points each time they take the floor while Logan Rohrscheib posts 11.8 points per game to round out their double-digit scorers. Myer holds the team lead in rebounding at an even 10.0 boards per game while Trevor Entwisle has dished out 20 assists. The Bulldogs have a potent offense that averages 93.0 points per game coming into the weekend. The defense has allowed 82.4 points per game to opponents in 2019-20.

Minnesota Duluth leads the all-time series with Michigan tech 34-30 coming into the 65th meeting between the two clubs on Saturday. Tech fell in last year's game in Duluth on November 18 by the final of 61-56. The Huskies built a 12-point lead in the first half before the Bulldogs rallied late in the second half to escape with the win. Bryan Heath guided the Huskies with 19 points and four rebounds followed by Appleby with 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists that day.

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 head back out on the road next weekend for two games in Alaska. Tech battles Alaska Anchorage next Friday night at 11:30 p.m. eastern time followed by a showdown with Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday at 9:15 p.m. eastern time. The two games are part of the Seawolf Thanksgiving Classic.