PREVIEW: Huskies Head to Allendale for GLIAC Final Four
Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Sat. Mar. 7 • 1:00 p.m. at Grand Valley State • Sun. Mar. 8 TBA • GVSU Fieldhouse Arena
Michigan Tech (21-8) at Grand Valley State (23-6) vs TBA
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Kirk McDonnell)
Video Stream: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule
HUSKIES TOP SAGINAW VALLEY STATE IN GLIAC QUARTERFINALS
Michigan Tech defeated Saginaw Valley State 75-56 to open the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in the quarterfinal round Tuesday night at the SDC Gym. The Cardinals held the lead 21-18 midway through the first half, but the Huskies engineered an 18-7 scoring run to close the period and take a 36-28 advantage. Late in the second half, the Huskies hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch and also got layups by sophomore Owen White and junior Dawson Bilski to close out a 9-0 run and advance to the GLIAC Semifinal for the third time in the last four years.
The Huskies were led in scoring by White with 22 points. Senior Kyle Monroe had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds while junior Trent Bell (14 points), and Bilski (10 points) also hit double figures. The Huskies shot 45.5 percent from the field, hitting 25-for-55 and 9-for-24 from beyond the arc. They also made 16-for-20 from the charity stripe for 80 percent. Tech outrebounded the Cardinals 39-32 and had 16 assists to only six for the visitors. The Huskies have now won five games in a row and seven of their last eight. It's the first five game winning streak for the Huskies since a stretch of contests from January 18, 2018 to February 3, 2018.
GLIAC FINAL FOUR
Michigan Tech is headed back to the GLIAC Final Four for the third time in the past four seasons. The Huskies made back-to-back appearances in the semifinal game in 2017 and 2018. Tech has three GLIAC Tournament Championships, logging three in a row in 2001, 2002, and 2003. The Huskies have punched their ticket to the GLIAC Tournament 22 times in program history, including this season. Tech's most recent semifinal game was against Lake Superior State in Big Rapids, Michigan on March 3, 2018. The Lakers won that contest 70-56. In 2013-14, the Huskies advanced to the GLIAC Championship game with a 75-62 win over Malone and then earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament. Tech logged wins over Southern Indiana (75-70) and Indianapolis (82-76) before falling in the title game to Drury.
Tech travels to Grand Valley State for the GLIAC Final Four and will face the second seeded Lakers in one of two semifinal matchups Saturday. The battle with the Lakers is slated for 1 p.m. eastern time in Allendale, Michigan. The winner of that contest will move on to Sunday's Championship game at 1 p.m. eastern time against either Northwood or Northern Michigan. The Timberwolves and Wildcats collide in Saturday's other semifinal game at 4 p.m. eastern time. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Midwest Region Tournament next week.
HUSKIES RANKED 8TH IN NCAA MIDWEST REGION POLL
Michigan Tech team stayed in the No. 8 spot in the third NCAA Division II Midwest Region Poll, announced Wednesday by the national office. The Huskies are one of three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams ranked in this third poll. These rankings also do not include or factor in Tuesday's GLIAC Quarterfinal contests. Tech closed the 2019-20 regular season with an impressive 91-61 victory at rival Northern Michigan this past Thursday. Tech wrapped up the 28-game schedule with a 20-8 overall record. The Huskies went 14-6 against conference opponents on the way to a second-place finish in the GLIAC North Division and locked down the No. 3 spot in the overall standings. Tuesday's quarterfinal win did not factor in to Wednesday's poll, but could play a role in the final ranking which will determine the participants in the NCAA Midwest Region Tournament coming up next week. The tournament field will be announced this Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. eastern time, with the top eight teams from each region advancing to NCAA regional competition.
The breakdown for GLIAC Teams in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Rankings this week include Ferris State at No. 2 followed by Grand Valley State at No. 4 and the Huskies at No. 8. The Midwest Region includes schools from the GLIAC, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The GLVC holds six regional ranking positions with the G-MAC owning one position. Indianapolis, out of the GLVC, is still the top ranked team in the region this week boasting a record of 22-5.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Huskies closed the home portion of their 2019-20 schedule in Tuesday's quarterfinal game against Saginaw Valley State. Tech went 13-2 in the friendly confines of the SDC Gym this season, including 10 wins in a row dating back to a 117-60 victory over Algoma (Ontario) December 21. Two of those wins were against Top 25 teams in Ferris State and Grand Valley State. Tech is 8-6 in road/neutral site games this year going into Saturday's semifinal.
GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Through 29 games of the season, the Huskies are at or near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech is third in the conference in free throw shooting percentage (74.6%) and first in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 10.6. The Huskies are also first in the GLIAC in overall field goal percentage (49.1%) and first in three-point shooting percentage (43.5%). Tech checks in second in assists per game (17.4) and second in fewest turnovers per game (9.8). The defense is fourth in fewest points allowed per game at 68.4 and are fourth in blocks at 3.8 each time the team takes the floor. The Huskies are second in the GLIAC in scoring at 79.6 points per game. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 23.0 points per game, is eighth in rebounding at 7.1 boards per contest, and eighth in free throw shooting percentage (79.2%). Junior Tommy Lucca is second in the conference in assists per game (6.6) and first in assist to turnover ratio (3.8). Four Tech players are ranked in the top seven in three-point shooting percentage with freshman Eric Carl (48.4%, 1st), junior Dawson Bilski (48.3%, 2nd), sophomore Owen White (47.4%, 4th), and junior Trent Bell (45.3%, 6th) landing in that group of players.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Grand Valley State is 23-6 overall and finished the GLIAC with a 15-5 record, resulting in a second-place overall finish and the No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Lakers outlasted Ashland 73-60 in the quarterfinals Tuesday and have won two in a row. Grand Valley State's last loss was to Tech in a 78-70 decision at the SDC Gym on February 22. The Lakers' defense is tops in the conference in limiting opponents to a 41.8 percent shooting percentage. The Lakers are also second in the GLIAC in field goal percentage at 47.7%. Jake Van Tubbergen leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 18.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The season series is tied 1-1 going into the semifinal game. Potential opponents in the title game are Northwood and Northern Michigan. The Timberwolves are 17-12 overall and defeated Davenport 82-70 in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats upset top seeded Ferris State 70-69 in the quarterfinals and are 13-16 overall.
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
If the Huskies defeat Grand Valley State in the semifinal round Saturday, they will advance to the championship game Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. to face Northwood or Northern Michigan. The winner of the GLIAC Tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament.