PREVIEW: Huskies off to Minnesota Crookston

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Fresh off a 64-56 win over Lewis University, Michigan Tech men's basketball is away from home again Saturday, when they take on Minnesota Crookston in a non-conference game Saturday, November 13 at 3:30 p.m. Fans can watch for free online via the NSIC Network. With just a single road game this weekend, Tech (1-1) is back at SDC Gymnasium next Saturday, November 27 to host Minnesota Duluth.

LAST TIME OUT

- Eric Carl and Owen White led Michigan Tech with 22 points apiece and the Huskies slid past Lewis University 64-56 Saturday afternoon to split a weekend of games at the Lewis Tournament to open regular season non-conference men's basketball at Neil Carey Arena.

- Tech trailed 30-28 at halftime but shot 48-percent overall to draw second-half separation and pull away. The Huskies nabbed 34 rebounds, including 12 by Trent Bell. Carter Johnston also contributed seven rebounds and five assists for MTU.

- Carl played 38 minutes and shot 8-for-14 from the field, including 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. White shot 7-for-12 and added four rebounds and a pair of assists over 34 minutes on the court. 

SCOUTING MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

- Minnesota Crookston got off to a nice start this past weekend at the American Family Insurance Classic hosted by Minnesota Duluth. The Golden Eagles won their season opener for the first time since 2016-17, by defeating East Central University 72-70 on a Brian Sitzmann shot at the buzzer. 

- The Eagles finished 2-14 last season.

- Uzo Dibiamaka transferred the Minnesota Crookston from Central Community College after averaging 8.5 points and 5.5 assists per game. Dibiamaka is a lefty from Adelaide, South Australia.

- Leonard Dixon averaged 24 points for the Eagles in the first two exhibition games of the season.

- Sitzmann and Zach Westphal helped the Eagles upset Augustana in the NSIC Playoffs in 2019 and are both back as extra-year senior this season.

- Dan Weise is in his eighth season as head coach and holds a 56-119 record at the helm.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLLS

- Following his All-American junior season, Owen White (Rhinelander, Wisconsin) was named the conference's unanimous choice for preseason player of the year. In the spring, White averaged a conference-high 21.2 points per game, reaching double-figures in all 21 contests, including scoring a career-best 33 points in the GLIAC Tournament Championship. He received First Team All-GLIAC and All-GLIAC Defensive Team honors.

- Both White and forward Trent Bell (Negaunee, Michigan) were tabbed preseason All-Conference.

- Michigan Tech received 56 votes (six first place) to be selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division this season. Ferris State (55) was second, followed by Wisconsin Parkside (34), Lake Superior State (32), Northern Michigan (25), and Purdue Northwest (23).

COACHES CORNER

- Josh Buettner nabbed his first collegiate win as head coach of the Huskies last week against Lewis University, though Tech also won an exhibition game on the road against Division I Ball State 70-69 on November 3.

- Buettner helped the Huskies to the NCAA Midwest Region Championship game in his 1st season as associate head men's basketball coach in 2020-21. The team finished 15-8 overall as 12-6 in the GLIAC North Division. Prior to his promotion to Associate Head Coach, Buettner served 13 seasons as assistant coach after taking the position July 1, 2008. - He has recruited four All-Americans and numerous All-GLIAC First Team selections since his appointment. As assistant coach, Buettner helped the Huskies to 10 postseason appearances and one GLIAC Championship (2019-20). 

- In addition to Buettner, assistant coach Ben Stelzer and volunteer assistant coach Kyle Monroe were also All-Americans in their playing days at Michigan Tech.

FOR THE HUSKIES IN 2021-22

- With White and four starters back in the fold for 2021-22, Michigan Tech men's basketball hopes to again reach the NCAA Midwest Region tournament, where they fell 65-62 to Truman State in the Championship game last spring. The Huskies finished 15-8 overall, including 12-6 in the GLIAC North Division and took second place in the conference tournament.

- This year's squad features five seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, six returning freshmen, and two true freshmen. White (senior – Rhinelander, Wisconsin) was named GLIAC Player of the Year, First Team all-Midwest District, and CoSIDA Academic All-America third team. He earned GLIAC Player of the week on three occasions and started 21 games, leading the league in scoring with 21.2 points per game. White posted a career high 33 points against Ashland in the conference championship and surpassed 1,000 career points on March 5.

- Bell (senior – Negaunee, Michigan) provided an imposing presence in the paint at forward. Bell started all 23 games and averaged 11.4 points and 7.7 rebounds (5^th – GLIAC) with five double-doubles. Bell scored 17 points and hauled in 10 boards in the Midwest Region Semifinal game against Southern Indiana.

- Guard Carter Johnston (junior – Beaverton, Michigan) returns as the Huskies chief distributor after leading the GLIAC with 5.5 assists per game (14^th in NCAA Division II). Johnston followed in the footsteps of his father, who is the all-time leader in assists for Michigan Tech basketball.

- Guard Eric Carl (junior – Kaukana, Wisconsin) was an exceptionally efficient outside shooter. He led the GLIAC with 64 three pointers on 129 attempts and finished second in the conference in 3-point percentage (49.6-percent).

- Second year freshmen Adam Hobson (guard – Stoughton, Wisconsin) and Brad Simonsen (forward – Houghton, Michigan) have potential for expanded roles after making positive impressions last season. Hobson appeared in 22 games and scored a season high 14 points versus Wisconsin-Parkside on February 27. Simonsen appeared in 10 games for Tech and went 4-fo-6 from 3-point range at Davenport on February 13.

- Dawson Bilski (All-GLIAC Second Team) and Isaac Appleby (2019-20 GLIAC All-Defensive team) graduated last spring. True freshmen Dawson Nordgaard (Forward – DePere, Wisconsin) and Nate Abel (Point Guard – Beaver Dam, Wisconsin) joined the squad this fall.

- Last year, the Huskies ranked ninth in the conference in scoring (67.9 points), second in defense (63.7 points against), second in 3-point percentage (37.4-percent), and 10^th in rebounding (31.3 rebounds).