Michigan Tech guard Marcus Tomashek drives the ball throughout a recreation final season on the SDC gymnasium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)
HOUGHTON — With the NCAA D2 Midwest Area tip-off coming Friday, the Michigan Tech Huskies males's basketball workforce is poised to start an important season for everybody concerned with this system. The Huskies have gone via rising pains every of the previous two seasons, however with a key group of juniors, the Huskies are in place to take an enormous step ahead this season.
“This group, now there are 4 returning junior starters, the document hasn't been good in both of the final two seasons,” Huskies coach Josh Buettner stated. “I believe they had been really fairly shut. Final yr's workforce was a significantly better workforce, though the document was the identical. I had a really tough non-conference. We had ups and downs.
“I actually suppose on the finish of the season in February we had been one of many high two or three groups within the convention. We occurred to play most likely the workforce that was enjoying one of the best on the finish of the yr within the quarters and on the highway. That comes with not caring for issues earlier within the season.”
Getting off to a greater begin is one thing Buettner burdened to his workforce.
“That's been a focus right here, we've obtained to be able to go this weekend,” he stated. “We’ve to play in November.”
The Huskies should survive a direct gauntlet with Missouri-St. Louis, Maryville, Winona State, Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State-Moorhead and St. Cloud State all away from the pleasant confines of SDC Gymnasium earlier than enjoying their first dwelling recreation on December fifth.
“Actually, a wiser coach most likely would have provide you with a bit lighter (schedule), as a substitute of high six on the highway in opposition to actually, actually good groups, which simply places you ready the place you don't know by no means what sort of begin you might depart right here,” Buettner stated. “I believe we’re enjoying with confidence. I believe the ball is shifting and we're able to do it. However good groups on the highway are powerful. We may play properly and nonetheless have some struggles, however we may play properly and win any of those. So I hope it's the latter.”
There may be excellent news and dangerous information. The dangerous information is that guard Dan Gherezgher selected to switch to Northern Kentucky, which harm the Huskies' depth. The excellent news is that they obtained a terrific style of life with out Gherezgher final season and that ought to assist us heading into this season.
“It was one thing that basically harm us by way of growing these roles.” Buettner stated. “We had two completely different types and he was a really gifted participant, however the way in which we needed to play with him and the way in which we needed to play with out him had been very completely different. That additionally set again our position growth, as a result of when he was there, guys needed to play a sure approach. Perhaps different guys, the roles could be completely different with him after which when he goes again there, the roles have modified once more and a few of them with him as properly.
“We by no means had a good likelihood of how issues would prove as a result of he was injured earlier than he began after which he performed injured. Then in February when he was wholesome I believe that was the primary time we actually obtained to see what he was going to appear to be (with him).”
The opposite excellent news is the return of junior guard Marcus Tomashek, who was named Preseason Participant of the 12 months final week. Tomashek averaged 22.9 factors per recreation, capturing 45.6 % from the sphere and 41.three % from past the arc.
“Marcus is a particular participant” Buettner stated. “He obtained stronger when he got here again. He's nonetheless skinny, however he's placed on weight and he's simply enjoying with confidence. We've had some fairly particular gamers right here at Michigan Tech, and he's proper up there with any of them by way of having the ability to go on the market and rating the basketball.
“Actually, he's carried out a very good job of changing into a little bit of a recreation as properly. He creates a number of benefits. It’ll appeal to a number of consideration. As a lot as he scores, he's nonetheless an unselfish participant and is aware of there will probably be performs when two or three our bodies are on him and he'll must be a bit extra of a facilitator and decide his spots. to actually attempt to take the offensive. There will probably be video games the place he’ll simply be dominant offensively. He’s a particular participant.”
One other key junior is guard Josh Terrian, a defensive receiving participant who may also provide you with a well timed bucket.
“Josh is without doubt one of the tallest basketball gamers we've ever had,” Buettner stated. “Josh can shoot it and he's going to shoot it properly this yr. His share went up between his freshman and sophomore yr and hopefully it can go up once more. He simply doesn't care. He makes our offense so significantly better when he's on the market, whether or not he's making photographs, throwing or not capturing in any respect. He's simply the final word kind of offensive, defensive teammate.
“We had some highs and a few, some actual lows final yr. The bottom recreation was the one the place he got here out with the flu. I regarded like I had by no means performed basketball earlier than. He's so necessary from a management standpoint and an IQ standpoint and all of the intangibles he brings.”
Two different key juniors are guard Nate Abel and ahead Dawson Nordgaard. Abel began 16 video games final season and averaged simply 5.5 factors, however was a key piece for the Huskies at varied factors all through the season. Nordgaard remains to be tapping into his potential. The 6-foot-10 ahead averaged 7.9 factors, however extra importantly, he created matchup issues all through the season as his confidence grew. He will probably be wanted to proceed enjoying like this this season.
Two seniors will even be known as upon so as to add loads to the combination this season.
Guard Adam Hobson misplaced his beginning position final season and struggled a bit along with his confidence after that occurred, however he's come again robust and that's all Buettner can ask of him.
“'Hobbs' is without doubt one of the greatest Huskies,” Buettner stated. “He’ll do something for the workforce. His profession has been type of loopy. He got here in and we had this dialog in the course of the season, “What did you envision your profession wanting like coming in?” Actually, the way in which his position was final yr is what he envisioned coming in.
“The one factor that 'Hobbs' did is he continued to coach onerous, he continued to be a superb teammate, he continued to steer and do all these issues. Hopefully he will probably be rewarded with a superb yr.”
Equally, the Huskies will ask rather a lot from guard Pete Calcaterra. As a sophomore, he had a string of massive video games for the Huskies, however struggled in scoring final season, averaging simply 6.eight factors per recreation.
“I've stated that to Pete because the day he stepped on campus, he's an X-factor,” Buettner stated. “When Pete's actually good, we're normally actually good. He does a number of issues that assist win, and we're always on him for a few of the consistency factor. Hopefully we are able to get that this yr as a result of we'll be a fairly good workforce if Pete has a superb yr.”
Among the many youthful children who may contribute this yr, Buettner is seeking to freshman guard Gabe Smith to earn minutes this season. Freshman guard Ty Fernholz may additionally chip in at factors this season, together with second-year guard Matt Schmainda, who obtained a style of issues final season.
Buettner believes the Huskies have been via rather a lot over the previous two seasons, however they’re positioned this season to take an enormous step ahead.
“Actually, from the struggles we've been via the final two years, I believe most of our guys know they will play with anyone and beat anyone. Let's hope we are able to begin a bit higher. It helps us belief that we don't must undergo the valleys after which rebuild our belief and do these issues. We’ve good children and guys who imagine in one another and hopefully that may result in some success.”