SEWARD, Neb. – The Christmas break for Concordia University Men’s Basketball will come to an end on Wednesday when it will venture to Ottawa University (Kan.) for a nonconference clash. The contest will mark the first action for the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs since their 71-64 win over Rochester University (Kan.) at the Daytona Beach Shootout on Dec. 21. Also this week, Concordia will ring in 2022 by hosting Doane on New Year’s Day. GPAC play was put on hold after Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad (12-3, 6-2 GPAC) won at Hastings on Dec. 11.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 29 at Ottawa (10-5), 6 p.m.
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Saturday, Jan. 1 vs. Doane (10-6, 3-3 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
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By the numbers
· The Bulldogs are prepping for action within the region after taking on two unfamiliar foes at the Daytona Beach Shootout (Dec. 19, 21). In Concordia’s first game in The Sunshine State, it took on red hot William Jessup University (Calif.), now 14-1 overall and ranked eighth in the NAIA, and fell by a 70-62 score. The Bulldogs were able to make it a wire-to-wire battle despite Noah Schutte being sidelined for much of the latter half of the second half and uncharacteristically rough offensive nights from a couple of key players. Schutte finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Justin Wiersema added 14 points. Concordia was held to 37.3 percent shooting (compared to 42.4 percent for William Jessup).
· Before leaving Florida, the Bulldogs secured a win thanks in large part to a stifling defensive performance in the second half. Concordia allowed Rochester to shoot just 25.8 percent (8-for-31) after halftime while earning the 71-64 triumph. All five Bulldog starters cracked double figures: Schutte (15), Carter Kent (13), Wiersema (11), Gage Smith (10) and AJ Watson (10). Schutte also grabbed 10 rebounds while recording his second double-double in a row. Concordia enjoyed a large advantage from the free throw line in going 21-for-28 – Rochester went 4-for-6 on free throws. In addition, the Bulldogs outrebounded the Warriors, 41-31.
· Limback’s crew is exactly halfway through the regular season and sports records of 7-0 at home, 2-2 in true road games and 3-1 in neutral contests. The neutral site clashes came at the Hastings Classic and the Daytona Beach Shootout. In Concordia’s most recent game played inside Friedrich Arena, it toppled Mount Marty and extended the program home win streak to 11. The Bulldogs have won 23 of their last 24 home outings. Overall this season, Concordia is averaging 80.5 points per game and shooting 48.6 percent from the floor while surrendering 70.6 points per game and a field goal percentage of 43.5. The Bulldogs rank seventh nationally in free throw percentage (.771).
· There will be five games matching GPAC teams on Saturday as league play kicks back into gear. With 12 games left within conference regular season play, Concordia has put itself in position to compete for the program’s first ever GPAC regular season title. The Bulldogs sit atop the GPAC with a 6-2 league mark. Three others also have just two conference losses: Morningside (5-2), Jamestown (4-2) and Briar Cliff (4-2). In the most recent official GPAC ratings, Concordia landed at No. 2 behind Jamestown. In the NAIA coaches’ poll announced on Dec. 15, the Bulldogs checked in at No. 23, marking the first top 25 ranking for the program since the 2010-11 season.
· Concordia very nearly has all five starters averaging in double figures: Kent (16.6), Schutte (14.3), Wiersema (13.5), Smith (12.6) and Watson (9.6). Schutte is one of the big breakthrough stars in the GPAC this season. The Laurel, Neb., native has averaged 5.3 rebounds and is shooting 56.5 percent from the floor. Currently, Kent ranks seventh among GPAC players in scoring. An efficient offensive team, the Bulldogs recently put together a stretch of six-straight games with shooting percentages above 50.
The opponents
Concordia and Ottawa met up in the first round of the 2020 NAIA Division II national tournament with the result being an 87-84 win for the Braves (final NAIA Division II game ever). Ottawa received votes nationally to begin this season but has since fallen off the national radar. Sixteenth-year Head Coach Aaron Siebenthall’s squad can fill it up offensively, currently sporting national ranks of 17th in scoring average (86.7) and 28th in field goal percentage (.490). On Wednesday, Ottawa will end an extended break having last played at Briar Cliff on Dec. 17 (83-80 defeat).
Doane has made progress this season while looking for the program’s first winning campaign since 2012-13. The Tigers have reached double digits in wins for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Head Coach Ian McKeithen’s squad owns a signature win – an 89-82 victory at then 10th-ranked Jamestown on Dec. 3. Often in recent years, Doane has tried to slow the pace of play. So far this season, the Tigers are averaging 74.3 points and allowing 64.4 points per game. Veteran guard Anthony Laravie leads the way with an average of 14.4 points per game. Concordia has won two in a row and four of the past five meetings with Doane.
Next week
GPAC play heats back up next week as the Bulldogs are slated to play at Mount Marty on Jan. 5 before returning home to host Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 8.