Keep winning and the outsiders will have no choice but to pay attention. Such is the case for the 2023-24 Concordia Men’s Basketball team, which has had to earn its way onto the national radar with its unique roster makeup.
The string of three-straight GPAC road games continues this week as the Bulldogs are set to head to Crete and Sioux Center. Concordia enters the week tied atop the GPAC standings at 12-4 in league play.
Brad Bennett scored 20 of his career high 26 points after halftime and the return of Tristan Smith helped the Bulldogs dominate the boards as part of a 95-79 Super Bowl Sunday win at Dakota Wesleyan.
It's been a grind for the first-place Bulldogs, who have now won seven times in a 17-day stretch. The latest victory came at home over Dordt, 89-84, in another down-to-the-wire battle. Noah Schutte led the way with 21 points.
The layout of this week will be unusual as the Bulldogs will host Dordt on Monday night and then take a bit of a break before heading to the Corn Palace on Super Bowl Sunday. Concordia enters the week tied for first place in the GPAC.
The outcome remained in doubt until the final horn went off on Saturday (Feb. 3) as the Bulldogs wrapped up a thrilling week with an 84-81 win over No. 12 Northwestern. Concordia did so while celebrating 100 years of the program's history.
With circumstances seemingly favoring No. 19 Morningside, the Bulldogs showed their mettle and earned a signature road win, 99-88, on Wednesday (Jan. 31). Concordia shot 58.6 percent while winning at Morningside for the first time since February 2016.
After posting three-straight double-doubles while leading the Bulldogs to a 3-0 week, Tristan Smith has been named the GPAC Player of the Week. Smith is averaging 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds on the season.
With the CIT trophy secured for another year, the Bulldogs now shift focus to a week of significance within the GPAC. Coach Limback's squad will be at Morningside before hosting Northwestern for a program 100-year celebration.
Late fireworks from the likes of CIT MVP Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith boosted the Bulldogs to a 75-69 win over Concordia Wisconsin in the CIT championship on Saturday (Jan. 27). Schutte and Smith both notched double-doubles.
According to Coach Grant Schmidt, the 1991-92 men's basketball team "created an environment at Concordia that we had never seen before." The Bulldogs surprised many by storming to the national semifinals.
Jason Jisa's journey has taken him to many incredible places: the 2002 BCS National Championship game, the 2005 NAIA Division II national title tilt and this September, the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame.
We try to answer the question: what are the greatest moments in the history of the Concordia men's basketball program? This is the second in our 'top five' series. Relive the glory years presided over by Grant Schmidt.
The 2016-17 Concordia men's basketball team set a new school standard for scoring behind All-American Chandler Folkerts and sharpshooter Eli Ziegler. The team's 21 wins were the most for the program since 2004-05.
Nearing the end of his Concordia career, Chandler Folkerts will be remembered as more than just a basketball player. Says President Brian Friedrich of Folkerts, "He is the young man every parent wants as a son."
Over his four-year Bulldog career, Littleton, Colorado, native Eli Ziegler has gone from role player to star. Born and bred to play hoops, Concordia's sharpshooting senior is the ringleader for a squad that leads the nation in 3-point shooting.
Powered by Chandler Folkerts, Concordia men's basketball enters 2016-17 with an optimistic outlook despite being picked to finish eighth in the GPAC by league coaches.
Surely it would take an act of God for someone to go from Sydney, Australia, to Honolulu, Hawaii, to Seward, Neb. That’s exactly what happened in regards to Chris Johnstone.
An 18-12 overall record marked another improvement for head coach Ben Limback's men's basketball program in 2015-16. The Bulldogs were led again by first team all-conference big man Chandler Folkerts.
Currently the third-highest scoring team in program history (in terms of scoring average), the Bulldogs have won seven of eight games. They rate as one of the nation's most efficient offensive teams.