PREVIEW: Huskies Embark on Road Trip to Parkside and Purdue Northwest
Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Jan. 9 • 8:30 p.m. at Parkside • Sat. Jan. 11 • 4 p.m. at Purdue Northwest
Michigan Tech (10-3, 4-1 GLIAC) at Parkside (6-7, 2-3 GLIAC) and Purdue Northwest (6-7, 1-4 GLIAC)
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
2019-20 WEEK EIGHT IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech recorded two more Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference wins this past week, topping Wayne State 80-68 on Thursday night followed by a 76-63 triumph over Ashland University on Saturday. The Huskies have now won eight of their last nine games and are tied for first in the GLIAC North Division standings with a conference record of 4-1.
Senior Kyle Monroe poured in a game high 35 points by connecting on 13 of 20 attempts from the field, including 5 of 8 chances from long distance in Thursday's game. Monroe also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and dished out four assists. Junior Dawson Bilski followed with 15 points and six boards while junior Tommy Lucca rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points and a game high nine assists. The Huskies turned the ball over just five times in Thursday's win.
On Saturday against Ashland, the Huskies had four players with 12 or more points, led by Monroe with a game high 24. Lucca followed with 15 points, a game high seven assists and three steals, sophomore Owen White fired in 14 points and grabbed a team best six rebounds with three steals, and junior Isaac Appleby rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and five rebounds. Bilski tacked on eight points and had a pair of rebounds.
MONROE NAMED GLIAC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR FOURTH TIME
Michigan Tech senior forward Kyle Monroe has been named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and for the second consecutive week. Monroe helped guide the Huskies to two more GLIAC wins over Wayne State University 80-68 and Ashland University 76-63.
Monroe, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, averaged 29.5 points per game and poured in a season high 35 points against Wayne State before following that up with 24 points in the win over Ashland. Monroe became the second all-time leading scorer in Tech history over the weekend and now has 2,108 career points. In addition to his scoring numbers, Monroe averaged 7.5 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists in the two victories. Monroe reeled in 10 rebounds in the win of Wayne State, resulting in is third double-double of the season. Monroe paces the Huskies in scoring and rebounding this season with a 21.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game average. Monroe was also the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week December 2, November 12, and December 23.
MONROE BECOMES TECH'S 2ND ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER
Monroe moved up to second on the all-time leading scorers list with a combined total of 59 points this past weekend. Monroe passed assistant coach Josh Buettner (2,061 pts 2001-05) and Jeff Boinski (2,089 pts 1995-99) on the all-time list and currently owns 2,106 career points. Tech's all-time leading scorer is Larry Grimes, who amassed 2,360 points during his four year career as a Husky (2,360). Monroe eclipsed the 2,000-point threshold with 22 points in a 93-59 victory over Northwood on December 7.
GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
Michigan Tech was picked to finish third in the GLIAC North Division for the third consecutive year, pulling in 45 points and one first place vote in the Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Wednesday by the conference office. Ferris State once again sits atop the North Division with 55 points and six first place votes. Parkside checks in just behind the Bulldogs with 51 points and five first place nods. Lake Superior State is slated to finish fourth with 33 points, Purdue Northwest fifth with 17 points, and Northern Michigan sixth with 15 points.
Over in the South Division, defending GLIAC Champion Davenport University is penciled in to the No. 1 spot with 61 points and 11 of the 12 first place votes. Ashland University is second with 50 points and one first place vote while Grand Valley State holds down the No. 3 position with 39 points. Northwood is fourth with 26 points, Saginaw Valley State is fifth with 24 points, and Wayne State is sixth with 16 points to round out the bottom three teams in the poll.
GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Through the first 13 games of the season, the Huskies are ranked near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech leads the conference in free throw shooting percentage (78.6%) and is second in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 9.8. The Huskies are also first in the GLIAC in overall field goal percentage (49.4%) and first in three-point shooting percentage (39.4%). Tech checks in second in assists per game (19.1) and first in fewest turnovers per game (8.8). The defense is second in fewest points allowed per game at 65.7 and are sixth in steals at 6.5 each time the team takes the floor. The Huskies are second in the GLIAC in scoring at 81.0 points per game. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 21.2 points per game, 10th in rebounding at 6.7 boards per contest, and first in free throw shooting percentage (87.5%). Lucca is tops in the conference in assists per game (6.9) and assist to turnover ratio (5.3).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Parkside owns an overall record of 6-7 and is 2-3 in the GLIAC as they get set to host the Huskies Thursday night. The Rangers are coming off losses to Northwood 55-52 and Saginaw Valley State 74-66 last week. The Rangers two conference wins were produced in an 88-79 decision at Davenport and an 84-74 victory at home against Purdue Northwest. Parkside paces the conference in blocks per game (4.7) and gives up the fourth fewest points per game in the league (68.2). Opponents are only making 41.0 percent of their field goals this year against the Rangers. Brandon Hau and Brandon Trimble are the two leading scorers for the Rangers coming into Thursday's game with each player averaging 14.0 points and 12.8 points per game respectively. Hau is the top rebounder on the club with a 6.3 boards per game average and Ramar Evans dishes out a team best 3.5 assists per game. The Huskies are 10-8 in the all-time series with Parkside, falling in both games last year to the Rangers.
Purdue Northwest is 6-7 overall and 1-4 in the GLIAC as they get ready to battle Northern Michigan Thursday night before taking on the Huskies Saturday. The Pride leads the conference in steals per game with 8.7 and are also tops in the league in offensive rebounds per night (13.5). Purdue Northwest is knocking down the third most field goals in the GLIAC this year, thanks to an average of 28.5 made shots per night. The Pride's lone win this year in the conference occurred against Northwood on January 4 by the final score of 76-63. Jyrus Freel leads the Purdue Northwest offense with a 12.6 points per game average followed by Jordan Doss with an 11.7 points per game average. Freel is also the top rebounder on the club, hauling down 6.9 boards each time he takes the floor. Xavier Hallinan is dishing out 3.5 assists per game and has a team high 1.6 steals per game. The Huskies are 4-0 all-time against the Pride during the two years that Purdue Northwest has been in the GLIAC.
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
The Huskies will be back in the friendly confines of the SDC Gym next week to host Lake Superior State Thursday and Ferris State Saturday. Lake Superior State is 6-7 overall and 3-2 in the GLIAC as they get set to face Saginaw Valley State and Northwood this week. Ferris State owns an overall record of 15-2 and 4-1 in the conference prior to showdowns with Northwood and Saginaw Valley State as well.