SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s basketball team has had no trouble taking care of business outside of conference play. The rigors of the GPAC have provided a different set of challenges. The Bulldogs have already played three of the conference’s four teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 of NAIA Division II. Now they get set to go to Doane on Wednesday before hosting Mount Marty on Saturday.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Doane (3-8, 0-5), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: YouTube
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Mount Marty (3-8, 1-5), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
While head coach Ben Limback’s squad enters the week at 1-4 in conference play, it has put together a solid last couple of weeks with wins in three of its last four outings. The only loss during that stretch was a 77-70 home defeat at the hands of No. 2 Morningside. Concordia got within four in the final two minutes after trailing 27-11 from the jump. Four days before entertaining the Mustangs, the Bulldogs (7-4 overall) picked up perhaps their most impressive win thus far by triumphing at Peru State College (7-1). In its latest action, Concordia thumped visiting Nebraska Christian College, 94-67.
There may not be a more encouraging development than the continued takeoff of Tanner Shuck’s game. The native of Grand Island has gone for 29, 22 and 26 points, respectively, over the past three games. During that stretch, Shuck has netted 15-of-28 attempts from 3-point range. Compared to conference players, Shuck ranks third in 3-point field goals per game (3.36), 10th in scoring (17.6) and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (.416). Shuck has run his career point total to 898. Shuck nailed seven 3-point field goals against Nebraska Christian.
Shuck and Brevin Sloup continue to star as a one-two scoring punch. They combine to average 32.8 of the team’s 77.4 points per game. At 5-foot-9, Sloup is also one of the team’s top rebounders with an average of 4.7 boards per game. Shuck and Sloup seem to be growing increasingly comfortable with all the new pieces surrounding them. Freshman Carter Kent (16 points versus Morningside) has provided some scoring punch and junior Chuol Biel (1.82 blocks/game) has been a impactful addition as a low-post defender.
Doane has won two nonconference games in a row after a 1-8 start. The Tigers have struggled after receiving votes nationally in the preseason. One issue to this point has been Doane’s average of 17.3 turnovers per game. Much of its offense comes from four starters who each average more than 13 points per game with Nick Kornieck’s 15.3 scoring average leading the way. The Tigers played without Kornieck at Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.) in last week’s 65-64 victory. Concordia has won three in a row in the series with Doane.
Mount Marty’s lone conference victory came by a 74-71 final score versus Midland on Nov. 17. The Lancers made progress last season by going from four wins in 2016-17 to six in 2017-18. One of those victories victimized the Bulldogs, 65-63, in Yankton. Mount Marty has averaged only 67.5 points per game while shooting 38.8 percent from the floor. The team’s leading scorer is Jailen Billings (11.5 ppg).
Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (7-4, 1-4 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.3)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.8)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (17.5)
F – Zach Auguste, Jr., 6-7 (6.7)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (6.1)
Doane (3-8, 0-5 GPAC)
G – Koh Flippin, Sr., 6-3 (13.4)
G – Anthony Laravie, So., 6-0 (13.2)
G – Tyler Sullivan, Fr., 5-11 (3.7)
F – Jaxon Harre, So., 6-5 (1.5)
C – Trace Tupper, So., 6-10 (13.7)
Mount Marty (3-8, 1-5 GPAC)
G – Chase Altenburg, Fr., 6-3 (4.3)
G – Logan Fleming, Sr., 6-0 (5.5)
G – Colby Johnson, Jr., 6-2 (10.8)
F – Reilly Devine, Fr., 6-5 (5.1)
F – Jonah Larson, Fr., 6-6 (7.6)