SEWARD, Neb. – The stretch of four-straight home games to begin the 2024-25 season will conclude on Saturday when Morningside is scheduled to make an appearance inside Friedrich Arena. The 11th-ranked Concordia University, Men’s Basketball team endeavors to keep its unblemished record intact while following up an 89-79 nonconference win over Bethel College (Kan.) this past weekend. The 3-0 mark for Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad also includes victories over NCAA Division III opponents Central College (Iowa) and Nebraska Wesleyan University.
This Week
Saturday, Nov. 16 vs. Morningside (4-0, 0-0 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· In last week’s only outing, the Bulldogs defeated a Bethel team that opened this season at 4-0 (on the heels of going 15-14 in 2023-24). To the credit of the Threshers, they hung around for much of the game despite trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half. There were positives and negatives to take away from a Concordia perspective. The Bulldogs shot 56.6 percent (30-for-63) from the floor but made only 60 percent (21-for-35) from the foul line and committed 16 turnovers. Seven Concordia players posted at least eight points: Noah Schutte (20), Tristan Smith (14), Brad Bennett (11), Lukas Helms (nine), Zac Kulus (nine), Jaxon Stueve (nine) and Hayden Frank (eight). Smith added five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals to his stat line.
· Entering the week, every GPAC men’s basketball squad has played at least two nonconference games. Four of those teams are undefeated: Concordia (3-0), Dordt (4-0), Morningside (4-0) and Northwestern (4-0). Another five have just one loss: Dakota Wesleyan (3-1), Doane (3-1), Midland (3-1), Mount Marty (3-1) and Hastings (1-1). Three conference teams appeared in the NAIA preseason poll: No. 11 Concordia, No. 15 Northwestern and Dordt (receiving votes).
· In all three games this season, senior Tristan Smith has ‘wowed’ the crowd with highlight reel moments. The latest occurrence came late in the first half versus Bethel when Smith threw down a one-hand slam off an alley-oop pass from Jaxon Stueve in transition. Of course, Smith is much more than a highlight reel. The Elizabeth, Colo., native was named First Team All-GPAC last season and has racked up career tallies of 938 points, 490 rebounds, 118 assists, 87 blocks and 69 steals. Those numbers would be larger if not for the injury Smith endured as a sophomore when he missed 15 games.
· The combo of Smith and Noah Schutte in the frontcourt will be a pain for every Concordia opponent this season. The Laurel, Neb., native Schutte is in the midst of his ‘COVID season’ after earning NAIA Third Team All-America status in 2023-24. The 20 points Schutte posted last week against Bethel pushed his career total to 1,879 in 118 games as a Bulldog. On the program’s all-time lists, Schutte ranks fifth in scoring and sixth in rebounds (743). Schutte averaged at least 20 points per game in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 and will be a candidate to be GPAC Player of the Year.
· Coach Limback wants to push this Concordia team to play even faster than it did last season. That emphasis requires depth, something the Bulldogs possess – 12 different players have appeared in each of this season’s first three games. On the season, Concordia is averaging 83.0 points per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor. During Limback’s tenure, the Bulldogs have averaged 80+ points per game in four separate seasons with a high scoring average of 88.7 in 2016-17.
· In terms of competing for championships within the GPAC, the Bulldogs turned a corner in March of 2020 when they celebrated a conference tournament championship at the Corn Palace. Limback’s teams have proceeded to win GPAC titles in 2021-22 (regular season and postseason) and in 2023-24 (regular season). From the 2019-20 season through the present, Concordia has gone a combined 67-33 in GPAC regular season play. The Bulldogs have also qualified for the national tournament four times during that stretch.
The opponent
Morningside has annually finished near the top of the GPAC standings while making regular national tournament appearances. The Mustangs reached the NAIA national round of eight this past season while continuing to hum under Head Coach Trent Miller (fourth season), who replaced longtime coach Jim Sykes (now the school’s AD). In its history, Morningside has qualified for the national tournament 20 times. The Mustangs were pegged No. 4 in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll and return First Team All-GPAC guard Joey Skoff. However, Morningside graduated star big man Ely Doble. The Mustangs’ 4-0 record includes wins over Coe College (Iowa), Viterbo University (Wis.), Governors State University (Ill.) and No. 24 Kansas Wesleyan University. Morningside is averaging 98.8 points per game behind top scorers in Skoff (28.0), Adian Vanderloo (15.3), Daniel Brocaille (13.8), Brendan Buckley (11.8) and Justin Sitti (10.0). Concordia and Morningside split their two 2023-24 meetings with the road team winning in both instances.
Next week
Just like this week, next week will include just a single Saturday game within conference play. The Bulldogs will be headed to Dordt on Nov. 23 to take on a Defenders squad that received votes in the NAIA preseason poll.