2024-25 GPAC Men’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team: Tristan Smith (Player of the Year / Defensive Player of the Year); Noah Schutte
Second Team: Brad Bennett
Honorable Mention: Jaxon Stueve
SEWARD, Neb. – In putting together one of the most impressive seasons ever by a Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball player, senior Tristan Smith garnered appropriate recognition on Wednesday (March 5). The conference announced Smith as the overall 2024-25 GPAC Player of the Year and the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. Smith is the first player to win both major GPAC awards in the same season since 2013-14. Smith was joined with All-GPAC honors by teammates in grad student Noah Schutte (first team), senior Brad Bennett (second team) and sophomore Jaxon Stueve (honorable mention).
The honorees have played major roles in another special season for Head Coach Ben Limback’s program. The Bulldogs stand at 25-6 overall and placed second in the GPAC in both the regular season and postseason.
Smith (Elizabeth, Colo.) becomes the program’s first GPAC Player of the Year since Rick Dietze in 2003-04 and its first GPAC Defensive Player of the Year since Chandler Folkerts in 2016-17. The signature performance to date for Smith was his school record 48-point outburst versus Midland in the GPAC quarterfinals. Among GPAC players, Smith ranks first in field goal percentage (.701), second in blocks (1.6), third in assists (4.2), third in rebounding (8.5), sixth in scoring average (20.7) and eighth in steals (1.5). During the 2024-25 season, Smith has pulled in seven GPAC Player of the Week awards, has been named to watch lists for the Bevo Francis (best season in small college hoops) and Trevor Hudgins Awards (best career in small college hoops), was nominated for the Dark Horse Dunker competition and was tabbed the MVP of CIT. In 109 career collegiate games, Smith has totaled 1,542 points, 735 rebounds, 237 assists, 130 blocks and 108 steals. He is a two-time First Team All-GPAC selection.
Meanwhile, Schutte has added to his list of achievements that rank him among the greatest players in program history. The Laurel, Neb., native has picked up his fourth career All-GPAC honor – third first team selection. As a graduate student this season, Schutte is averaging 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He is shooting 57.7 percent (172-for-298) from the floor, 38.1 percent (24-for-63) from 3-point range and 71.6 percent (96-for-134) from the foul line. Schutte became the program’s all-time leading scorer on Jan. 8 with a 24-point outing at Doane. His current career totals through 144 games stand at 2,291 points, 928 rebounds (tied for most in program history), 266 assists and 96 steals. Schutte has twice been named an NAIA All-American: honorable mention in 2022-23 and third team in 2023-24. He was also chosen to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team in 2022.
A senior from Elkhorn, Neb., Bennett has been selected to the GPAC’s second team for a second-straight year (three career all-conference awards). Known for his outside shooting prowess, Bennett is averaging 9.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game this season. He is shooting 44.9 percent (102-for-227) from the field, 39.3 percent (70-for-178) from beyond the arc and 83.9 percent (26-for-31) from the foul line. Bennett starred in the 99-72 thrashing of Dordt on Jan. 4 by pouring in 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting from long range. In his career, Bennett has compiled 969 points and has knocked down 198 treys. Only 11 players in program history have made more 3-point shots.
A Bellevue West High School alum, Stueve routinely draws the opposition’s top backcourt scorer as his defensive assignment. For his efforts, Stueve earned two GPAC Defensive Player of the Week awards this season. He is averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.8 steals per game while starting all 31 contests. Stueve is shooting 47.5 percent (86-for-181) from the field, 41.9 percent (49-for-117) from 3-point range and 87.5 percent (28-for-32) from the charity stripe. Stueve’s career-high of 23 points came in the win at Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 2. The recognition marks the first All-GPAC award of his career.
The Bulldogs will learn of their national tournament placement on Thursday as part of the NAIA selection show scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. The show will air live via the NAIA Network.