Season Preview: 2023-24 Concordia Men's Basketball
October 19, 2023
2022-23 Record: 18-13 overall, 11-9 GPAC (5th); NAIA national qualifier. Head Coach: Ben Limback (at CUNE: 182-126, 10 years; career: 297-284, 19 years; three national tournaments; three combined GPAC titles) Returning Starters: G Brad Bennett; F Noah Schutte; F Tristan Smith. Other Key Returners: G Joel Baker; G Payson Gillespie; G Zac Kulus; G Jaxon Weyand; F Logan Wilson. Key Newcomers: G Hayden Frank; G/F Tyler Harre; F Lukas Helms; G Brooks Kissinger; G/F Jaxon Stueve; F Brandt Van Dyke. Key Losses: G Garrett Seagren; F Gage Smith; F Kelly Vyhnalek. 2022-23 GPAC All-Conference: Noah Schutte (First Team); Gage Smith (Second Team); Brad Bennett (Honorable Mention); Tristan Smith (Honorable Mention). 2022-23 NAIA All-American: Noah Schutte (Honorable Mention).
Outlook
Back-to-back national tournament trips and three appearances on the national stage in the past four years lead Concordia Men’s Basketball into the 2023-24 campaign. There were no championship banners to be hung this past season, but the Bulldogs took pride in overcoming adversity, including injury to one of the team’s rising stars, to reach the 2023 national tournament. Sitting at 11-9 overall in late January, Concordia put together a 6-1 stretch behind do-it-all superstar Noah Schutte. With a bit more roster stability this winter, the Bulldogs could develop into a challenger for another GPAC championship.
On the cusp of reaching 300 career coaching wins, Ben Limback enters his 11th season at the helm of Bulldog Basketball. Concordia is rallying around the mantra of “Rise Up” in 2023-24. Limback and his team have attempted to define what that theme will mean going forward.
Said Limback, “The theme the team chose this year was ‘Rise Up.’ Our goal is to every day rise up to challenges and meet those challenges. Don’t shy away from them. Rise up in who we are as people. So far, I’m pleased with what’s going on with our leadership and the tradition that we’re trying to uphold with the national tournament runs and the program’s excellence.”
The Bulldogs have averaged nearly 22 wins per season over the past four years while turning a corner as a program. That consistency has enhanced the program’s stature both within the conference and nationally. The expectation is undoubtedly to return to the national tournament for a squad built around its frontcourt. With Jamestown’s Mason Walters having transferred for his final year of college hoops, Schutte enters this season as a GPAC Player of the Year candidate. Most significantly, Concordia must answer questions about its backcourt.
When things get hairy, the guards know they can rely upon the 6-foot-4 Schutte, a native of Laurel, Neb., who piled up more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds during his high school career at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School. This past season, Schutte found another level and averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 54.4 percent from the floor and 46.3 percent from 3-point range. Despite bursting onto the scene during the 2022 national tournament run, Schutte still seems to foolishly get left out of the national discussion. Schutte put together one of the best single game performances in school history when he went off for 38 points and 18 rebounds while drilling a program record nine 3-point field goals in the 2023 GPAC quarterfinal win at Northwestern.
“He’s super gifted and talented and he has an amazing touch all over the floor,” Limback said. “He’s got the 3-point game and the inside game and the ability to get to the free throw line. The message with our team is that he’s the guy who comes in early to get shots up before practices and the guy who gets in morning workouts on his own. I’ve been really impressed with Noah throughout his career. He’s really started to figure out the intensity level required, especially when you’re a marked man. I think last year he saw that and had to elevate his game. Yeah, he’s putting up all these numbers and having an amazing career so far, but I bet he’s put in the most hours of anybody throughout his lifetime.”
That vaunted frontcourt will no longer have the services of SlamBall MVP Gage Smith, but Concordia is excited about what his younger brother Tristan can do over the course of an entire, healthy campaign. The uber athletic Tristan Smith went down with a gruesome injury in late December and somehow returned in time to play at the national tournament. However, the injury robbed the junior from Elizabeth, Colo., of roughly half the season. T-Ray (as his teammates call him) averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in his shortened sophomore campaign and appears on his way to becoming another of the GPAC’s top players.
Schutte goes up against Tristan every day in practice and knows firsthand what he brings to the table. Said Schutte, “It kind of shocked all of us last year how quick he was able to get back on the court. He’s worked his tail off this offseason in the weight room and in the gym. He’s always getting shots up. I’m amazed every day with all the things he can do on the court to help our team. I’m really looking forward to how he can help us this year.”
For the Bulldogs to challenge the likes of Morningside, Northwestern, Dordt and Jamestown at the top of the GPAC heap, they will need the backcourt to reach its potential. The crew of guards features two players who started at least a third of last season’s games: junior Brad Bennett (19) and sophomore Jaxon Weyand (11). Bennett stretches defenses with his perimeter shooting (40.6 percent in 2022-23) and is improving defensively. Meanwhile, Weyand is a hard-nosed point guard who provided a spark in the middle of last season.
Other returners who saw significant action last season are guards Joel Baker, Payson Gillespie, Zac Kulus and Trey Scheef and forwards Brayson Mueller and Logan Wilson. The Bennington, Neb., native Kulus saved his best for the Concordia Invitational Tournament when he poured in 33 points on 9-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc over the two games. A fourth-year player in the program, Baker appeared in 28 games last season and even got one start. After redshirting last season, 6-foot-9 Tony Tubrick also appears primed to find his way into the rotation.
Without question, the door is open for a host of freshmen to make an impact this winter. There are 11 freshmen in the program and a half dozen could make an immediate varsity impact. Some names to watch out for include Hayden Frank, Tyler Harre, Lukas Helms, Brooks Kissinger, Jaxon Stueve and Brandt Van Dyke. The class has drawn positive reviews this preseason from Limback and his coaching staff. It’s possible a freshman could even crack the starting lineup.
While portions of the roster are youthful, the Bulldogs are not treating this as any kind of rebuilding season, especially considering the presence of Schutte. Said Schutte, “We want to grow as a team and grow as people and as players. We’re looking forward to a challenging schedule. I think Coach Limback said this was one of the toughest schedules he’s ever had as a coach. We know that will help us in the long run, making the national tournament and stuff. We’re focusing on one game at a time and looking forward to the challenges we have this year.”
In addition to making up for the loss of Gage Smith (the program’s second all-time leading rebounder), the Bulldogs are also replacing their best backcourt defender from last season in Garrett Seagren. Solid man-to-man defense has been a hallmark for Concordia, which last season led the GPAC in defensive efficiency (.967) while ranking second in the league in field goal percentage defense (.430). At the same time, the Bulldogs like to get out and run in transition.
At this point, there are several key players still learning the system and getting acclimated to college basketball. Said Limback, “It’s kind of a unique balance with this team. We have some upperclassmen and returners that have done everything and have gone through our practice routines and know our terminology. Then you have a group of guys who are young and still learning, so you can’t go too fast, but you can’t go too slow. We’re relying heavily upon our senior leadership and upperclassmen to help guys pick things up. We just have to get tougher defensively. Right now, it’s hard to tell what your strengths or weaknesses are. We want to have that toughness when you’re tired and be able to take care of the ball and talk on defense. We have a quiet team overall. We just have to get better in those areas.”
For Concordia Men’s Basketball, it’s always been about putting forth actions that speak volumes while letting others do the chirping. No one embodies those traits quite like Schutte, the Nebraska farm boy with a big game. It’s his time to lead. Says Schutte, “We talked about ‘Rise Up.’ We’re going to face a lot of challenges throughout the year. Are we going to be willing to rise up to those challenges and overcome them?”
The Bulldogs will begin to answer that question at the 24th annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4) when they will host Mayville State University (N.D.) and William Penn University (Iowa).
Schutte, Smith power season opening home win over Mayville State
November 3, 2023
SEWARD, Neb. – In a matchup between two teams that qualified for the 2023 national tournament, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team got the season started in winning fashion. The frontcourt of the Bulldogs proved too difficult to handle in what amounted to an 88-73 victory over Mayville State University (N.D.) on day one (Nov. 3) of the 24th annual Cattle Classic. Noah Schutte piled up a game high 25 points and Tristan Smith nearly notched a double-double.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad passed the first test as part of a challenging opening weekend of the 2023-24 season. Concordia always had an answer for every Comet surge.
“That’s a good team,” Limback said of Mayville State. “They’re going to win a lot of games this year, and their defense bothered us a lot in the first half. We had too many turnovers, but I thought our defense hung tough and we rebounded pretty solid. There are a lot of things we can clean up. Certainly Noah Schutte had a great game. Lukas Helms did some great things in the second half and Brooks Kissinger too – a couple freshmen. We have some defensive adjustments we’ll have to make, but I liked our effort tonight.”
Behind Schutte, the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 20 in the latter stages of the contest in finishing emphatically. Concordia had regained control on the heels of a 12-1 run by the Comets. Midway through the half, Mayville State closed to within four (55-51) while spurred by returning All-American Thomas Gieske (team high 20 points). The Bulldogs followed with an 11-4 spurt highlighted by a tip slam from the freshman Helms.
The 6-foot-6 Helms out of Lincoln Southwest High School will make this frontcourt even more of a bear to deal with. Helms got the start alongside Schutte and Smith while the backcourt featured Joel Smith and Brad Bennett. In notching 25 points, eight rebounds and two steals, Schutte moved to No. 25 on the program’s all-time scoring list. In the second half, Smith got rolling and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists. He brought the crowd to an uproar with a tip slam of his own.
Concordia enjoyed a 39-32 rebound advantage and shot 50.8 percent from the floor, compared to 41.3 percent for Mayville State. Both teams struggled a bit with turnovers (18 apiece), but it was an overall solid first outing from the Bulldogs’ perspective.
Said Limback, “They had a couple momentum plays where they cut our lead to six or seven. I felt like we answered it with some toughness plays. The goal is to not allow teams to come back. To see some adversity is a good thing. I liked how we stuck with it. Our leadership is really strong right now, which I feel like is going to be a key the rest of the year.”
Off the bench, Kissinger chipped in with 11 points and three rebounds. He’ll be a major factor in a backcourt that has some youthfulness to it. Helms collected six points, seven rebounds and three steals. Baker canned both of his 3-point attempts while Bennett added five points and five assists.
Mayville State (2-1) fell for the first time this season. The Comets received votes in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll. Gieske was joined in double figures by teammates Jamison Kramer (16) and Jr. White (11).
On day two of the Cattle Classic, Concordia will be challenged by 19th-ranked William Penn University (Iowa). In Friday’s action, the Statesmen were upset, 88-77, while up against another GPAC opponent in Hastings. Tipoff on Saturday is set for 4 p.m. CT.
Second half shooting lifts Bulldogs to defeat No.19 Statesmen
November 4, 2023
SEWARD, Neb. – The Cattle Classic rolled along on day two with the Concordia men’s basketball team capping the tournament in a clash against 19th-ranked William Penn University. After a tight knitted single point differential at halftime, the Dawgs slammed shut any chance of a comeback for the Statesmen in the 103-74 route. Noah Schutte and company shot over 47 percent from three in the second half and collected 30 total points from the charity stripe on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 4). All-Cattle Classic Schutte led the team with 26 points, with Brooks Kissinger garnering 16 in his second collegiate game.
Head Coach Ben Limback commented on the improved second half and getting to the free throw line.
“I thought we shot the ball a lot better in the second half. Noah Schutte had a great weekend. He constantly puts us in a good position offensively. Our young guys started to come in, do some good things, and the ball was moving better. We have competitive practices, and our new guys want to get in there and show what they can do. We had thirteen separate guys score for us. They (William Penn) were really great at pressuring the ball and that really bothered us in the first half. We have the ability to take the right angles and be strong with the ball, and it is a goal of ours to get to the free throw line for free points. It was a great test for us this weekend and proud of our team effort there.”
At the halftime break with a 44-43 lead, Concordia came out swinging, sinking three shots from behind the arc by Schutte (two) and Joel Baker (one) on their way to a 13-6 run in the opening minutes. The maverick Schutte added to his stat totals in that time, finishing with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Up 57-53, All-Cattle Classic Tristan Smith put in work on the block, making five of his 12 points in the 13-1 scoring drive in front of Bulldog Nation.
A minute later, Kissinger turned on the heat, hitting two back to back buckets and drove into the paint to collect two free points at the line. The freshman went to the line six times of the home squad’s 41 chances, as the team lived inside the bonus seemingly the entire match. The product out of Ashland, Neb., had a big Cattle Classic weekend opening his collegiate career with two double dight performances and has shown comfortability bringing the ball down the floor.
The bench Bulldogs came roaring into the match in the second half and did not disappoint, outscoring the other sidelined opponents 48-16. With a 95-69 lead, Brayson Mueller, Hayden Frank and Brandt Van Dyke all got their piece of the pie from three to seal the dominant triple digit win over William Penn.
The Dawgs (2-0) will enjoy a week to prepare before taking the show on the road to a 1-1 Benedictine College (Kan.) on Saturday (Nov. 11). Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CT in Atchison, Kan. The Ravens went 12-17 last year, ending their season in a Heart of America Conference quarterfinal loss (90-88) versus William Penn. The last time Concordia and Benedictine stepped on the hardwood was in the 2021 Cattle Classic with the advantage going to the Bulldogs in a 68-53 win.
All-Cattle Classic Men’s Team Thomas Gieske, Mayville State Noah Schutte, Concordia Tristan Smith, Concordia Shug Sneed, William Penn Reggie Thomas, Hastings
First road test awaits after 2-0 Cattle Classic weekend
November 8, 2023
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team passed its first two tests of the 2023-24 season in defeating Cattle Classic opponents Mayville State University (N.D.), 88-73, and No. 19 William Penn University (Iowa), 103-74. Now the Bulldogs will take their act on the road for the first time as they shift their focus to Saturday’s trip to Benedictine College (Kan.). The Bulldogs and Ravens met inside Friedrich Arena in November 2021 with the result being a 68-53 Concordia win.
This Week
Saturday, Nov. 11 at Benedictine (1-1), 5 p.m. CT --Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Ralph Nolan Gymnasium (Atchison, Kan.)
By the numbers
· Two NAIA coaches’ polls have been released already this season. The Bulldogs have not yet received votes nationally after being pegged fifth in the GPAC preseason poll. In the NAIA poll released on Wednesday (Nov. 8), four GPAC teams received mention: No. 18 Northwestern, No. 19 Morningside, No. 23 Dordt and Briar Cliff (receiving votes). Entering the week, all 11 GPAC squads have played at least one game. Both Briar Cliff and Dordt are 4-0, Dakota Wesleyan is 3-0 and Concordia and Northwestern sit at 2-0. The Chargers made some waves early this season with an upset of Kansas Wesleyan University, which was ranked 16th in the preseason.
· Heading into the Cattle Classic, the Bulldogs expected to be challenged as they went up against two returning national qualifying teams in Mayville State and William Penn. Both contests were competitive through the first half before Concordia turned on the jets. It outscored the two opponents by a combined total of 111-76 in the second half. All-Cattle Classic honors went to Noah Schutte (51 points and 15 rebounds for the weekend) and Tristan Smith (32 points and 16 rebounds for the weekend). As a team, the Bulldogs shot 50.8 percent from the floor and limited their opponents to 39.2 percent shooting. Head Coach Ben Limback used an initial starting lineup featuring a frontcourt of Schutte, Smith and freshman Lukas Helms and a backcourt of senior Joel Baker and junior Bradley Bennett.
· The next win for Ben Limback will mark a milestone achievement. The Concordia alum and former conference player of the year has won 184 games over 10-plus seasons with the Bulldogs. He also won 115 games during a nine-year tenure leading the Concordia University Ann Arbor program. The totals from the two Concordias adds up to 299 wins for Limback, the second winningest coach in the history of Bulldog Men’s Basketball. Limback has continued the program’s stability after Grant Schmidt won 445 games over 23 seasons from 1989 to 2012. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Limback has led the Bulldogs to a combined three GPAC championships and three national tournament appearances.
· A native of Laurel, Neb., Schutte entered this season as both a GPAC Player of the Year and First Team All-America candidate. Now in year four as a Bulldog, Schutte enjoyed a terrific 2022-23 season that saw him average 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while posting impressive shooting percentages across the board. He’ll be remembered for the 38-point, 18-rebound performance in the 2023 GPAC quarterfinals at Northwestern. Schutte poured in a school record nine 3-point field goals in that road victory. Over 85 career collegiate games, Schutte has totaled 1,208 points and 473 rebounds. He has climbed to No. 24 on the program’s all-time scoring list having passed Ben Limback (1,158), Robby Thomas (1,170) and Eli Ziegler (1,194) already this season. Schutte burst onto the scene in his sophomore campaign when he was named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team.
· Another star in the frontcourt, Tristan Smith endured a gruesome injury in late December of last season. Incredibly, Smith returned in time to play significant minutes in the first round of the 2023 national tournament. He essentially missed half of his sophomore season. Fortunately, the Elizabeth, Colo., native appears to have returned to form. He threw down a tip-slam as part of the win over Mayville State. In the 16 games he played in last season, Smith averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds and shot 50.9 percent from the field. He appears on the same trajectory as older brother Gage Smith, who played five seasons as a Bulldog and departed from the program as its second all-time leading rebounder. Gage made waves this past summer as the MVP of SlamBall.
· While Schutte and Smith are the headlining returners, the freshman class is already making its presence felt. The 6-foot-6 Helms (Lincoln, Neb.) earned an immediate spot in the starting lineup and chipped in with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists over the two Cattle Classic wins. Five additional freshmen got their first varsity action this past weekend: Brooks Kissinger, Hayden Frank, Tyler Harre, Jaxon Stueve and Brandt Van Dyke. An Ashland-Greenwood High School alum, Kissinger has drawn rave reviews in the early going. He totaled 27 points on 6-for-10 shooting at the Cattle Classic. The growth of the freshmen will play a role in the ultimate success of this squad.
The opponent
Benedictine has started this season at 1-1 after finishing with a 12-17 overall record in 2022-23. The below .500 record was abnormal for a program that has reached the national tournament five times since 2014. The Ravens were picked sixth out of 13 teams in the 2023-24 Heart of America Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. Head Coach Ryan Moody is in his 12th season at the helm of the program. Through the first two games of this season, senior guard Braden Belt (17.5) and sophomore guard Bryce LaRue (17.0) have led the team in scoring. The Ravens defeated Haskell (Kan.), 76-64, following a 70-61 season opening loss to McPherson (Kan.).
Next week
Conference play will be up next as the Bulldogs will host Morningside on Nov. 15 before traveling to play Northwestern on Nov. 18. The Mustangs and Red Raiders were picked first and second, respectively, in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll.
Rebounding and second half perimeter shots lead to victory against Ravens
November 11, 2023
Atchison, Kan. – Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad took a trip south, facing off against Benedictine College (Kan.) on Saturday night (Nov. 11). Turnovers plagued the Bulldog offense, but healing power came from 60 percent second half perimeter shooting and 50 total rebounds which led to a 74-61 road win over the Ravens. With this win over Benedictine, Ben Limback has now won 300 games as a head coach. He has 185 wins as the front man of the Bulldogs, and 115 at Concordia University, Ann Arbor. Forward Tristan Smith clutched his first double-double (15 points & 14 rebounds) of the year, even being in foul trouble a majority of the match. Noah Schutte gathered a team high 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists, just shy of a double-double .
Concordia moves to 3-0 early in its 2023-24 campaign before plunging into the deep waters of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) on Wednesday (Nov. 15). Coach Limback spoke on what led to the first half turnovers and how they created a double digit lead after halftime.
“They did a great job of preventing us from getting out in transition and in the halfcourt we weren’t moving the ball very well. At halftime, we said we needed more player movement off the ball. They were very strong in the gaps defensively and we were over-dribbling. We kept trying to go places where there weren’t opportunities. In the second half, I thought we were a little better and Tyler (Harre) gave us a huge lift off the bench. He’s a guy who can really shoot it and he did a great job of moving without the ball. He kept getting himself in rhythm to make those shots, that’s when we really extended our lead. I also thought Tristan, despite his foul trouble, gave us a big lift on rebounds and putbacks.”
The Ravens’ defense flocked to the ball, especially in the first half, where they caused 12 turnovers (20 total), forcing a tight game in the first 20 minutes. With a 26-23 advantage over Benedictine, the Dawgs ran out the break with a 17-6 run in the first seven minutes of the second half. During the run, Smith had six points off two field goals and two free throws, with Brad Bennett scoring five of his nine total points, helping Concordia to the eight-point lead.
At the end of the run, freshman Tyler Harre bottomed two three-pointers forcing a timeout by the home team. After pushing the lead to double digits (43-29), the Scottsbluff High School product drained two more from beyond the arc. CUNE made six of their first seven from the perimeter, charging toward their biggest lead (18) of the game with less than 10 minutes to go in the contest.
Up 56-38, Concordia attacked the basket and drew fouls late, scoring 12 of their last 18 points from the foul line. Schutte scored nine of his 16 from the charity stripe, making four of the final 12.
The Ravens cut the lead late to single digits (nine) using three-pointers but missed too many shots late as the Bulldogs commanded the defensive glass in a 38-24 advantage.
Benedictine falls to 1-2 with their solo win (76-64) coming against Haskell College (Kan.).
Concordia (3-0) starts their trek up the GPAC mountain facing No. 19 Morningside (2-1) in Friedrich Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 15). Tip-off is set for 7:45 p.m. CT in Seward, Neb. The Bulldogs went 0-2 against the Mustangs in the 2022-23 season.
Bulldogs suffer first loss in shootout with No. 19 Morningside
November 15, 2023
SEWARD, Neb. – Stops were difficult to come by on a night when defending GPAC regular season champion Morningside rolled into Friedrich Arena. Arch villains Ely Doble and Joey Skoff combined for 60 points as they toppled the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team, 101-89, in the GPAC opener for both squads on Wednesday (Nov. 15). The Bulldogs allowed the Mustangs to shoot 53.8 percent from the floor.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad fell for the first time this season and slipped to 3-1 overall. Concordia had been 33-3 over its previous 36 home games.
“I thought we battled, hung in there and took some punches,” Limback said. “The first half we weren’t sharp and didn’t execute defensively. Offensively, we were okay. In the second half, Doble got going and we got in foul trouble, so we had to change how we defended. There were a lot of plays during that stretch where they could have went on a run, but I was proud of how we battled. We just weren’t good enough.”
For much of the night, Concordia managed to keep up while following the lead of star Noah Schutte. Morningside finally found some separation with a late 8-0 run that turned its 80-79 advantage into an 88-79 lead with few than three minutes to play. Skoff accounted for six points during that spurt that allowed the Mustangs to regain control. Down the stretch, Morningside iced the contest at the line and shot 23-for-27 from the charity stripe overall. Twenty-one free throw makes came after halftime.
The Bulldogs mixed up defensive looks with more zone than they would normally play. Both Lukas Helms and Tristan Smith accumulated four fouls while trying to defend the paint. Off the bench, freshman Hayden Frank took advantage of extended minutes and supplied 12 points (2-for-4 from 3-point range). Concordia shot 50 percent (30-for-60) from the field and was nearly perfect from the foul line (18-for-20).
Doble was simply too much to handle. The Gretna, Neb., native dropped in a career high 34 points on 14-for-20 shooting from the floor. In the backcourt, Skoff got going with 26 points and Aidan Vanderloo added 16 points. Head Coach Trent Miller went with his starters for 178 of a possible 200 minutes. Not only did the Mustangs (3-1, 1-0 GPAC) shoot it efficiently, they owned a 37-25 rebound advantage.
Schutte topped the Bulldogs with 23 points (7-for-13 from the floor) in his 35 minutes of action. Smith posted 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists. On the perimeter, Brad Bennett (18 points) came alive with 4-for-6 shooting from long range. Off the bench, Tyler Harre and Brooks Kissinger chipped in with six points apiece.
With the top two teams in the GPAC, based on the preseason poll, on the slate for the opening week of conference play, Concordia knew it would get an early measuring stick. Said Limback, “We’ll see what we’re made of. We have a hungry group of guys. We have some young guys, but we have some depth. There are going to be times when you’re number’s called. I thought Hayden Frank did an outstanding job today. We just weren’t sharp enough. You could see they’re a very strong, very good team. There’s a reason they were picked first (in the GPAC).”
Another top 25 opponent from within the conference awaits as the Bulldogs will be headed to Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday to take on No. 18 Northwestern (4-0, 0-0 GPAC). Tipoff is slated for 6:45 p.m. CT from the Bultman Center (an adjustment from the original schedule). The Red Raiders had the middle of this week off after defeating two nonconference foes at their own classic this past weekend.
Smith drops 24 as Bulldogs surrender tight one at No. 18 Northwestern
November 18, 2023
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team hung tight on the road all Saturday (Nov. 18) evening, giving itself a chance to steal one on the road at No. 18 Northwestern. Sharpshooting guard Dillon Carlson delivered the dagger, and the game’s final tallies, while launching a trey with the Red Raiders then nursing a one-point lead. Northwestern held off the Bulldogs for a 78-74 win inside the Bultman Center in Orange City, Iowa. Concordia fell despite a game high 24 points from Tristan Smith.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad (3-2, 0-2 GPAC) fell both times during the season’s first week of conference play as the Bulldogs went up against the top two teams in the GPAC preseason poll. The goal will be to eventually turn these types of close calls into wins as the season wears on.
“That was a really, really big shot Carslon hit,” Limback said. “I thought he was really good in the second half. Some of the looks we gave him were really contested. We just kept turning the ball over in moments where it led to their offense. We just aren’t good enough right now. We have to be more disciplined with the ball. To turn it over 16 times and have a chance to win shows how good we can be. We can’t keep doing that and expect results. That’s the frustrating part.”
On a positive note, Concordia didn’t flinch when it got down 75-68 with less than two minutes to play. The ensuing 6-0 run featured a basket in the paint apiece from Jaxon Stueve, Smith and Noah Schutte. Suddenly, in the closing 30 seconds, the Bulldogs were a stop and a bucket away from leaving Orange City victorious. That’s when Carlson stepped up and drained his fifth trey of the night.
Smith and Schutte (20 points) combined for 44 points as they gave Concordia a fighting chance, even as it shot 42.6 percent (26-for-61) as a team. The Bulldogs did their best work on the glass in out-rebounding Northwestern, 37-26. Red Raider All-American big man Alex Van Kalsbeek was limited to two rebounds. In his starring performance, Smith notched seven rebounds and made 9-of-14 attempts from the floor. Schutte added seven rebounds and four assists to his stat line.
Said Limback of what his team can build upon, “I thought Kaxon Stueve off the bench gave us some great stuff in the second half. Tristan fought hard defensively on their big fella. I liked a lot of what we did defensively, especially in the second half. To hold them to three offensive rebounds is good work. Obviously, Noah and Tristan had good games. It’s frustrating because I think we have more.”
Brad Bennett helped keep Concordia close in the first half with three triples. He finished with 11 points on Saturday. Off the bench, Brooks Kissinger recorded eight points and five rebounds. Out for the season’s first three games due to injury, sophomore Jaxon Weyand got the start and dished out four assists.
This was the season opener for Northwestern, which is now 5-0 overall. Head Coach Kris Kover’s squad was paced by the 17 points apiece from Carlson and Van Kalsbeek. The Red Raiders didn’t have many second-chance opponents, but they shot well enough (29-for-56 from the floor) to avoid falling victim to the late push from Concordia. The two sides also met in Orange City in the 2023 GPAC quarterfinals in what amounted to a Bulldog win.
The Bulldogs will take the entire week of Thanksgiving off from game action while looking ahead to their Nov. 29 road trip to Fremont, Neb., where they will clash with Midland (1-3, 0-2 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m. CT at the Wikert Event Center on that date.
Schutte and company TKO Warriors for first GPAC victory
November 29, 2023
FREMONT, Neb. – After a long 11 days and a Thanksgiving break, the Bulldogs resumed action at Wikert Event Center, taking on Midland on Wednesday night (Nov. 29). Concordia seized the lead early and ran with it for the full 40 minutes, keeping the improved Warriors at bay in the 104-86 win. Noah Schutte imposed his will with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists, leading the team in each category. With his sixth rebound, Schutte surpassed the 500 career rebound mark, becoming the 15th player in the program history to reach that feat. Tristan Smith (19) and Lukas Helms (17) added big numbers in the triple-digit win.
The Dawgs are now 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the GPAC. Head Coach Ben Limback commented on finding a rhythm after the long break and getting their first conference win on the road.
“Anytime you have that many days off, you don’t know what to expect rhythm-wise. We came out aggressive and were ready to play. I was proud of the start to the game. We gave up too much in the first half at the rim. Derek Merwick was good for them, but Noah Schutte throughout gave an incredible effort. Tristian Smith was really good in the second half, and it was fun to see Lukas Helms get going today. A lot of guys contributed. That’s a good team and I was proud of how we came out on the road tonight.”
Leading 54-39, Helms came out swinging with 12 points before the first half buzzer. Coming out of the locker rooms, Tristian Smith made a home in the opposing team’s paint with six early points in the 14-8 scoring run. The Elizabeth, Colo. product garnered 12 points and four rebounds after the break, proving a lift in the second half.
Warriors’ Merwick continued to score for the home crowd with a 30-point, 11 rebounds and seven assists performance.
Mad Man Schutte scored with ease, breaking down multiple Midland defenders on his way to 14 second half points, pushing the lead to 21 with under 12 minutes remaining. Zac Kulus and Hayden Frank hit a three pointer apiece with a sandwiched bucket by Schutte, pulling away with a 94-75 lead on 58.2 percent shooting.
In the final minutes, Brad Bennett drained a ball from beyond the arc to put the Bulldogs in triple digits before time expired. Frank added 12 points total, as Bennett added a double-digit 11.
Concordia (4-2, 1-2 GPAC) will get ready for Jamestown (2-6, 1-3 GPAC) for a Saturday afternoon clash inside Friedrich Arena. Tip off is set for 3:45 p.m. CT after the women’s game. The Bulldogs went 0-3 last season against the Jimmies but will look to continue a winning streak following their first conference win.
Baker cooks Jimmies, Bulldogs complete 2-0 week in the GPAC
December 2, 2023
SEWARD, Neb. – A frenetic pace early on favored visiting Jamestown before the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team used a game-defining 21-0 run to take control of Saturday (Dec. 2)’s clash inside Friedrich Arena. Joel Baker enjoyed a white-hot shooting stretch in the first half while Noah Schutte produced his second-straight double-double as the Bulldogs toppled the Jimmies, 99-78. Concordia netted 12 tries from 3-point range and shot 48.6 percent from the field overall.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad won twice this week by double digits within conference play. The Bulldogs pushed their season record to 5-2 overall (2-2 GPAC).
“I’m really proud of the bench,” Limback said. “We didn’t get off to a good start. We’ve been challenging the guys all year, and especially the last couple of weeks, to be ready when your name’s called. I feel like we have good depth on this team, and it was evident tonight. We needed that spark. Joel Baker, a senior leader, I’m just so proud of him. All of our guys fed off of that.”
Offensively, Concordia got the shots it wanted all afternoon. And without 2022-23 NAIA National Player of the Year Mason Walters, Jamestown no longer rules the boards like it used to. Schutte (19 points, 14 rebounds) and Tristan Smith (17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two blocks) made their presence known in the paint and helped the Bulldogs to a commanding 48-33 rebound advantage. Concordia’s lead grew to as many as 22 points and never dipped below 10 throughout the second half.
The cushion was made possible by the Baker-led surge in the middle of the first half. The Alliance, Neb., native emerged with the Bulldogs trailing 20-14. In a stretch of just over two minutes that followed, Baker drained three treys, scored on a layup in transition and dropped a dime to Tyler Harre for another triple. By the time the 21-0 run had finally been snapped, Concordia led, 37-20. Baker’s microwave oven-hot stretch riled up his teammates.
“My teammates were finding me,” Baker said. “It’s always good to see that first three go through. After that, it just kind of spiraled. Tyler (Harre) hit a couple there that were big. It was just a really great run by our second unit.”
While Schutte and Smith are the usual suspects leading the charge, the Bulldogs got seven or more points from five others, including the 11 from Baker, nine from Hayden Frank, eight apiece from Lukas Helms and Brooks Kissinger and seven from Jaxon Weyand. Limback used 10 players for at least 10 minutes in a display of the team’s strong bench.
Said Limback, “I thought Tristan did a good job of attacking. Their big fella caused problems at the rim – I thought he was aggressive. We started to attack him stronger. That first half spurt was really the story of the game. We pushed the lead out and then it was back and forth at times. Our message was that we have to be better defensively in terms of our focus. To learn lessons while you’re winning is important.”
Jamestown (2-7, 1-4 GPAC) has found itself in a unique situation with a coaching change having taken place after the season began. Former women’s basketball coach Greg Ulland has stepped into an interim role. His squad was led on Saturday by the 16 points and seven assists from Cole Woodford. The team’s featured big man, Jimmy Llinas, posted eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Silas Bennion also reached double figures with 14. Jamestown won each of the three meetings last season with Concordia.
The Bulldogs will not make another public appearance inside Friedrich Arena until after New Year’s. GPAC play will continue on Wednesday as Concordia heads to Yankton, S.D., for a 7:45 p.m. CT matchup with Mount Marty (2-6, 0-4 GPAC). The Lancers are still in search of their first GPAC victory this season after their 72-57 home loss to Briar Cliff on Saturday. The Bulldogs split last season’s two meetings with Mount Marty.
Schutte honored as GPAC Player of the Week
December 5, 2023
SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Men’s Basketball standout Noah Schutte has established himself as one of the early frontrunners for GPAC Player of the Year honors. On Tuesday (Dec. 5), the conference recognized Schutte as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week. Schutte earned the award for his performances in last week’s wins over Midland and Jamestown. This marks the fourth career GPAC weekly award for Schutte.
A Laurel, Neb., native, Schutte filled the stat sheet last week as the Bulldogs defeated Midland, 104-86, and then Jamestown, 99-78. In the matchup with Midland, Schutte posted 26 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and a steal. In the victory over Jamestown, Schutte totaled 19 points, 14 rebounds and two assists. He made 16-of-27 (.593) shots from the floor and went 11-for-14 (.786) from the foul line for the week. The remarkably consistent Schutte has recorded respective scoring totals this season of 25, 26, 16, 23, 20, 26 and 19 points.
Among GPAC players in 2023-24, Schutte ranks second in rebounding (9.4/game) and third in scoring (22.1/game). Schutte excels in every area of the game and sports shooting percentages of .564 from the floor, .417 from 3-point range and .765 from the foul line. On the program’s all-time lists, Schutte ranks 13th in rebounds (524) and 19th in scoring (1,312).
Schutte and the Bulldogs (5-2, 2-2 GPAC) will play twice on the road this week within GPAC play. Next up is Wednesday’s 7:45 p.m. CT tipoff at Mount Marty.