Keep winning and the outsiders will have no choice but to pay attention. Such is the case for the 2023-24 Concordia Men’s Basketball team, which has had to earn its way onto the national radar with its unique roster makeup.
The string of three-straight GPAC road games continues this week as the Bulldogs are set to head to Crete and Sioux Center. Concordia enters the week tied atop the GPAC standings at 12-4 in league play.
Brad Bennett scored 20 of his career high 26 points after halftime and the return of Tristan Smith helped the Bulldogs dominate the boards as part of a 95-79 Super Bowl Sunday win at Dakota Wesleyan.
It's been a grind for the first-place Bulldogs, who have now won seven times in a 17-day stretch. The latest victory came at home over Dordt, 89-84, in another down-to-the-wire battle. Noah Schutte led the way with 21 points.
The layout of this week will be unusual as the Bulldogs will host Dordt on Monday night and then take a bit of a break before heading to the Corn Palace on Super Bowl Sunday. Concordia enters the week tied for first place in the GPAC.
The outcome remained in doubt until the final horn went off on Saturday (Feb. 3) as the Bulldogs wrapped up a thrilling week with an 84-81 win over No. 12 Northwestern. Concordia did so while celebrating 100 years of the program's history.
With circumstances seemingly favoring No. 19 Morningside, the Bulldogs showed their mettle and earned a signature road win, 99-88, on Wednesday (Jan. 31). Concordia shot 58.6 percent while winning at Morningside for the first time since February 2016.
After posting three-straight double-doubles while leading the Bulldogs to a 3-0 week, Tristan Smith has been named the GPAC Player of the Week. Smith is averaging 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds on the season.
With the CIT trophy secured for another year, the Bulldogs now shift focus to a week of significance within the GPAC. Coach Limback's squad will be at Morningside before hosting Northwestern for a program 100-year celebration.
Late fireworks from the likes of CIT MVP Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith boosted the Bulldogs to a 75-69 win over Concordia Wisconsin in the CIT championship on Saturday (Jan. 27). Schutte and Smith both notched double-doubles.
Concordia Men's Basketball enters 2021-22 feeling like it "left some meat on the bone" last season when the program missed out on the national tournament. The Bulldogs return their top seven scorers, including three All-GPAC honorees.
Gage Smith made an head-turning transformation from sophomore to junior season while becoming an all-conference player. Even better things could be in store in 2021-22 for Gage, who now has his brother alongside him.
The memories remain vivid for brothers Darin and Derek Engelbart, both 1,000-point scorers for Concordia Men's Basketball. The bond over No. 22 symbolizes their relationship as brothers.
Highlights from the 2020-21 Concordia Men's Basketball season included a dominant run at home, a sweep of Northwestern and All-GPAC performances from Carter Kent, Gage Smith and Justin Wiersema.
Justin Wiersema is the guy who catches every coach’s attention. It’s not simply because he’s good – it’s also because his motor never stops and his energy level never slips.
Thought picked sixth in the GPAC preseason poll, the Bulldogs like what they have with a backcourt that features Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema. Concordia is coming off a 2020 GPAC tournament title.
Carter Kent finds team success to be "addicting." The Crete High School product plans to take on more a leadership role this coming season as he progresses through a unique offseason.
Originally from Scotia, Neb., Glen Snodgrass arrived for classes at Concordia University in the fall of 1994. He starred on the hardwood and gridiron before becoming a state championship coach.
Let's answer the question: who wore it better? We ran down the top Bulldog men's basketball performers at each jersey number during the 20 seasons of GPAC hoops.
As head coach Grant Schmidt put it, "when they strapped on their shoes, they didn't lose." The 2004-05 squad reached the national title game and stands out as one of the most competitive and fiery in school history.