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.
The 2022-23 Bulldogs will be remembered for their ability to redefine themselves in the middle of the season and get on a roll that led into the national tournament. Noah Schutte and Gage Smith were the stars who guided Concordia through adversity.
They make up two-thirds of the starting frontcourt for Concordia Men's Basketball. Built different, brothers Gage and Tristan Smith are all about family and forging memories together. Together, they are a dynamic duo.
In nearly a quarter century in his role, the unmistakable Coach Grant Schmidt guided the Concordia Men’s Basketball program in ways only he could. His passion and care inspired a reverence for him that is still emotionally felt by his former players.
The 2022-23 Concordia Men's Basketball team takes on the task of following up one of the greatest seasons in school history. The Bulldogs return three starters and one of the most athletic frontcourts the program has ever put on the court.
AD Devin Smith refers to the 2021-22 Bulldogs as the "best team I've ever seen play here." The road to Kansas City included buzzer beaters, court storms, GPAC championships and memories that will never fade.
The 2021-22 Concordia Men's Basketball season will never be forgotten. The Bulldogs celebrated GPAC regular season and tournament titles and reached the NAIA national quarterfinals while being characterized by a team first attitude.
He's a small school farm boy with a big-time game. Noah Schutte made that clear during the Bulldogs' run to the NAIA National Quarterfinals. The former 2,000-point high school scorer isn't about to rest on his laurels - and he'll no longer fly under the radar.
He's a straight 'A' biology student and one of the most prolific scorers in program history. Carter Kent truly is 'that guy.' He's unassuming, intelligent, a leader and comes through in the clutch. He's a Concordia Bulldog great.
An all-time classic moment that will go down in Concordia University Men’s Basketball lore caught the attention of ESPN’s SportsCenter. The closing seconds were aired on multiple editions of the show on Thursday (Feb. 17).
The group of four-year student-athletes within the program represents the ideals of Concordia Men's Basketball. Christian character. Toughness. Resilience. Class acts. Servant leaders. High academic achievers. Winners.