DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Following their loss to crosstown rival University of Dubuque on Wednesday, the Loras Men's Basketball team hits the road for a conference tilt with Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
ABOUT LUTHER ...Just one year after finishing 17-11 the Norse of Luther College enter this game with an overall record of 5-11 which puts them in last place in the IIAC Conference.
After sweeping the Duhawks in the regular season by a scoring margin of just +3, Luther will look to right the ship at home.
Luther is led on offense by senior forward Jake Martin who's averaging 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Junior Nathan Meyer leads the Norse guards with 11.4 points per game and is the team's leading passer with 39 assists on the season.
Defensively, the Norse are led by 6-10 sophomore Cory Schultz. Schultz averages just 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but he's tallied 27 blocks on the season good for second in the conference.
DUHAWKS LOOKING FOR A WIN AGAINST LUTHER …After three heartbreaking losses to Luther last season the Duhawks are looking to end a run of poor performances against the Norse. In total, Loras has lost seven of their last nine games against Luther dating back to the 2010-2011 season in which the teams split. Last season, Luther defeated Loras in the regular season by a scoring margin of just three points before winning by nine in the conference tournament. This year's crop of seniors will surely be looking to defeat the Norse after they ended their seasons last year. If last years matchups are an indicator of the game we'll be getting, we're in for a hard fought battle.
WINNING STREAK ENDED BY CROSSTOWN RIVAL UD …A two-game winning streak in conference play over Simpson and Coe College had the Duhawks rolling into their crosstown rivalry match with University of Dubuque. Unfortunately, the Duhawks efforts were thwarted as their shooting suffered. Loras shot just 37.3 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from deep. Leading scorer
Mirko Grcic scored just five points in this one along with 10 rebounds on 2 of 9 shooting. Senior
Nathaniel Smith was the lone Loras starter to shoot over 40 percent from the field, with 50 percent on 4 of 8 shooting. Smith put up a team-high 10 points with four rebounds. The remaining starter shot just 8 of 29, or 27.5 percent.
NORRIS TOO HOT FOR DUHAWKS TO HANDLE …The Iowa Conference leader in points Andre Norris of University of Dubuque continued his sterling play against the Duhawks. Despite be the focus of the Duhawks defense, Norris was able to score to the tune of his season average (19 points). Norris filled the box score up with a little bit of everything as he tallied eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal. Loras swept UD last season, despite allowing Norris to play well in those matchups. This time around, Loras was unable to counteract his shooting.
SMITH CONTINUING TO IMPROVE COMING OFF INJURY …Senior
Nathaniel Smith started just his third game of the year in the first clash of the year between Loras and University of Dubuque, but he has shown us all why he's considered the leader of this team. In just his second start since his injury, Smith has been a leader for the Duhawks on both sides of the ball with his consistent shot and his effort on the boards. Since becoming a starter Smith has shot 56.5 percent from the field with an average of 15 points per game, both marks lead the Duhawks over the past two games.
DUHAWKS STRUGGLING AWAY FROM HOME …Coming off of a season in which the Duhawks played better away than at home to the tune of an 8-6 record, Loras has struggled to win games on the road thus far. The Duhawks boast just a 1-4 record away from the Athletic and Wellness Center this season which has left some Duhawks fans surprised. Two of these losses came at the feet of conference opponents, hurting the Duhawks chances of moving towards the top of the conference standings. Winning games on the road is the key to placing well at the end of the season as you will usually see the team who play well away from home towards the top. It's also key in Tournament games since there's a strong possibility that you won't have a home court advantage.
COACH GORTON SEEING MIXED RESULTS FROM ALTERED STARTING LINE-UP …Last weekend we saw Head Coach
Greg Gorton alter the starting line-up for the second time this season to re-incorporate senior
Nathaniel Smith over junior
Justin Schneider. In the first game using this lineup, Loras saw great results as they defeated Central College by a score of 83-71. Loras shot 50 percent against Central which was one of the Duhawks best offensive and defensive performances of the season. This changed against the University of Dubuque however, as four of five starters made just two shots from the field, resuting in a team shooting percentage of 37.3 percent. The defense that seemed improved in previous games allowed Dubuque to shoot 48.2 percent on Wednesday.
LORAS AND LUTHER LACKING ON OFFENSE AS OF LATE …Entering into the weekends match between Loras and Luther, each team ranks towards the bottom of the league in both offense and defense. While Loras is averaging more points at 71.6 per game, Luther's defense is much better than Loras', allowing exactly 71.6 points per game. This matchup will get interesting once Loras' defense squares off against the offense of Luther. The Norse head into this matchup with the second worst offense in the league, averaging just 67.8 points per game. On average, Loras is allowing 74.2 points per game. Luther also boasts th9e second best free throw shooting in the conference which could play to their favor if the Duhawks get into foul trouble early on.
GRCIC BACK ON TRACK …After posting just three points and eight rebounds on 1-of-6 shooting against Coe College last weekend,
Mirko Grcic has bounced back in an impressive way. Grcic was able to notch 22 points alongside 15 rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting against Simpson College proving his place as one of the best players in the conference. Against Central College, Grcic tallied 19 points and nine rebounds. These numbers will help immensely as Grcic looks to hold the conference lead in both points and rebounds per game.
HARMENING ADMITS TO SLUMP, PROVES WHY HE'S THE STARTING PG …This season senior
Bobby Harmening has been experiencing a significant slump that has resulted in some fans questioning his spot in the starting lineup. Harmening responded in a big way in the Duhawks victory over Central. With 15 points, two assists, and five rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting, Harmening reassured fans that his best has yet to come this season. His improved play would drastically improve the Duhawks chances of winning the IIAC Conference Tournament later this season.
The senior had this to say about his play "I've been struggling from the field over the course of the last five games, I've been working more on my shot, but the biggest thing is that my teammates still encourage me to shoot. Their belief in me is by far the biggest thing that encourages me."
GORTON JOINS THE CENTURY CLUB ...With the win over Simpson, Head Coach
Greg Gorton reached 100 career Iowa Conference victories. In his tenth season at the helm, Gorton joins the likes of Buena Vista's Brian Van Haaften and Wartburg's Dick Perth as the only three current Men's Basketball coaches in the conference with 100 wins in the IIAC. All three of coaches are the longest tenured men's coaches in the conference. This accomplishment emphasizes the commitment Gorton has to his program as well as his athletes.
GRCIC TIES SCHOOL RECORD ...In the 2014-15 season opener, junior
Mirko Grcic hauled in 26 rebounds, tying a Loras school record dating all the way back to the 1954-55 season. That year, Al Carew collected 26 rebounds in a game against St. Norbert College.
HARMENING ADMITS TO SLUMP, PROVES WHY HE'S THE STARTING PG …This season senior
Bobby Harmening has been experiencing a significant slump that has resulted in some fans questioning his spot in the starting lineup. Harmening responded in a big way in the Duhawks victory over Central. With 15 points, two assists, and five rebounds on 4 of 9 shooting, Harmening reassured fans that his best has yet to come this season. His improved play would drastically improve the Duhawks chances of winning the IIAC Conference Tournament later this season.
The senior had this to say about his play "I've been struggling from the field over the course of the last five games, I've been working more on my shot, but the biggest thing is that my teammates still encourage me to shoot. Their belief in me is by far the biggest thing that encourages me."
COACH GORTON JOINS THE CENTURY CLUB ...With the win over Simpson, Head Coach
Greg Gorton reached 100 career Iowa Conference victories. In his tenth season at the helm, Gorton joins the likes of Buena Vista's Brian Van Haaften and Wartburg's Dick Perth as the only three current Men's Basketball coaches in the conference with 100 wins in the IIAC. All three of coaches are the longest tenured men's coaches in the conference. This accomplishment emphasizes the commitment Gorton has to his program as well as his athletes.
GRCIC TIES SCHOOL RECORD ...In the 2014-15 season opener, junior
Mirko Grcic hauled in 26 rebounds, tying a Loras school record dating all the way back to the 1954-55 season. That year, Al Carew collected 26 rebounds in a game against St. Norbert College.
