DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - With only eight games separating the Duhawks and the end of the season, the team is ready to kick it into gear and secure a spot in the conference tournament.
ABOUT WARTBURG ...Wartburg enters Wednesday's contest on a two-game losing streak. At 3-3 in the Iowa Conference, Wartburg is currently fourth in the standings. Jordan Cannon leads the dynamic offensive attack of the Knights, averaging 14.7 points per game. He's joined by Clay Cook and Nick Webber as the three members of the Knights that are averaging double-digit points per game. Cook is close to averaging a double-double each night out, checking in with 9.0 rebounds per game. The weak point of his game comes at the charity stripe where he's only converting at a 46 percent clip. The Knight's have been a dominant second half team, scoring 687 points in the latter 20 minutes, compared to their opponents scoring 590 in the same time frame. In Wartburg's last victory, a 74-57 win over Simpson, head coach Dick Peth earned his 500th career victory.
DUHAWKS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS …Loras finds themselves in the midst of yet another two-game skid, their third of the season. After starting the year 3-1, the Duhawks have gone 4-9 in their last 13 games. Through his first six games, senior
Aaron Schueller was averaging 16.8 points per game and scored double-digits in five of those six games. Recently, Schueller has found himself in a bit of a scoring slump, being held to an average of 9.0 points per game in his last six contests. While it's not only Schueller's lone responsibility to provide the scoring, Loras has certainly suffered from his recent offensive struggles.
KEYING IN ON THE BIG MAN …In his last two games, junior
Mirko Grcic has drawn the attention of opposing defenses, resulting in 12 points combined. While his rebounding numbers are still in the double-digits on average, Grcic's ability to put up points was a cornerstone of Loras' offense early in the season.
DEFENSE THE KEY TO WINNING …While it's no surprise to say that a good team defense will win a lot of games for a squad, the stats strongly back it up for the Duhawks this season. In games that Loras has won, they've held opponents to an average of 67.5 points. However, in games that they have lost, opponents have scored, on average 78.7 points, including three games of 90+ points. With the talent Loras has, they know that they can score, but a focus on defense will be crucial to their success in the final stretch of the season.
THE FINAL STRETCH …Eight games are all that remain on the regular season schedule in the 2014-15 season. If the season ended today, Loras would be relying on a tie-breaker to earn one of the final playoff spots. At 2-4 in conference play, Loras will need to turn the tides on their opponents during the return trip over the next three weeks.
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.
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 hands of conference opponents, hurting the Duhawks chances of moving towards the top of the conference standings. Winning games on the road tends to be the key to placing well at the end of the season.
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.
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.
