Michigan Tech forward Pete Calcaterra looks for an open teammate during a game against Winona State last season at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

DULUTH, Minn. — After opening the season with a pair of wins at the D2 Midwest Region Tip-off, the Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team came back down to earth last weekend with a pair of losses on the road to Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul. Both losses came to teams that the Huskies have struggled against over the years, especially on the road.

With the losses, the Huskies are now 2-2 on the season. Coach Josh Buettner felt that his team learned a lot from the two losses.

“I think it was definitely (a) learning (experience), which is what you’re trying to do when you schedule tough non-conference road games,” he said. “We’ve really struggled playing on the road in Northern Sun for the last 10 years. We don’t have a ton of victories there.

“On Saturday, we didn’t compete hard enough, especially in the defensive end. I thought we competed well on Sunday and our execution went away a little bit. So, it was kind of recognizing the problem, fixing that problem and then letting something else slip.”

While it may seem obvious to fans watching the game, it is not always easy for the players on the court.

“You have to put a whole game together, to beat good teams on the road, and hopefully we learn from it,” Buettner said. “That’s kind of what you’re looking for in non-conference games is getting better and if we learn from it, it’ll be worth it.”

Buettner admitted that both venues have tough places for the Huskies to find success over the years.

“Those are tough places to play on the road,” he said. “That’s a heck of a conference. I don’t know that we’ve ever won at Winona, and I know the last time we were at Concordia, we got beat there. They’re one of the best offenses we’ll see this year. Concordia is undefeated.

“I don’t know how good they actually are, but I know offensively they’re very good. They really challenged us, and I was happy the way we kind of stepped up and came out and guarded with them. Now we have to put both sides of the ball together.”

Against the Warrior on Saturday, the Huskies had four players score in double figures, which normally is a good thing, but Buettner felt that the Huskies relied too much on their offense to help make up for defensive mistakes.

“We talked about it before the Winona game that when our offense is going good, sometimes we just think we can outscore everybody,” he said. “When you’re on the road and it gets to the end of the game, and you need to stop, and the other team is comfortable, it’s really hard to start getting stops when you haven’t been getting them. That’s kind of what happened. We talked a lot about it.

“When things weren’t going well in that game, we tried to fix it with offense, instead of defense, and, obviously (Luke) Haertle went crazy. (That) was a newer scout, I think he shot the 3 better than we thought he could, and that changed some things up. Josh (Terrian) got in some early foul trouble, (and) that was probably our best matchup on him.”

In some positive news for the Huskies, junior forward Dawson Nordgaard continues to play well for the Huskies in his third season in the lineup. He has been in double figures in all four games to start the season.

“Dawson’s really coming along,” Buettner said. “He’s drawn a lot of attention and it’s interesting. I mean, he’s doing things now that he’s never had to do before, even back in earlier levels of basketball. I don’t know how much he ever got doubled growing up. He’s drawing double teams, and good things happen when he comes in there. Our defense is at its best when Dawson’s on the floor, and we’re asking him to do a lot.

“We need to get it in there a little bit more, but we also need him to be able to play when he’s tired. We’re teetering that line on him with that. We’re asking him to get out and guard ball screens. We’re asking him to get out and do offense, run the offense through him at the top of the key in the delay spot, and we’re trying to get him in the block and rebound and do a lot of things. He’s playing really well for us, and he’s going to continue to get better.”

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

The Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs are off to a fast start at 3-0. They defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Baptist at the American Family Insurance Classic to open the season, and then topped Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday, 73-43.

They are driven offensively by fifth-year forward Austin Andrews, who is scoring 15.3 points per game. Another fifth-year forward, Charlie Katona, is also right up there at 15 points per game. He is also close to a double-double every night as he averages 9 rebounds a game.

Fifth-year guard Joshus Brown (11), and sophomore guard Caleb Siwek (10.7) are also averaging in double figures.

SCOUTING THE DRAGONS

The Minnesota State-Moorhead Dragons are 4-0 after winning both games of their Regional Challenge against Henderson State and Arkansas at Monticello. Last weekend, in the East-West Challenge, they topped Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines.

Senior guard Jacob Beeninga leads the team offensively with 16 points per game. Junior forward Jacob Jennissen is averaging close to a double-double with 11.3 points and 9 rebounds per game.

Junior forward Logan Kinsey is the third Dragons player in double figures at 11.5 points perio game.

GAME TIMES

The Huskies and Bulldogs face off Friday at 7 p.m. in Duluth, Minnesota, at the St. Louis County Basketball Classic. Saturday, the Huskies and Dragons are set to tip-off at 3 p.m.