David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech guard Nate Abel extends to attempt a layup during a game against Lake Superior State Saturday at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

By DAVER KARNOSKY

dkarnosky@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON — After defeating the then No. 20 Ferris State Bulldogs on Thursday and the then-No. 15 Lake Superior State Lakers Saturday, the Michigan Tech Huskies were rewarded this week by finally breaking into the national rankings at No. 22.

The Huskies are 18-6 overall and 13-3 in the GLIAC, which puts them in first place with four games left. However, their path to hosting the GLIAC Tournament is far from easy, starting Thursday with their U.P. rivals, the Northern Michigan Wildcats.

The good news is that the Huskies knocked off a pair of ranked opponents last weekend without a big offensive contribution from junior guard Marcus Tomashek, who did not record a field goal against the Bulldogs, scoring all six of his points at the free throw line, and then following that effort up Saturday with just seven points.

“The guys fought, competed, and hopefully it helps build their confidence,” said Huskies coach Josh Buettner. “We did it without Marcus really having big scoring nights and there was balance and guys stepping up and the compete level was good. It’s what it should be this time of year.”

Tomashek fouled out with over six minutes left in Saturday’s game against the Lakers with the Huskies trailing by four.

“If you can pull out a win like that, the way the game went against a team as good as Lake State, it should give us the confidence that we can beat anybody, or play with anybody,” Buettner said. “So, I’m hoping the guys take that, and, obviously, on the other end of it, hopefully they don’t relax at all, because there’s a lot of basketball left to play and no easy ones left.”

With 18 wins this season, the Huskies are just three wins away from matching their combined total from the last two seasons. Buettner’s teams the last two seasons got stronger in February and finished strong. This season, he has a new problem, keeping the team hungry over the final two weekends of the regular season.

“We just keep talking that we’re not to our ceiling yet,” he said. “I think, in a lot of ways, we have probably more room to improve than some of the other teams do, and kind of trying to emphasize in practice and continue to get better. Obviously, there’s a lot of importance in the four regular season games left, but there’s a lot of importance left in the practice that comes with that, and trying to get better before the tournaments start.”

With Tomashek not scoring like he usually does, and freshman guard Ty Fernholz still out due to illness, the Huskies’ depth has been challenged, but Buettner is all smiles when talking about the efforts of junior forward Dawson Nordgaard, senior guard Adam Hobson, junior guards Nate Abel and Josh Terrian, sophomore guard Matt Schmainda, and even freshman guard Gabe Smith.

“It’s been all year,” Buettner said. “You have to look for the positives and things. With Ty being out, it’s forced other people to step up as well. With Marcus being pretty beat up, it’s forced other people to step up. Hopefully the confidence that Dawson and Nate and Josh and ‘Hobbs,’ and Schmainda, those guys are getting, taking, and making big shots. (Hopefully with) Gabe Smith making big plays, (that) will carry over when those guys are playing better, and make us all that much more dangerous.”

Smith has started each of the last three games, and he is making the most of the opportunity.

“Obviously the results are there,” said Buettner. “He’s played as hard as he can all the time, and sometimes you overthink things when you’re coaching. If he’s playing 20 minutes, if you play him more, then he won’t be as effective. Now, you’re just seeing when you’re (playing him) 30, you’re just getting that much more of good games. He just plays hard, and he has a knack for the ball and making plays. He’s in the gym all the time and good things happen (when you are) playing hard, practicing hard, and putting in the time.”

With the depth the Huskies are getting, Buettner is excited to see how the team continues to perform down the stretch.

“Having guys that are bought into roles is, a lot of times, more important than anything, and everybody’s bought in,” he said. “A lot of that’s the unselfishness, not caring who gets to take the shots, who gets the credit and whatnot, but staying ready, and being ready, to step up when it’s your turn.”

SCOUTING

THE WILDCATS

Thursday, the Huskies face another huge challenge in the Wildcats, who are 16-8 overall and 10-6 in GLIAC play after falling to both Lake Superior State and Ferris State last week. However, they are still within striking distance, so they will continue to challenge for a home playoff berth.

They are led offensively by junior forward Dylan Kuehl, who averages 16.2 points per game, and fifth-year guard Julian Smith, who averages 11.2. Junior forward Sam Privet is also right on the cusp at 9.9 points per game.

The Huskies stung the Wildcats in Marquette earlier this season by scoring 51 points in the first half and then cruising to an 88-65 victory. Buettner figures that won’t happen again.

“We just need to understand that this is going to be a much different ballgame for both them and us,” he said. “Neither one of us really got to see what the Tech/Northern game was going to look like. Sometimes that happens in sports where everything goes right one way, and everything goes wrong the other way. That’s what happened. It never actually got to seeing what it’s going to look like when we’re playing each other. We just blitzed them for a half, and, after that, it just wasn’t a normal basketball game.”

SCOUTING

THE LAKERS

On Saturday, the Huskies will trek to Chicago to face the Roosevelt Lakers for the second time this season. The Lakers are 8-16 overall and 5-11 in GLIAC play, but they just swept Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State.

They are led offensively by senior guard Forte Prater, who averages 18.5 points per game. Junior guard Enari Thomas (17.4) and junior guard Ramean Hinton (12.2) also average in double figures.

GAME TIMES

The Huskies and Wildcats will tip at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the SDC Gym in Houghton. Saturday, the Huskies and Lakers are set to start at 4 p.m. in Chicago.