2006-07 Season Preview

Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: November 15

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/15/06)-- The Concordia men’s basketball team has paid their dues. The bad bounce and unlucky break cupboard is officially bare and it is time to start reaping the rewards of all the patience they sowed in 2005-06.

Last year, the Cobbers suffered through a nightmarish spell of injuries and other bad ailments that cast a shadow over a team that had the potential to contend for one of the top spots in the MIAC. In 2006-07, Concordia will be able to use all the experience gained from last year’s rotating door lineup to once again make a charge to the top of the league.

The central figure in the Cobbers’ lineup this season will be junior forward Luke Linz (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins HS). Linz sat out almost the entire second half of the season with a broken foot. Linz has recovered from the injury completely and looks to be in form as one of the top players in the league. Linz’ size and quickness make him a tough match-up for taller centers and quicker/undersized forwards. Before he was injured, Linz led the team in scoring with a 13.6 points per game average. He was also averaging 5.1 rebounds per game and had a shooting percentage of .514.

The offensive player that really benefited from all of last season’s injuries was Brock Citterman (Ivanhoe, Minn./Lincoln HS). Citterman was able to see significant minutes and gain valuable experience in pressure situations that will help him throughout the 2006-07 campaign. Citterman has the ability to take over a game with his outside shooting capabilities and explosive style of play. Citterman led the team in field goal attempts, 3-point field goals and 3-point attempts in 2005-06. He averaged 9.9 points last year and 4.2 rebounds.

One of the keys for the Cobbers in 2006-07 will be to find the right trigger-man for the offense. A pair of juniors will battle for the starting point guard position at the beginning of the season. Eric Meichsner (Morris, Minn.) has been a two-year starter at the position and has the experience edge in the fight for the spot, while Anthony Boike (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS) brings quickness and an outside shooting touch to the position. The competition for the position should make both players better and should help the Cobber offense succeed in 2006-07.

The final piece of the puzzle will be to find two other players that can provide scoring on offense and tenacity on defense. There are many experienced players in the mix for those final two starting positions as the Cobbers return seven players that saw extended minutes in 2005-06. Getting tossed into the mix to fill those final two starting spots will be E.J. Adams (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River HS), Cody Dyshaw (So., Montevideo, Minn.), Gavin Ganab (Jr., Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids HS) and Ryan Johnson (Jr., Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS). All four players played in at least 16 games with Dyshaw and Johnson playing in at least 20 games. Dyshaw was second on the team in 3-point field goal attempts last year and Johnson led the squad in free throw percentage.

The strength of the team this season will be the overall depth. The Cobbers return 13 players that lettered last season and this year’s roster not contain one senior. This year’s play could very well be a springboard for much higher success in seasons to come.

The Cobbers open the 2006-07 schedule by hosting cross-town Division II rival MSU Moorhead on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Concordia will then play in the Christopher Newport Tournament in Newport News, Va. over the Thanksgiving break. Christopher Newport was ranked 18th in the nation in the D3hoops.com preseason poll. The other two non-conference games for the Cobbers include road trips to Mayville State and then at MSU Mankato on Dec. 29.

2006-07 MIAC Coaches'

Preseason Poll

2005-06 MIAC co-champion St. Thomas earned the top spot in the preseason poll this year. The Tommies received eight first place votes and beat out Saint John's, and Carleton for first place in the poll. Men's Basketball non-conference action begins Friday, November 17 with MIAC conference games beginning Wednesday, November 29.

1. St. Thomas (8)
2. Saint John's (1)
3. Carleton (2)
4. Gustavus
5. Hamline
6. Bethel
7. Concordia
8. St. Olaf
9. Saint Mary's
10. Macalester
11. Augsburg