[BasketballAlum] Recent games

[gary holquist]

Bulldog Basketball Alumni and Friends:

Colorado did not treat the Bulldogs well.  We lost two tough games in 
Pueblo to opponents I thought were very solid teams.  The first night 
we played the host institution Colorado State University Pueblo and 
were beat on a shot with one second remaining in the game.  The second 
night we lead the entire game and lost it in the last minute against 
Regis University.  Throughout the weekend, we played tentative, lost 
our physical approach to the game, and really were reactive rather than 
proactive in our style of play.  I knew going in that the officiating 
would be called different from what we are used to and we would have to 
adjust our play according to how the game was called, but we did not do 
a good job of that.  Our lane players picked up quick fouls offensively 
while posting up and were whistled defensively in the lane as they 
defended post action without the ball.  As a result, we lost 
aggressiveness and played uncharacteristically soft through the 
weekend.  Actually, Rawley and Vaudreuil fouled out Saturday after only 
playing about 14 minutes a piece.  I hope that the lessons we learn 
from this weekend will allow us to become more in tuned mentally to the 
game and make us tougher fighting through adversity on the road.  When 
things unraveled for us, we did not respond with the needed toughness 
that great teams can summon.  Once again, our opponents exposed 
weaknesses in us not being able to defend the driving line well enough. 
We allowed too much dribble penetration into the heart of our defense 
that created too many help situations.  This has been and will continue 
to be a point of emphasis of improvement for us.  However, we gave 
ourselves a chance to win each game but we did not get it done.

As a coach, you constantly test your team mentally through different 
avenues.  The mental approach to the game is so much more important 
than the physical.  The reason we scheduled these two games out in 
Colorado was to put the team in an environment that would physically 
and mentally challenge the players early in the season.  We did not 
pass the test.  When you fit all the pieces of the puzzle together in 
building a solid team, one of the hardest pieces to incorporate into 
the puzzle is the toughness element mentally.  Coaches inject that part 
of the game into their team through a variety of ways.  I like it to 
occur through tough road games.  In that sense, this weekend proved to 
be good, because the team knows where they faltered.  Time will tell, 
but the two losses we endured this weekend will help us down the road 
be mentally stronger.  The final degree of excellence for teams comes 
from mental toughness and the ability to execute your schemes in 
adverse situations.  This has to be learned and the best way to learn 
it is through experience.  We will find success through failure.

The 'Dogs beat Northland College last night 88 to 46.  Northland is 
obviously a team that we should handle easily and we did.  What I did 
like about this game is the fact that we challenged the team 
defensively prior to the game to play within our system construct, not 
gamble, be solid, and work on the points of emphasis that we need to 
improve upon.  We defended a penetrating team that plays five-man 
motion well.  We allowed only 2 baskets and held them to 13 first half 
points.  I do not care who you play against, this was a solid effort 
defensively.  Northland had come off a good game last weekend defeating 
Wisconsin-Superior, but we completely took them out of their game 
because of our defensive effort.  The bench played extended minutes and 
did a good job.  Freshman Steve Jamnick is continually improving.  His 
performance in practice and games gets better each day.  He has a ways 
to go but at 6-11/285 lbs his presence is noted.  Jordan Nuness 
continues to lead us in scoring (as well as leading the 
conference)-Bryan Foss passed the  career 1,000 point barrier (leads us 
in rebounding also)-four starters still average in double figures, 
Nuness, Foss, Vaudreuil, and Rawley-we still hold a plus 11 rebound 
margin over our opponents and are shooting almost 50% from the field.

The next three games are at home against regional and cross conference 
NSIC opponents.  Tuesday night we play a very good Minnesota State 
University Moorhead team that should be 6 and 2 coming into the game. 
They recently beat the University of North Dakota.  On Friday, we play 
the #1 ranked team in the nation and the defending National Champions 
in Winona State University.  They will be undefeated coming into Romano 
Gymnasium.  Saturday we play the University of Minnesota Crookston.

Enjoy your next few days with family and friends as the holiday season 
is upon us.  Hope you get a chance to see us play at home over the next 
week and a half.  We currently stand at 6 wins and 3 losses-the next 
three home games are important.  Go Bulldogs!

Gary W. Holquist
University of Minnesota Duluth
Head Men's Basketball Coach
218-726-6185