[BasketballAlum] One down-two to go

[gary holquist]

Bulldog Basketball Alumni and Friends:

We had a very competitive contest last evening with Minnesota State 
University Moorhead.  With 5:32 remaining in the game, we were down 
55-63.  With .40 seconds remaining in the game, we were up 74-65 and 
went on to win 77-70 after that 19 to 2 run.  Moorhead is a very solid 
team that entered the game with a record of 6-2.  Previously they beat 
the University of North Dakota and had St. Cloud State beat until the 
final play.  MSUM is athletic, explosive offensively, and presents many 
problems for teams because of their defensive pressure that overplays 
the passing lanes.  We played solid throughout the game but I really 
liked our play the last five minutes.  Over thirty years ago, I learned 
a valuable lesson from my mentor Coach Dale Race-that if you 
continually play hard nosed man to man defense, be relentlessly 
physical and grind on a jump shooting team, you will wear your opponent 
down when it is winning time the last five minutes of the game.  Shots 
that had been falling will miss.  Defensive patience will win at the 
end.  Once again, this philosophy came to fruition.  MSUM made a number 
of contested shots through the second half, but during the last five 
minutes of the game, they were 1 for 13 from the field.  We made them 
earn every point the second half and wore them out both physically and 
mentally on both ends of the floor.  Contributions for the win 
included: limiting MSUM trips to the free throw line, we only had three 
turnovers in the second half, held MSUM to 31.4 field goal %tage in the 
second half, stopped their spurts so no lead was insurmountable, we 
made 19 of 23 free throws-in particular when they resorted to fouling 
us at the end, out rebounded them soundly, and had great shot 
selection.  We showed excellent maturity and leadership when we were 
down by eight, not trying to catch up all at once, but constantly 
giving the ball to our posts on the block and getting good looks on the 
glass.  This opened our perimeter catch and shoots and Jordan Nuness 
knocked down three in a row over the stretch run.  John Vaudreuil had 
three solid lane scores that collapsed the defense leading to the catch 
and shoots on the perimeter.  Ryan Breidenbach, though he had only 1 
point, had nine assists and helped maintain our poise by running the 
team and setting us both defensively and offensively.  (Bryan Foss had 
20 points and nine rebounds, while Matt Hockett had nine rebounds as 
well.  Vaudreuil ended up with 24 points, as did Nuness.  Foss still 
leads the North Central Conference in rebounding and is fifth in 
scoring.  Nuness leads the league in scoring.)
This was a possession by possession win that is a blueprint for how the 
Bulldogs have to play every game.  We are grinders-a physical team that 
has to keep the game a half court contest.  As I have alluded to you 
over the past month, I like this team's character and work ethic.  They 
have been coachable, bring energy and passion to practice and games, 
and have desire to keep getting better.  What else can you ask for?

I would like to tell you that this Friday's home contest is just 
another game, but I cannot.  Winona State University is undefeated, the 
number 1 ranked NCAA II team in the country, and the defending national 
champions.  You all know, there is nothing better as an athlete to have 
the challenge of what this game brings.  It is why we play, not only 75 
years ago when UMD basketball first took the floor, but also present 
day.  Both WSU and UMD are similar-big, strong, physical teams.  This 
will be a game that every possession is a battle.  We do not need to 
win every trip, but we have to make each possession a tough out.  We 
have to make WSU earn everything offensively and force them to play 
extended periods defensively.  The more the game turns into a half 
court scenario, the greater advantage we will have.  There truly is 
nothing better than preparing this UMD team for this type of game. 
Trust me; these guys make you proud of the legacy you built for them! 
Go Bulldogs!


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