Knights Waltz into season as UMAC favoritesMLC men shoot for top

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Having tasted so much success in the regular season in which they won the conference title and hosted the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time, the Martin Luther College Knights men's basketball team was on a high heading to the postseason last year.

But a last second shot by Presentation left a sour taste in their mouths and made for a long after-season. Having experienced the letdown, the Knights are determined to succeed again and come out on top this time around.

"It was just frustrating because we had beaten them twice the week before," Knights senior Micah Walz said. "We had been playing well that whole second half, so then to come in and lose a game that we don't think we should've had we executed the way we normally do. It was just disappointing ending the season earlier than we had planned."

The Knights are coming off a season in which they finished 14-10 and 9-1 in the UMAC. They enter the 2003-04 season as the preseason favorites in the UMAC, collecting 33 points in the coaches poll. Northwestern College (29 points), St. Scholastica (27 points) and the University of Minnesota-Morris (22 points) are also expected to contend for the title.

With the label of preseason favorites on their backs, the Knights know that they will be tested night after night. The Knights return four starters from last year's squad, but injuries will be a factor early in the season.

UMAC player of the year Tom Engelbrecht is expected to miss some time with a sore back that could require surgery.

The Knights also were without Dan Unke for a few practices. He suffered an ankle injury during the football season and missed the final three weeks of the season and later suffered a hamstring injury during basketball, but he should be ready to go by the beginning of the season.

The Knights will miss Engelbrecht's presence in the middle. Last year, he averaged 21.9 points per game and 9.1 rebounds. He tied for first in the conference with 41 blocks. His efforts also earned All-American honors as a junior.

"I'd like to say we're deep enough that we don't need an All-American, but even without him we're going to be a very athletic team," MLC coach Jim Unke said.

Without Engelbrecht, the Knights will push the ball and look to create points with their defense. With him in the lineup, they can slow the ball down and execute with a half-court game.

"We look to push the ball whenever we can," Walz said. "Coach has us take care of the ball, but at the same time, we want to get it up the floor, and if the shot's there, we'll take it."

Also coming back for his second season at MLC after transferring from Wisconsin Lutheran College will be Walz, who was good for 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. Walz is a versatile guard who can play the two or three-spot as well.

Walz said he's much more confident with his game after being with the core of last year's team.

"For me personally, I hadn't played with these guys, so I didn't want to come in and step on anybody's toes," Walz said. "At the end of last year I became more comfortable with that, so I think that helps.

"It's exciting to be a senior knowing I have 25 games left," Walz said. "There's no point in saving anything. There's a couple of seniors, so we're going to leave it all on the floor."

Joel Schwarz and Jay Wendland will also be looked upon for leadership. Both Wendland (6.5 points, 97 assists) and Schwarz (2.5 points) figure to play point guard or off-guard.

Also returning is Dan Unke, who averaged 8.4 points as a sophomore, down from his freshman year when he scored 15.7 per game. Aaron Schmitz will see some time at the forward position and will be looked upon for rebounding. Justin Ohm, a sophomore guard, averaged 4.3 points and he dished out 25 assists a year ago.

The Knights have six players who are making their debut this season, but Unke isn't worried that it will slow the team down much.

"We have a good group of freshman coming in -- a nice group of talented kids," Jim Unke said. "Their inexperience shows through, but I think we got a good mix of veterans and freshman."

Caleb Kurbis, Drew Kock, Keith Schleis, Neil Birkholz, Bryan Polzin, Andy Plagenz and Jeff Dolan are all in their first season on the Knights' roster.

The Knights faced a tough nonconference schedule last year and Unke said that this year's nonconference schedule will be even more difficult. Although the team may look to be struggling with wins and losses, Unke is confident it will make the Knights a better team come January.

"Before Christmas, I think we're playing the toughest nonconference schedule we've ever had here," head coach Jim Unke said. "We scheduled that way for a reason. We have a group of talented young men and I would love to challenge them and show them how deep the water is. This is a group of guys I think can rise to the challenge."

He also added that the conference is much deeper with the addition of the University of Minnesota-Morris and the leadership throughout the conference is better than he's seen.

"I think our conference is as veteran and as experienced as I've seen since I've been here," Unke said. "Squads have three, four or five guys back. Across the board, the person that returns the least is three. It's a very senior dominated conference."

Walz said he and his teammates are more than happy to wear the target on their backs and they know they will have to step it up.

"It's a nice position to be in," Walz said. "It's better to be shot at rather than trying to get up to the top."

Having been through the success of last year, the Knights would love to win the conference and host the UMAC tournament on their home floor once again. The Knights know that if everything falls into place, playing in the national tournament isn't a far-out goal.

"It's definitely a realistic goal," Walz said. "Obviously we have a lot of improving that we need to do. Everyone in the conference it sounds like has improved. Everyone is gunning at us because we won last year. It's a realistic goal and we should be able to get to nationals."

MLC begins its season Saturday when it hosts Grinnell at 1 p.m.