Men's Basketball 3/14/2024 11:27:00 AM by the Dordt University Athletic Communications Office

Men's Basketball Preview: vs Madonna

Defenders tip-off against Madonna in NAIA First Round Match-Up

Game Time:

The Dordt University men's basketball team begins play at the 2024 NAIA Basketball National Championship with a First Round match-up against #14 Madonna (Mich.), the host team of the four-team Livonia (Mich.) Bracket on Friday, March 15.
Tip-off at the ACCU Arena is scheduled for 5pm (CST).
Follow the game at the following links:

About the Livonia Bracket:

the four teams in the bracket:
- #11 Roosevelt (Ill.): 25-4 (auto bid, Chicagoland Collegiate Conference regular season champion)
- #14 Madonna (Mich.): 25-6 (auto bid, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season champion)
- Dordt (Iowa): 19-10 (at-large)
- Shawnee State (Ohio): 20-9 (at-large)
the second game, Roosevelt vs Shawnee State, will tip-off on Friday at 7pm (CST)
the two winners will play in a second round match-up and for the Livonia Bracket Championship on Saturday, March 16 at 3pm (CST)
the team that wins the bracket championship advances to the 16-team final site of the 86th Annual Men's Basketball National Championship in Kansas City, Mo., beginning March 21

NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Info:

the 2024 championship is the 86th annual event
this is the third year of the 64-team field
this is the fourth consecutive year of the NAIA being one division in basketball
- was divided into a D-I and D-II division format prior to the 2021 season
The 64-team field (NAIA press release)

Defender Notes:

Overall Record: 19-10
GPAC Record / Finish: 12-8 (T5th)
earned an at-large bid into the 64-team field
member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference
- 1 of 5 teams from the GPAC in the field
  - Concordia - #4 seed, Duer Quadrant
  - Dordt - #12 seed, Liston Quadrant
  - Hastings - #7 seed, Cramer Quadrant
  - Morningside - #3 seed, Liston Quadrant
  - Northwestern - #5 seed, Naismith Quadrant
record vs ranked teams: 1-6
record vs tournament field: 2-8
NAIA Championship Tournament history:
- third straight, eighth overall appearance
- 7-7 overall record
- fourth time qualifying as one division
  - 1987-88, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24
- Year-by-Year records at the championship:
  - 2022-23: 1-1
  - 2021-22: 0-1
  - 2013-14: 0-1 (NAIA D-II)
  - 2012-13: 2-1 (NAIA D-II, Quarterfinals)
  - 2011-12: 2-1 (NAIA D-II, Quarterfinals)
  - 2005-06: 0-1
  - 1987-88: 2-1(Quarterfinals)
four Defenders earned all-conference honors:
- Lucas Lorenzen and Luke Rankin - 1st team
- Bryce Coppock - 2nd team
- Ben Fairclough and Connor Millikan - Honorable Mention
by the numbers (GPAC / NAIA rank if top 10):
- PPG: 88.3 (1st / 7th)
- FG: 50% (5th)
- 3pt FG: 38% (4th)
- FT: 78% (2nd / 7th)
- Reb. Margin: +2 (5th)
- PPG allowed: 78.2 (4th)
- FG against: 44% (2nd)
- 3pt against: 34% (2nd)
Individual Leaders (GPAC / NAIA rank if top 10):
- Lucas Lorenzen - 20.8ppg (5th), 91 3pters (1st / 3rd), 6.9rpg (9th)
  - ranks second in 3pters made in a single season
- Bryce Coppock - 17.6ppg, 49 3pters, 48 assists
- Connor Millikan - 12.9ppg, 41 3pters
- Luke Rankin - 11.2ppg, 196 assists (1st / 2nd)
  - career assists leader
- Ben Fairclough - 7.3ppg, 6.4rpg

Scouting Report on Madonna:

ranked 14th in final NAIA poll
25-6 overall record
19-3 (1st in conference)
Head Coach: Noel Emenhiser (15th year)
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) regular season champs
- 1st program history
- 1 of 3 teams from the WHAC in field
  - Lourdes: at-large - No.14 seed Liston Quadrant
  - Cornerstone: postseason champ - No.8seed Liston Quadrant
record vs ranked teams: 4-5
record vs tournament field: 3-5
NAIA Championship Tournament history:
- second straight, fifth overall appearance
- Year-by-Year records at the championship:
  - 2022-23: 1-1
  - 2019-20: 0-1
  - 2018-19: 0-1 (NAIA D-II)
  - 2012-13: 0-1 (NAIA D-II)
last year's record: 25-8, 14-6
- won WHAC postseason champ
- 1-1 in NAIA 1st/2nd Round - Grace Bracket
  - def. Olivet Nazarene
  - lost to Grace
picked 5th among 12 teams in WHAC preseason poll
3 starters, 5 players return from rotation
by the numbers (WHAC / NAIA rank if top 10):
- PPG: 82.1 (2nd)
- FG: 46% (4th)
- 3pt FG: 35% (5th)
- 3pters made: 302 (2nd / 8th)
- FT: 76% (3rd)
- Reb. Margin: +5 (4th)
- PPG allowed: 75.2 (5th)
- FG against: 43% (4th)
- 3pt against: 32% (4th)
Individual Leaders (WHAC rank if top 10):
- Brendan Young - 17.7ppg (5th), 9.1rpg (1st), 68 3pters (7th)
  - 2x 1st team all-conference
- Isaac Anderson - 17.4ppg (8th), 6.8rpg (8th), 99 assists
  - 1st team all-conference
- Matthew MacLellan - 12.3ppg, 5.2rpg
  - 2nd team all-conference
- Devin Dunn - 9.2ppg, 54 3pters, 113 assists (8th)

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Players Mentioned

#2 Bryce Coppock: 5' 11"; Junior

#35 Ben Fairclough: 6' 8"; Sophomore

#0 Luke Rankin: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#5 Lucas Lorenzen: 6' 4"; Freshman

#1 Connor Millikan: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Bryce Coppock
: 5' 11"; Junior

#35 Ben Fairclough
: 6' 8"; Sophomore

#0 Luke Rankin
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#5 Lucas Lorenzen
: 6' 4"; Freshman

#1 Connor Millikan
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G