Michigan Tech guard Marcus Tomashek attempts a 3-pointer in a Midwest Region quarterfinal game against Lake Erie on March 14 at Alumni Arena in North Canton, Ohio.
(Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)
HOUGHTON — They have already gone further than any Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team has ever gone, which is an accomplishment in itself, yet, the Black and Gold would love nothing more than to keep their season alive beyond today.
The Huskies won the Division 2 Midwest Region for the first time in school history on March 17 and were serenaded by the Pep Band upon returning to campus. For head coach Josh Buettner, finally breaking through at his alma mater meant the world.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “It’s kind of a dream to win one. Just coming back to Michigan Tech with my experience as a player, to come up short of getting that regional championship, and getting to go when we had a team that was probably good enough to do it, I wanted to come back and just try to get that experience back and give that experience to other guys.”
Buettner has a special place in his heart for his senior class, which includes guards Marcus Tomashek, Josh Terrian, and Nate Abel, and forward Dawson Nordgaard. All four have been instrumental in helping build the Huskies back up from a team that went 10-20 in 2022-23 to 29-6 thus far this season.
Tomashek was outstanding throughout the regional for the Huskies. He scored 34 against Lake Erie, and 22 against Grand Valley State, before scoring 33 in the championship game against Walsh.
The Huskies and the Gannon Golden Knights will battle at noon Eastern time today at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh.
Should the Huskies win, they will play a Final Four matchup Friday also at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.