Michigan Tech senior Kyle Monroe, right, shoots against Saginaw Valley State during a GLIAC tournament first-round game on Saturday, March 3, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team was on a roll when their season was cut short in March.

It had just won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference title when the COVID-19 shutdown took effect and the Huskies haven’t been able to begin since.

“This is the first time in five weeks that we have been all been together,” MTU head men’s coach Kevin Luke said. “It’s been crazy difficult times.”

When the Huskies return from Christmas break and can begin practices on Dec. 28, they will have to be COVID-19 tested each day before practices and games.

The men will open the season on Jan. 8-9 against Purdue Northwest. Tech has an 18-game regular season, all of which are GLIAC games.

“COVID has hit us but hasn’t devastated us,” he said.

Luke in his 27th year as the head coach added that not all was lost during the quarantines and shut downs.

“It has given us a an opportunity to do better in terms of watching film and talking about personnel,” he said. “Now we need to get out there and execute. We have a chance if we can get this squad where they need to be.”

The GLIAC champs will be led by junior guard Dawson Bilski and sophomore guard Owen White.

Bilski scored an average of 14.6 points per game and was second in the GLIAC with a 48.1 three-point shooting percentage. White averaged 12.2 points per game with 4.6 rebounds.

The Huskies also have six freshmen. Among them is former Houghton High School standout Brad Simonsen. He was a First Team All U.P. selection last year and a First Team All-State Division 2 selection.

The other freshmen include former Calumet High standout Matt Ojala, who was a redshirt last season, Adam Hobson (Stoughton, Wis.), Jason Waterman (Negaunee), Logan Geissler (Green Bay, Wis.) and Pete Calcaterra (Boyne City).

While players were sent home when COVID-19 shut Michigan schools down in mid-November, Luke encouraged them to get into their local gyms and practice. Easier said than done according to Luke.

“It depended on where they lived,” he said. “Those players from outside of Michigan had an easier time than others. As well the multi-purpose gym at the SDC was open.”

Tech women’s basketball head coach, Sam Hoyt, tells a different story than Luke’s.

“In three months, we have had 17 practices,” she said. “I think the players are handling it much better than I would as a player.”

Hoyt, now in her third year at Tech, said that she is looking to senior Cassidy Trotter and junior Ellie Mackay to lead the team. Trotter led the Huskies in scoring with her 12.3 points per game while Mackay averaged 12.2 points.

These two along with other returners have been instrumental in keeping things positive over the past few months.

“These ladies are really tough,” she said. “Much of that toughness comes from the past two years where we’ve had to deal injuries and adversity. Now our leaders are sticking together and stepping up and contacting those in quarantine and at home. Players here are connected through Zoom and trying to find a way to stay united.”

Like the men’s team, they will open the GLIAC-only season on Jan. 8 against Purdue Northwest.

“We are just excited to be back on the court,” Hoyt said. “I never expected something like this.”