Michigan Tech guard Marcus Tomashek attempts a layup during a game against Northern Michigan Thursday, Feb. 20, at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The No. 13 Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team travels this weekend to open the season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. They will face a pair of teams that made it to the Elite Eight last season in No. 3 Dallas Baptist and No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne.

While the Huskies are excited to be a pair of the tournament, the experience has been stressful on the coaching staff before they have even left, due to the fact that NCAA rules kept them from beginning team practices any earlier despite the fact that the Hall of Fame Classic takes place two weeks before most teams start their season.

“(We are) extremely excited,” said Huskies coach Josh Buettner. “It’s been wild. It’s a whirlwind playing. We get to play two weeks earlier than everybody else, and we don’t start practice any sooner. I understand the team we’re playing is in the same boat, but just everything’s sped up. Had a couple scrimmages already, and now we’re playing and it just feels quick.”

Still, the chance to face Dallas Baptist and Lenoir-Rhyne is too good to pass up.

“I think we’re looking at it probably a little differently even than some normal non-conference,” Buettner said. “I mean we’re looking at it just (to) see where we’re at with two teams that were, one was in the Final Four and one was in the Elite Eight last year. Two really good teams that are going to be really good from what I can tell this year.”

Buettner feels that the Patriots will present a unique opportunity and challenge for the Huskies in their opener.

“Obviously, the first one, Dallas Baptist, is just a very unique style,” he said. “They are going to play a lot of guys, and their press makes misses. (They) try to create chaos the entire game. It’s something different than we’ll probably see any other game of the year, unless we’re fortunate enough to kind of make that run and get to that level at the end of the season.

“So, that’s been interesting and exciting trying to replicate a little bit of what they’re doing and preparing for something that we might not necessarily see again, but it’s a challenge.”

Meanwhile, the Bears present a more traditional approach.

“The second team in Lenoir-Rhyne, obviously, they’re very good,” said Buettner. “They have a 7(-foot-)3 guy in the middle, and that’s something else I don’t think we’ll see probably until that level.

“So, they’re two unique games. There’s going to be 10 really good teams down there. It’s a really cool event, and I think the guys are excited for it.”

For the Huskies, who come into the weekend nationally-ranked, getting invited is big deal.

“I think it’s a credit, obviously, to a couple things, over the years, in the last 25 years, Michigan Tech’s been in the NCAA tournament, had a lot of All-Americans, a lot of good players,” Buettner said. “I think we’re showing that we’re a program that is recognizable, and, obviously, the Small College Association thought we were worthy of it.

“We do return a First Team All-American, which probably helped get the invite down there. But, I think it’s really cool for Michigan Tech to be kind of put on that stage with, I think, 10 teams that are going to be in the mix for that preseason poll, and nationally-ranked early on. Obviously, nobody knows how a season is going to play out, but it’s a credit to what this group achieved last year.”

Tomashek repeats as GLIAC Preseason POTY

Senior guard Marcus Tomashek has been tabbed the GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, the league office announced Wednesday. Tomashek was also named preseason All-GLIAC First Team.

The last time the Huskies were predicted to win the league and had the GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year was in 2014, with Ben Stelzer being tabbed the league’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Tomashek, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is coming off a junior campaign that saw him earn All-American honors while also being the Midwest Region Player of the Year and GLIAC Player of the Year.

He finished the season averaging 23.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, finishing the season with the fourth-most points for a season in program history with 720 points.

The guard scored over 30 points in a game nine times last season, with his career-high being a 45-point outburst at Ferris State.

“His play is so relentless and fearless,” said Buettner. “He’s going in there, and he’s not afraid of collisions. He’s not afraid of creating the contact. But, I think he needs to manage that a little bit too. I think he’s done a nice job of that.

“When we’re balanced, we’re really hard to guard too. Everybody knows how deadly he’s going to be. He’s going to be at the top of the scout. But you know, what? If he makes other guys better, and takes some practice pressure off, and we have the six, seven, eight guys that are a threat to be in double figures, that’s going to open up things for him even more. There’s still going to be games when he has to go and take some stuff over, but being a little bit more of a playmaker.”

Nordgaard also honored

Senior forward Dawson Nordgaard was tabbed to the preseason All-GLIAC Second Team.

Nordgaard, who hails from De Pere, Wisconsin, was a Second Team All-GLIAC performer a season ago, averaging 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds, starting all 32 games for the Huskies. He scored in double-figures 17 times with a season-high of 17 points.

For all his growth offensively, Buettner loves what Nordgaard brings defensively.

“He’s our anchor defensively in there,” Buettner said. “He does so much, and hopefully he has the confidence to get to his spots, finish, and be that presence inside. I’ve always loved having post players to throw it into. The more dominant he can be in there, the more he’ll get it.”

Game times

The Huskies and Patriots will battle Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Lakeland, Florida. Sunday, the Huskies and Bears will have their opening tip at 3:30 p.m. as well.