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Northern Michigan University hoops odyssey: Wildcats open men’s basketball season at Michigan Tech for interleague challenge

Northern Michigan University's Max Bjorklund, right, reacts after making a dunk as Finlandia's Rae' Quan Funches, front left, was only able to watch during the second half of their college basketball game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Jan. 2. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

MARQUETTE — The men’s basketball team at Northern Michigan University gets its season off to a start close to home in November.

That could bode well for a Wildcats team led by head coach Matt Majkrzak which reached the GLIAC Tournament championship game last winter after finishing in a tie for third place during the regular season.

NMU’s Max Bjorklund and Nick Wagner were named to the GLIAC’s All-Tournament team after Northern defeated No. 6 seed Lake Superior State 99-94 in overtime and No. 2 Michigan Tech 78-71 to reach the finals, where surprising No. 8 Davenport outscored the Wildcats 100-67.

NMU finished its season with 20-13 overall and 18-12 league records as Bjorklund, who will be a junior this season, and then-senior John Kerr were named to the All-GLIAC Second Team.

This fall, specifically Nov. 12-13, the Wildcats open their season at the GLIAC-Great Lakes Valley Conference Challenge. In most years, Northern has had to travel far to places like Illinois, Indiana or Missouri for this event, but this season’s interleague challenge will take place at Michigan Tech in relatively nearby Houghton.

Northern Michigan University's Brian Parzych, center, is fouled as he tries to split the defense of Northwood's Christian Smith, left, and Matthew Nowicki in the second half of their GLIAC basketball game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Jan. 29. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Matchups haven’t been announced yet other than the Wildcats will play one game each day that weekend as Majkrzak starts his fourth season at the NMU helm.

None of Northern’s game times over the length of the season have been announced yet.

After the GLIAC-GLVC Challenge, NMU returns home for two more nonconference games, then plays three non-GLIAC contests before jumping into the league schedule.

The Wildcats host Minnesota-Crookston on Thursday, Nov. 17, and Concordia-St. Paul, also from Minnesota, the following day.

They hit the road for the week around Thanksgiving, playing at former GLIAC member Hillsdale on Nov. 20, at Minnesota-Duluth on Nov. 26 and at St. Cloud State (Minnesota) on Nov. 27.

Northern Michigan University's Max Bjorklund, center, gets fouled by Northwood's Christian Smith, left, while also defended by the Timberwolves' Jack Ammerman as Bjorklund tries to make a pass in the first half of their GLIAC basketball game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Jan. 29. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Then the conference schedule begins in earnest, with most weeks a Thursday-Saturday home or road pair of games.

Opening week is Dec. 1 and 3 at Purdue Northwest to open and at Wisconsin-Parkside to follow.

The week after deviates from that schedule, with a home game vs. Ferris State on Friday, Dec. 9, and vs. Lake Superior State on Sunday, Dec. 11.

The Wildcats tack on their final two nonconference games around the holidays, hosting Finlandia, from Hancock, on Sunday, Dec. 18, then traveling to now-former GLIAC member Northwood on Jan. 2.

NMU’s final 13 games are back in the GLIAC, all on Thursdays and/or Saturdays.

The Jan. 5-7 pair are at Wayne State first and then at Saginaw Valley State, while a single game the following week is Saturday, Jan. 14, at home against MTU.

The Wildcats remain home for Jan. 19-21 to first host Grand Valley State and then Davenport, then have a road week Jan. 26-28, first at LSSU and followed by Ferris.

The start of February, specifically Thursday, Feb. 2, is at the Berry Events Center against SVSU before a road week Feb. 9-11 first at Davenport and then GVSU.

The regular season winds down with a home week on Feb. 16-18, starting with Parkside and followed by Purdue NW, then the final week is a single game on Saturday, Feb. 25, at MTU.

The GLIAC Tournament opens with home-court quarterfinals for the top four seeds on Wednesday, March 1, likely to be followed that weekend with the semifinals and finals at the site of the highest surviving seed.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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