Expections high for young norse team

Mark Franzen, now entering his fourth year as head men’s basketball coach, believes his team has enough depth and size to make a run at the IIAC Championship this year.

After graduating only three players, the Norse bring back 68 percent of their scoring and tremendous depth with the guard positions. Couple that with Franzen’s third recruiting class, which features five players 6’ 5” or taller, and the Norse should keep opposing defenses on their heels.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that are solid this year,” Franzen said. “We’re very balanced offensively. It’s too early to tell who the leading scorer could be.”

Last year, opposing defenses knew that in order to stop Luther, they needed to stop Zac Ruckebeil (‘09).

“Last year, we ran everything through Ruc,” Franzen said.

While this year’s talent should make up for Ruckebeil offensively, his defensive presence and back-to-back IIAC rebounding titles will be missed. Jake Waddle (‘09), the Norse’s most versatile defender, also left a glaring hole on the defensive side.

“I don’t know if we have a replacement for [Waddle] right now,” Franzen said.

While defense is a question mark, depth certainly isn’t. The Norse returns six players who averaged 14 minutes or more a game last year, including five of their top six scorers.

“We’re returning guys that have played significant amounts of varsity minutes ,and we will have more experience top to bottom,” Franzen said. “I’ve never had that before.”

Adding much needed shot-blocking ability will be incoming players Tim Massie (‘13) and Tyler Wedemeier (‘13), standing 6’7” and 6’8”, respectively. The two will join Nathan Elliott (‘11) to create a formidable and deep center position.

With a lack of seniors, Franzen instituted a leadership council made up of Nnamdi Okolue (‘11), Jacy Dillahunty (‘11) and Dane Larson (‘12). These three kept tabs on summer workout programs and initiated pickup games, things Division III coaches have very little control over during the off-season.

“I trust that things went well,” Franzen said. “Our players need to get bigger, stronger and put in time on individual skill work. If we don’t have good leadership, things won’t get done.”

This season, Franzen expects improvement in his players’ mental toughness and aggressiveness at both ends of the floor. “I’ve seen both those things happen in practice,” he said.

While these improvements will keep the Norse competitive, offensive consistency will be key to challenging favorites such as Wartburg, Central and Cornell. Luther boasted the league’s second best defense last year, surrendering only 61 points per game, but finished last in scoring, averaging 57.

Hired to help rebuild a struggling program, Franzen is 19-55 since taking over as head coach in a highly competitive conference. Although the team has graduated several elite players, the door is wide open for the Norse to establish themselves in the IIAC once again.

The Norse will open the season against Saint Mary’s University (Minn.) at home at 7 p.m. Nov. 21.