Notebook: Falcons still undefeated, working to be perfect

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin has flexed its muscle every game this season, showing why they are poised to make a run for the NACC regular season title more than two months away. The Falcons are using a deep rotation of forwards, who are controlling the paint with scoring and rebounding.

Despite a 6-0 record, including a 4-0 record in league play, there are some areas the Falcons can improve on and other areas that have shinned through a month of the season. CUWFalcons.com took some notes and spoke with head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones prior to the team's trip to Puerto Rico.

Rebounding is important, specifically this season
CUW is outrebounding the opposition by an average of 4.7 rebounds through six games, but have been on the positive side of the overall rebounding statistic in just three of the six games thus far. With eight players standing 5-foot-8 or taller, they must impose their will in order to separate themselves in tight games.

"Rebounding is a huge part of the game," Brunner-Jones said. "We really stress defense and rebounding, and they know when they don't do a good job on the boards. Also, getting offensive rebounds gives us a second chance and the momentum change is important."

While the overall rebounding statistic hasn't been won every game by the Falcons, they have pulled down double-figure offensive rebounds in four games. Those second chances have led to an average of 11.0 points scored. More so, they are on pace with last season, pulling down 12.6 offensive rebounds per game.

"We do a lot of rebounding in practice, specifically on offensive rebounding, and just really concentrating on it," said Brunner-Jones. "I really think offensive rebounding if effort. A player has to be aggressive and really want the basketball, and that isn't easy."

This is when things get difficult
Every point in the season a team will face a difficult stretch of games that tests them mentally more than physically, and this could be that stretch. The Falcons face two difficult opponents – Richard Stockton and No. 17 New England – while in Puerto Rico, before returning home to face Benedictine who is undefeated in the NACC and MSOE who is 3-1 in league play.

"I really think the Aurora win was important for us," said the 12th-year head coach. "We can look back and see how we played in a really tight game. It is difficult because we were playing Aurora, entering finals week and preparing for the Puerto Rico trip all at the same time. We are young and we are old, because we have so many underclassmen who play and just two seniors on the roster."

On paper CUW looks young, as coached had referred to, but of the 12 varsity players seven had averaged at least 14 minutes per game last season. Those players proved that experience and talent matters, putting together an impressive 8-2 record a season ago in games decided by single digits. Even though the Falcons have been tested once so far this season, those close games will happen and it is just a matter of time.

"One game at a time and really just one practice at a time is what we preach," the Falcon mentored stated. "I think with everything that is going on in these players lives at the moment, simplifying thiings really helps. It helps me as well. We just look at each practice and plan for it."

Falcons have never played sloppy basketball
It's like a broken record; CUW ranks in the top 25-50 nationally and leads the NACC in fewest turnovers per game again and again, and again. It's something you will see every game, even when a good pass is made; Brunner-Jones instructing her players to value the basketball.

"I think it is a combination of stressing the value of the basketball in practice, running when we have turnovers or doing pushups so they understand how important the ball is," Brunner-Jones explained. "It also helps to have a junior point guard and a senior shooting guard on the court. We tell them every day the ball is important, don't just through it around the gym."

The Falcons have ranked no worse than 28th in the country over the last four weeks in fewest turnovers per game. On the other side of the court, they have forced 20 or more turnovers four times and cause havoc each and every game.

What is more important: making free throws or 3-pointers?
CUW has struggled at times in both statistical categories. They have been unable to shoot a high percentage from downtown or at the charity stripe, but then at times they show fans what a pure stroke looks like. Example being when the Falcons sank 9-of-13 free throws during a critical stretch of the fourth quarter during last Saturday's victory over Aurora.

"Making free throws is more important, for sure," Brunner-Jones said firmly. "We have some really good outside shooters on this team, but our strength is in the post. Missing free throws drives me crazy. I think we are rushing them a little bit. We shoot a lot of free throws in practice and it is disappointing when we don't make them and they know that too."

The Falcons do have quality free throw shooters on the roster, with sophomore Katelyn Sewall (Menasha, Wis.) draining 85.3 percent during her career and senior Madelyn Landgraf (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) making 75.3 percent over the past three-plus seasons. However, the team needs to improve as a whole so they can seal the game when needed.

"I think we need to slow ourselves down and feel comfortable at the free throw line," Brunner-Jones said. "We have to own the moment and that free throw. We try to simulate the pressure as much as we can in practice, but it is different in the game."