UW-La Crosse Mens Basketball

By JEFF BROWN
Of the Tribune staff

The Eagles are undefeated.

At 5-0, UW-L has already matched its victory total of Gross's first year ð 1992-93 when the Eagles went 5-20. The five victories exceed the number of games his 1993-94 squad won (4-21).

That seems like light years ago to Gross, who takes his undefeated team to St. Paul Saturday to face Concordia College (2-9). But the question looms: Has UW-L stepped up its program? Or is it simply playing a weak nonconference schedule?

``We have been vulnerable in the past to playing either up or down (to the level of opponents),'' Gross said. ``This year we have played to the level we are capable of playing. You've got a Dubuque coming in and they are down a couple of players, but we didn't them any room to breathe either. I don't know if our schedule is any different than when I first came.''

In his fifth year with the program, UW-L has certainly stepped up its defense under Gross. The Eagles have allowed their opponents to 48.8 points per game, while averaging 72.

``Our defensive effort and our consistency has been very good,'' Gross said. ``It needs to get better. It needs to be consistent over 40 minutes.''

So far, the Eagles have been far more than a one-man show on offense. Senior guard Chuck Simpson is averaging 12.4 points per game, while senior forward Eric Dudek is at 10.2. Junior College transfer Dylan Bates (8.6) and senior center Melvin Veasley (8.0) also have played significant offensive roles.

``I think we are a better team. I like the way we are beating people. We are beating people convincingly,'' Gross said. ``We are doing it with balanced scoring, playing a lot of people, and playing good sound defense.

``Does that have to do with having juniors and seniors on the team? I think so. Does it have to do with having a balanced attack on the inside and outside? Yes. Does it have to do with having intensity on the defensive end? Yes.''

Will all of the above have to continue if the Eagles are going to make a move up the WSUC ladder? Yes.

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