The Becker Bulldog boys basketball team returns four of five starters from last season, making this one of the most experienced teams Head Coach Josh Ihrke has led in his nine years as coach. This experience is translating to higher expectations on the court, as the Bulldogs could challenge for the Mississippi 8 Conference title.

“We know that teams and coaches know who we are and what potential we have, so the biggest way to handle this is to create high expectations in practice,” says Ihrke, whose team finished third in the M8 a year ago. “Creating the situations in practice to value each possession and create high intensity in our play in practice is something we strive to.”

The Bulldogs will lean on a pair of M8 All Conference players to set the pace, as both Eric Seavert and Brady Paumen received the honor a year ago. Both players have length and can shoot the ball as well as get to the hoop. Joining the dynamic duo and looking for big seasons will be Alex Weiss and Hayden Harmoning, both of whom had great off-seasons according to the coach.  

“They will be major contributors again, along with Carter Callahan.” Ihrke says. He also lists Julias Hendricks, Nick Berglund, Landen Goebel, Kyle Vogl and Ryan Bengtson as players who are looking to be valuable pieces to this year’s team.

Overall, Ihrke expects his team’s depth to be an overall strength, with battles expected every day during practice for the chance to compete for playing time.

“One major difference this year is that our JV/Varsity Reserves are going to challenge and compete hard every day in practice and provide value,” Ihrke says.  “We will look to those guys to have a solid year and I am looking forward to this year’s team.”

When it comes to style of play, the coach expects a more balanced defensive effort with an eye towards pushing the ball up the court when the opportunity presents itself.

“We are looking to improve defensively and hoping to create more transition opportunities... on the offensive side we will be a team that moves the ball well and shares well on the offensive side of the ball.”

In terms of competition, Ihrke expects a number of M8 teams to be solid this year and a Section realignment means that many of those same teams will prove to be a nemesis once the playoffs come around.  Only conference foes North Branch and Cambridge-Isanti will play in a different section than the rest of the M8.

“In our conference and section, the toughest opponents are Princeton, Monticello and St. Francis,” says Ihrke. “But we return the most experience from last year of any teams in the conference so we will hope to challenge for the conference title and section crown.”

But before focusing on those bigger goals, the coach says the players and coaches will work on improving each and every day.

“This year we first off want to be better every day as a team and as players and coaches,” Ihrke says. “We want to have an energetic team that is fun to watch and plays the game in the right way. We hope to see more success on the floor and off the floor in the way of being positive and being leaders in the school and community. If those things are accomplished then the successes in the win / loss column will take care of itself.”