Schmidt surprises

Matt Schmidt has been a pleasant surprise for the Lakehead Thunderwolves of late.

The Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute grad has spent much of his basketball career on the bench, buried behind a slew of talented teammates who took up the majority of court time as the Wolves fashioned themselves into national contenders.

But this season the fourth-year forward has come into his own.

Given an opportunity to start in place of the injured Yoosrie Salhia – and expected to step in if Ryan Thomson's foot won’t let him go against Ryerson Friday night in the semifinal at the OUA Final Four – Schmidt has made the most of his opportunities.
He posted double-digit points in each of LU’s final four regular season games, averaging 15 points a night, and hopes to do it again.

“Coach called on me and I’m just trying to make the best of my situation. I’m doing the best that I can to help my team.”
That he’s doing it when the pressure’s on, says that much more about his character and skill on the court.

It’s just what he’s been looking for.

“I’m excited,” he said after practice Wednesday, a day before the Wolves hit the road for Waterloo, where they’ll try to defend their OUA championship of a year ago, likely needing to beat No. 1-ranked Carleton again to do so.

“I can’t wait. My confidence is at an all-time high right now … getting into the mix with my teammates, something I didn’t do in the first semester. I’m loving it.”

Coach Scott Morrison, whose team beat an undermanned Ryerson by 41 when they met at the Thunderdome in November, said he’s confident he can count on the 6-foot-seven Schmidt in just about any situation.

That’s good to know against a Ryerson team that lost four of its first five games, but rebounded down the stretch with a six-game winning streak before falling 107-64 to Carleton in the regular season finale. The Rams then defeated Ottawa last Saturday 74-71 to advance to the Final Four.

“He’s had some great experience over the last four weekends,” Morrison said. “Pretty much three of the four were really good weekends for him and we know we can count on him in a big game. Whether we have injuries or not, Schmitty’s going to be a big part of the game plan and play a little more minutes and stay out of foul trouble.”

Morrison will also have forward Brendan King at his disposal this weekend, returned from a shoulder injury that sidelined him late in the campaign.

King dressed last weekend, but did not play, in LU’s 93-70 playoff win over Guelph.

“He’s really our biggest guy, so it won’t hurt to have him in the paint, even for a few minutes, on Friday.”

For guard Greg Carter, named an OUA West second-team all-star on Thursday, Friday’s not a time to be taking anyone for granted or looking beyond at an anticipated match against between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country.

“Last time we played (Ryerson) they were missing a few of their key guards and I’m pretty sure they were a little disappointed the last time they came down and they’re going to come a little more on in their intensity and a lot stronger than before,” Carter said.
“They’re going to be hungry for the first time being in an OUA final, so they’re going to be excited to play us.”
And guys like Carter know full well a regular season blowout means little come playoff time.

Two seasons ago, when the Wolves first started ascending the CIS ladder, a night after stunning Carletong 76-73, Ottawa turned the tables, pounding the Wolves at home by a 93-56 count. But come playoff time, it was LU who pulled out a 78-73 win to earn a trip to nationals in the OUA bronze-medal game.

“Ryerson’s kind of in the same position we were in a few years ago, so we’re just making sure that doesn’t happen to us. We don’t want to be on the other end,” Carter said.

Beyond the arc: Carter’s teammate Venzal Russell was named to the OUA West first all-star team, while long-distance threat Ben Johnson made the second team … Friday’s semifinal between Lakehead and Ryerson will be shown on The Score, starting at 6:30 p.m., a half-hour tape delay … Should the Wolves lose Friday, their only recourse to get to nationals would be earning the lone wild-card spot, chosen by the CIS selection committee. At No. 2 in the country, it’s unlikely they’ll be overlooked at this point.