by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 10/10/06 Section: Mens Sports
The table is set for the Minnesota State men's basketball team to make another run at the NCAA tournament and Luke Anderson is, once again, the centerpiece.
Anderson, a 6-6 190-pound senior forward/guard, was named a preseason first-team All-American by Street & Smith Magazine, marking the first time a Maverick has been awarded such an honor.
Joining Anderson on the team are John Smith (Winona State), Anthony Atkinson (Barton), Greg Brown (Montevallo), and Shaun McKie (Salem International).
"The preseason honor is great, but some players can take it as 'Well, now I've arrived,'" said Anderson, a Bloomington, Minn. native. "I can't look at it that way. It makes me want to work harder so that when the season is over, I'm also rewarded with the same honor."
Since Anderson transferred to MSU from Division I Montana State in 2002, he has played a key role in the basketball program's improvement over the past four seasons.
"It's huge for our program," said head coach Matt Margenthaler, whose team won the NCC Championship and finished 24-7 in 2005-06. "Luke was our staff's first big sign when I got the job. He's been here as long as I've been here."
Anderson has been an All-NCC pick the past three seasons, named 2006 Wells Fargo Finals MVP and was voted second team All-American after the 2005-06 season.
"He's helped us in many ways including recruiting. His name has helped attract players here," Margenthaler said. "He's helped us win many games since he's been here and he might go down as one of the best, if not the best player to ever play at Minnesota State."
This season, while chosen as one of the best five players in the nation, Anderson is also called on to lead MSU.
"Luke has got to be a key player down the stretch for us," said Margenthaler, whose team opens up against Felician College November 17 at the Taylor Center. "We're not looking for him to do it all by himself though because we have other guys to help him." Seniors Paris Kyles and Tony Thomason return to the Mavericks backcourt to compliment Anderson.
"I think they'll rely on me to score points, play defense and get rebounds," Anderson said. "We got some key transfers coming in that will play huge roles for us.
"And with Tony and Paris improving the way that they did over the summer, I probably won't be reluctant to score as much as I tried to last year, but I'll still go out there and play the same exact type of game."
In the 2005-06 season, Anderson averaged 20.8 points and six rebounds per game and shot 75 percent from the free throw line.
"I have confidence in my shot," Anderson said. "I feel like I can score from anywhere on the court. Even if someone's guarding me, I still feel I can get my shot off."
"I always talk to Luke about not thinking he's arrived, because once you think you've arrived, you don't think there's room to get better," Margenthaler said. "We need Luke to be better this year than he was last year for us."
Every year this basketball team has gotten better and we need to take that next step, and that means going farther in the NCAA Tournament and have the opportunity to win a national championship."
"I want to make sure we have just as good and a better season as we did last year as a team, and me personally," Anderson said. "What makes me an All-American is all the hard work and time that I put in over the years and always staying dedicated to this sport.
"After last season, being voted second team All-American felt really good," Anderson said. "This year, getting this honor is great, but at the same time, I still have to work hard and lead my team."
Tyler Buckentine is a Reporter staff writer
