Lieffers spells double trouble for opposition
He’s the King of Dunks and Master of Double Trouble.
Michael Lieffers has done his best to keep pace with Tim Hortons in the “doubledouble” department.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Lieffers has doubled up for this entire season, averaging double digits in both points and rebounds.
Yet, surprisingly, he has never been singled out for all-star recognition in the Canada West or Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
“It’s kind of shocking,” says U of S interim head coach Barry Rawlyk, whose Huskies, ranked No. 3 in the nation, wrap up Canada West conference play at home tonight (8 p.m., PAC) against the University of Regina Cougars.
“It is an unusual situation for a guy as dynamic as he is. Part of it is by nature of the position he plays. He’s not a guy who’s got the ball in his hands a lot, but, when he does, he obviously does some damage.”
Lieffers can single-handedly obliterate opponents.
Not only is he big enough, he also has the athleticism to soar past, or over, the opposition.
He also has deceptive speed.
He can run the court like a gazelle compared to most giant-sized post players.
Lieffers has racked up 234 rebounds (147 on defence) to lead the Huskies and he’s No. 1 in the Canada West, averaging 11.4 per game.
He’s also No. 1 on the team, and No. 2 in the conference, in field-goal percentage, shooting 60.5 per cent from the floor.
He also has a team-leading 38 steals and 20 blocked shots to go along with 24 assists. He has averaged 13.5 points per game.
“He’s most noted for his rebounding, but, if you look at his statistics over the last couple of years, his shooting percentage has been through the roof,” noted Rawlyk. “When he catches it down there, he scores.”
Rebounding is something that is kind of ignored, added Rawlyk.
It’s not real pretty and clean work — it’s kind of the dirty work — but it’s an essential part of the game.
“He’s been a huge part of our program over the last number of years and he’s doing that again this year,” said Rawlyk. “I’m hopeful he’s going to receive some of the recognition that he so rightly deserves.”
Lieffers helped lift the Huskies to a CIS national championship and Canada West banner two years ago.
He assisted Canada in its silver medal at the 2011 Summer Universiade in China.
Last season, he averaged 9.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game to go along with 19 assists, 16 blocks and 23 steals.
He ranked No. 2 in Canada West for offensive rebounds (3.7 per game) and No. 1 in the conference for field-goal percentage (.627).
Two seasons ago, he averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while chalking up 17 assists, 7 blocks and 23 steals.
Lieffers has 142 career dunks in four seasons as a Huskie. He has 34 slam-dunks so far this season through 21 games after a career-high 53 last season.
That, of course, doesn’t hurt his shooting percentage.
“That’s a relatively highpercentage shot,” Rawlyk said with a chuckle. “It just shows you what a force he is around the rim.”
Assistant coach Nate Schellenberg, who is the team’s statistics guru, believes that Lieffers is the King of Dunks for the entire CIS.
“He’s got to be No. 1,” Schellenberg said. “We watch enough games on film and I haven’t seen anybody like him. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t No. 1.”
HUMBLE HUSKIE
When it comes to all-star talk, Lieffers isn’t lobbying for himself on Twitter and Facebook.
“You never know (about all star awards) — it’s not something that I really strive for,” Lieffers, a Saskatoon native and former E.D. Feehan Trojan, said with a shrug.
“If it comes up and I get an all-star, I’ll be proud of that. I’ll be able to tell my kids that.
“But I’m more focused on winning against Regina this weekend and then Trinity Western next weekend. We’re really starting to jell, I think, and starting to get along a lot better. Things are starting to come together, so it’s one game at a time right now: Regina, Trinity and then hopefully host Final Four.
“We have a really good shot this year to definitely go to nationals and compete for a title, for sure.”
Being ignored in the awards category doesn’t bristle the Huskies’ chairman of the boards.
“I’m not worried about little things like that,” he said. “It’s a team game; it’s not an individual game. If I wanted (individual glory), I’d be in track and field or something like that.”