Vikings finish 7-5 in 2021; place fourth in the CCIW at 6-4; post 21st consecutive winning record in league play; qualify for CCIW Tournament for 16th year in a row; Daniel Carr named first team All-CCIW; Carter Duwa earns second team and Freshman of the Year honors; Head Coach Steve Schafer steps down after one season; Tom Jessee chosen to lead Augustana program
 
The Steve Schafer era as Augustana's head coach lasted just one season and it was a memorable one on many fronts. In addition to Schafer returning to his alma mater to replace all-time wins leader Grey Giovanine, fears over COVID-19 shortened the season, caused cancelations and postponements and nixed the NCAA Tournament. The Vikings finished 7-5 overall and 6-4 and fourth in the CCIW. The program recorded its 21st consecutive winning season in league play and played in its 16th straight conference tournament—both CCIW records. Schafer stepped down in April, with long-time assistant Tom Jessee chosen to lead the program as its 17th head coach.
 
With a group that included just one returning starter and five letter winners, Augustana dropped its first two contests on the road. Carter Duwa (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) had 13 points in his collegiate debut, an 88-67 loss at Wheaton on January 23 and Daniel Carr (Regis Jesuit HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) recorded his first of nine double-doubles (16 points and 11 rebounds) in a 71-62 setback at North Central on January 28.
 
The season turned in the team's home opener against North Central two days later. The Vikings rallied from a 15-point deficit in the last 8:05 to stun the Cardinals 80-76. On February 5, Duwa (29), Luke Johnson (Longmont HS, Longmont, Colo.) (22) and Carr (21) combined for 72 points in a 98-82 victory over Millikin at home and the next day, Augustana defeated the Big Blue 79-66 in Decatur, Illinois to improve to 3-2.
 
COVID protocols caused the cancelation of the next two contests, both versus Illinois Wesleyan, but when the Vikings returned to action after a 14-day layoff, they extended their winning streak to five with consecutive wins over North Park. They won 80-75 on the road and 74-71 at home rallying from second-half deficits in both games.
 
Augustana dropped its next two, 89-73 at home to Elmhurst and 65-52 to Carroll on the road, to move to 5-4 on the year. Schafer's crew bounced back to win the regular season finale over Carroll 73-68 at Carver Center. Jack Jelen (Bay HS, Bay Village, Ohio) (seven points and six assists) was honored on Senior Night.
 
The fourth seed in the CCIW Tournament, the Vikings were originally scheduled to host fifth seed North Central in one quarterfinal, but when COVID protocols eliminated the Cardinals from competition, sixth-seeded Carthage was bumped up a spot and headed for Rock Island. In a classic, the hosts prevailed 109-107 in triple overtime, with Duwa (26 points), Carr (22) and Matt Hanushewsky (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) (20) leading the way offensively. Augustana weathered a 35-point, 20-rebound performance by Firebird Fillip Bulatovic.
 
The Vikings' season came to an end in the CCIW semis with a 78-58 loss at Wheaton.
 
Carr (17.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg, .389 3p%, .855 ft%, 12 blk) led the Vikings in scoring, rebounding, free throw percentage and blocked shots this year, becoming the first Augustana player since Bruce Hamming in 1974-75 to average a double-double. Only one player in the nation at the Division III level bettered Carr's nine double-doubles. He became just the fourth Augustana sophomore ever named to the All-CCIW first team.
 
Although a sophomore academically, Duwa (16.3 ppg, .396 3p%, .781 ft%)—who missed all of 2019-20 with a shoulder injury—retained first-year eligibility this year and recorded the highest scoring average ever for a Viking freshman, surpassing Kevin Skillett's 16.0 in 1990-91. He led the team with 27 three-point field goals and was named second team All-CCIW as well as the league's Freshman of the Year. He became the fifth Augustana freshman named All-CCIW and the second to collect Freshman of the Year honors.
 
This year's team averaged 8.83 three-point field goals per game (106 in 12 games), more than the previous program best of 8.29 (a school-record 257 in 31 games), set by the national runner-up squad of 1992-93. This year's .765 free throw percentage ranked tops in the CCIW, 20th in the nation and third-best in school history.
 
Other statistical leaders for this year's Vikings included juniors Justin Bottorff (Quincy Notre Dame HS, Quincy, Ill.) (9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .536 fg%, 10 blk) and Johnson (9.1 ppg, .436 3p%, .741 ft%, 28 ast, 16 stl) and sophomore Hanushewsky (5.9 ppg, .370 3p%, 35 ast). Bottorff led in field goal percentage. Johnson was tops in three-point percentage and steals and Hanushewsky was Augustana's assist leader.
 
2020-21 CCIW MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS

TEAM	CCIW	W-L	PCT	Overall	W-L	PCT
Wheaton		10-0	1.000		12-1	.923
Illinois Wesleyan		5-1	.833		8-1	.889
Elmhurst		6-2	.750		7-3	.700
AUGUSTANA		6-4	.600		7-5	.583
North Central		5-5	.500		5-5	.500
Carthage		5-6	.455		5-7	.417
Carroll		5-7	.417		5-8	.385
North Park		3-10	.231		3-11	.214
Millikin		1-11	.083		1-12	.077

 
2021 CCIW Tournament
All games played at highest seed
 
Saturday, March 6
#1 Wheaton 81, #8 Millikin 53 
#4 Augustana 109, #5 Carthage 107 (3 OT)
#2 Illinois Wesleyan 75, #7 North Park 55
#3 Elmhurst 89, #6 Carroll 63
 
Tuesday, March 9
#1 Wheaton 78, #4 Augustana 58
#2 Illinois Wesleyan 75, #3 Elmhurst 65
 
Friday, March 12
#2 Illinois Wesleyan 71, #1 Wheaton 58
 
2020-21 AUGUSTANA SUPERLATIVES
CCIW TOURNAMENT: Only school to qualify for every CCIW Tournament (16 consecutive)
CCIW ALL-CONFERENCE: Daniel Carr (1st team); Carter Duwa (2nd team)
CCIW ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE: Justin Bottorff, Daniel Carr, Dallas Duwa, Matt Hanushewsky, Nate Ortiz
CCIW TEAM STATISTICAL LEADERS: Free throw percentage—.765
CCIW INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS: Free throw percentage—.855, Daniel Carr; Free throws made—59, Daniel Carr; Double-doubles—9, Daniel Carr
NCAA TOP 25 TEAM RANKINGS: Three-point FG%—.398 (20th); Free throw percentage—.765 (20th)
NCAA TOP 50 INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS: Double-doubles—9, Daniel Carr (2nd); Defensive Rebounds per game—8.25, Daniel Carr (16th); Rebounds—130, Daniel Carr (20th); Rebounds per game—10.8, Daniel Carr (22nd); Free throws made—59, Daniel Carr (26th); Free throw attempts—69, Daniel Carr (36th)
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL RECORDS: None
TEAM SCHOOL RECORDS: Three-point FG per game, season—8.8; Three-point FG, game—15, 03/06/21 vs. Carthage
AUGUSTANA SINGLE-SEASON TOP TEN: None
AUGUSTANA CAREER TOP TEN: None