It's been another banner year for the Dubuque men's basketball team. Dubuque athletics file photo

The University of Dubuque has a problem, one the athletic department is ecstatic about.

It’s hard not to notice when you attend an event at Stoltz Sports Center on campus.

Behind one basket, the exterior was bulldozed to create more seating. Backing the other are massive banners representing UD’s recent Iowa Conference championships that have the wall nearly covered.

There’s no white-wall space left.

“(The banners) are too darn big in here,” Dubuque men’s basketball coach Robbie Sieverding said with pride.

They fit just fine before. The Spartans’ athletic department hadn’t had a whole lot to tout in the two decades prior to the 2010s. Then the football and men’s soccer teams won IIAC regular season titles. Men’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s basketball and football again followed.

And now UD can order another banner for the men’s basketball team. The Spartans (17-6, 10-2) beat Luther 72-53 on Saturday to clinch their first crown since 1990.

“It’s a pretty big deal for our program,” said Sieverding, who also credited the administration for its dedication to drastically improving facilities on campus.

All that said, this isn’t meant to be an underdog story. UD hasn’t had a losing season since Sieverding’s arrival in 2007. The former University of Northern Iowa player has compiled a 162-78 record in his nine seasons, including 83-24 the last four years.

NCAA tournament appearances – by way of conference tournament championships – were made in 2013 and 2015. But for a variety of reasons, the regular season title had eluded them during this run. Dubuque was one game back in 2012, 2014 and 2015, two behind in 2013.

“I think because we’ve been so close and because of the way that we’ve failed to win it the past few seasons when we’ve had some really good teams, I think that makes it mean a little bit more for our program, just because we know how hard it is,” Sieverding said.

Andre Norris knows as much as anyone how close they’ve been. The 6-7 do-everything forward who has led the team in scoring each of the last three years is as hard to miss in Stoltz as those banners.

A connection to the coaching staff brought Norris to Dubuque from Plainfield, Ill., and he’s thrived. The senior has averaged 18-plus points since his sophomore year, including 23.5 and 12.1 rebounds this season.

He averaged 9.9 points and 3.8 boards in 19.6 minutes as a freshman, when Dubuque stormed to the conference tournament title and a trip to UW-Whitewater in the first round. It was all Warhawks, a 58-42 final.

“Going through that experience, getting my feet wet, it really prepared me to mature my game,” Norris said.

Norris always had a special talent. Sieverding noted Norris has gotten stronger, plus made improvements in ball handling, shooting and post moves.

“I believe this is the best coaching staff I’ve ever played for,” Norris said. “Since I’ve been here, my game has really evolved. It’s all about the coaches who work with me nonstop.”

Norris is shooting 58 percent in 2015-16, including 43.6 percent from 3-point range, the third straight season he’s at a clip of better than 40 percent from deep.

He can score against any player on the floor, as well as defend any of them.

“He was a really talented player when we got him, but I think he’s matured a little bit,” Sieverding said. “Obviously his stats kind of speak for themselves. He’ll go down as the best player that’s ever played here and he’s had one heck of a senior year.”

Dubuque had six seniors last season, so getting players to step into more advanced roles was critical to the team’s success.

Kain Arthofer contributed last year, but has particularly raised his game this winter, averaging 14.5 points. Jacob Mohlis follows with 12.1 points in his second year as a starter. Gustavus Adolphus transfer Jake Weber (9.5 points, 7.8 rebounds) brings unmatched effort and Alex Vogel has steadied the point guard position.

As different as this is for the new playmakers, it’s an unfamiliar situation for an experienced guy like Norris, too. There were no nets cut down Saturday, no trophy awarded yet.

In a one-bid league, the Spartans, winners of six straight and 13 of 15, know the final week in February is still the most crucial in determining the length of their season.

“It’s really special to cut down the nets on our home floor,” said Norris, recalling previous tourney triumphs. “As far as going for it again? That’s the plan.”

What to watch in the last week

A rundown of who’s in, who’s out, and what’s left to be determined in the last week of the regular season as far as conference tournament spots go. Also, a shot at predicting what the brackets are likely to look like – take it for what it’s worth.

IIAC – Men (6 of 8)

IN: Dubuque (10-2), Simpson (7-5), Loras (7-5)

CONTENDING: Central (6-6), Wartburg (6-6), Buena Vista (4-8), Coe (4-8), Luther (4-8)

OUT: None

BEST GUESS: (4) Central vs. (5) Wartburg

(1) Dubuque vs. 4/5 Winner

(3) Simpson vs. (6) Buena Vista

(2) Loras vs. 3/6 Winner

IIAC – Women (6 of 8)

IN: Luther (10-2), Loras (8-4), Buena Vista (8-4), Wartburg (7-5), Simpson (7-5)

CONTENDING: Coe (4-8), Dubuque (3-9)

OUT: Central (1-11)

BEST GUESS: (4) Wartburg vs. (5) Simpson

(1) Luther vs. 4/5 Winner

(3) Buena Vista vs. (6) Dubuque

(2) Loras vs. 3/6 Winner

MIAC – Men (6 of 11)

IN: St. Thomas (16-2), St. Olaf (14-5), St. John’s (12-6), Concordia (12-7)

CONTENDING: Augsburg (10-8), Bethel (10-8), Carleton (10-8)

OUT: Gustavus Adolphus (7-11), St. Mary’s (6-12), Hamline (2-16), Macalester (1-17)

BEST GUESS: (4) Concordia vs. (5) Augsburg

(1) St. Thomas vs. 4/5 Winner

(3) St. Olaf vs. (6) Bethel

(2) St. John’s vs. 3/6 Winner

MIAC – Women (6 of 12)

St. Mary’s (13-3) – assuming it handles Hamline – can get a share of the title with an upset of No. 8 St. Thomas (14-2), an assured champion, Saturday. Gustavus and Concordia (both 12-4) are technically still in play for a share as well, but the Tommies’ and Cardinals’ wins over those two have them in the best position for byes. Bethel has Carleton and Hamline, meaning it will likely have a postseason spot. St. Benedict (9-7), Augsburg (8-8) and St. Olaf (7-9) are eligible for the last spot, though the Oles would need a win over UST, Augsburg loss to Macalester and St. Benedict loss to Augsburg. St. Ben’s and Augsburg meet Saturday, and it could be a de facto play-in game – the Blazers have a tougher assignment Wednesday (Gustavus) than do the Auggies (Macalester).

IN: St. Thomas (14-2), St. Mary’s (13-3), Concordia (12-4), Gustavus Adolphus (12-4)

CONTENDING: Bethel (10-6), St. Benedict (9-7), Augsburg (8-8), St. Olaf (7-9)

OUT: St. Catherine (6-10), Macalester (3-13), Carleton (1-15), Hamline (1-15)

BEST GUESS: (4) Concordia vs. (5) Bethel

(1) St. Thomas vs. 4/5 Winner

(3) Gustavus Adolphus vs. (6) St. Benedict

NWC – Men (4 of 9)

IN: Whitworth (13-1), Whitman (12-2), Pacific Lutheran (9-5), Puget Sound (8-6)

CONTENDING: None

OUT: Pacific (5-9), Lewis and Clark (5-9), Linfield (4-10), Willamette (4-11), George Fox (4-11)

BEST GUESS: (1) Whitworth vs. (4) Puget Sound

(2) Whitman vs. (3) Pacific Lutheran

NWC – Women (4 of 9)

IN: George Fox (15-0), Puget Sound (11-3), Whitman (9-5), Whitworth (9-5)

CONTENDING: None

OUT: Linfield (5-9), Pacific Lutheran (5-9), Pacific (5-9), Willamette (4-11), Lewis and Clark (1-13)

BEST GUESS: (1) George Fox vs. (4) Whitworth

(2) Puget Sound vs. (3) Whitman

SCIAC – Men (4 of 9)

IN: Chapman (10-3)

CONTENDING: Whittier (8-5), Redlands (7-6), La Verne (7-6), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (7-7), Caltech (6-7), Occidental (5-8), Cal Lutheran (5-8), Pomona-Pitzer (4-9)

OUT: None

BEST GUESS: (1) Chapman vs. (4) Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

(2) Whittier vs. (3) La Verne

SCIAC – Women (4 of 9)

IN: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (14-0), Chapman (13-2), Cal Lutheran (11-4)

CONTENDING: Redlands (7-7), Pomona-Pitzer (6-7)

OUT: Occidental (5-10), Whittier (4-10), La Verne (4-10), Caltech (0-14)

BEST GUESS: (1) Claremont-Mudd-Scripps vs. (4) Pomona-Pitzer

(2) Chapman vs. (3) Cal Lutheran

UMAC – Men (5 of 9)

IN: Northwestern (12-2), St. Scholastica (11-3), North Central (9-5), Minnesota-Morris (8-6)

CONTENDING: UW-Superior (7-7), Northland (7-9), Bethany Lutheran (6-8)

OUT: Crown (3-11), Martin Luther (1-13)

BEST GUESS: (4) Minnesota-Morris vs. (5) Bethany Lutheran

(1) Northwestern vs. 4/5 Winner

(2) St. Scholastica vs. (3) North Central

UMAC – Women (5 of 9)

IN: UW-Superior (14-0), Northwestern (13-1), Bethany Lutheran (9-5)

CONTENDING: Minnesota-Morris (7-7), Martin Luther (6-8), St. Scholastica (6-8)

OUT: Northland (6-10), North Central (2-12), Crown (1-13)

BUEST GUESS: (4) Minnesota-Morris vs. (5) Martin Luther

(1) UW-Superior vs. 4/5 Winner

(2) Northwestern vs. (3) Bethany Lutheran