IRVINE, Calif. – Former Concordia University Irvine guard
Tad Dufelmeier has started his career as a professional basketball player in his native country of Australia.
After playing with the Eagles for two seasons from 2016-18, Dufelmeier is now starting for the Hobart Huskies, a second-division Australian State League team in the NBL1 that is based in Tasmania.
A member of
the first CUI men's basketball team to ever win a PacWest Conference tournament game, Dufelmeier scored a career-high 30 points and added eight rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Huskies in a recent 104-100 victory over the Frankston Blues on Saturday, May 25. He made three treys in the game and was able to draw a ton of fouls and get to the free throw line early and often. He finished 13-for-14 at the charity stripe.
In his first six games, Dufelmeier averaged 21.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals. Â Known for his superb passing skills, he is proving that he can dominate games in multiple ways.
"Tad got off to a really, really strong start and he has a great feel for the game with an incredible competitive spirit," said CUI head coach
Ken Ammann. "He's been working on his offensive skills and he's an elite level professional player now. He always had such an incredible, artistic ability to pass the ball. He's the best passer I've ever coached and his ability to score points is even better now than it has ever been. His best years are still ahead of him."
Through eight games, the Aussie is averaging 18.7 points per contest along with 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists. If Dufelmeier keeps his current pace, he could earn a promotion to the top division of competition, joining fellow CUI alum Cameron Gliddon who plays for the Canterbury Rams.
The Concordia University Irvine men's basketball team has had at least one Australian player on its roster under Ammann every season since 2007. Â Center
Geoff Gerlach hails from Sydney and helped lead the Eagles
to their first appearance in the NCAA DII Tournament this past season as a redshirt senior.
Austin Clarke is also from Penguin, Australia and will be a redshirt junior in the fall of 2019 as the Eagles will look to return to the NCAA DII Tournament
after facing St. Martin's this past March.
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