University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Brian Krueger was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame in 2015.

Krueger was a 6-8 forward who scored over 1,000 points during his career and was the Blugold team MVP as a senior. Krueger played in 111 games and started 72 during his four-year career from 1982-86. The Blugolds amassed an 88-29 record during that period under legendary coach Ken Anderson. After finishing as NAIA District 14 runner-up to UW-Stevens Point in 1984 and 1985, the Blugolds beat the Pointers, who had won the WSUC championship, 47-46, in the district championship game at Stevens Point to advance to the NAIA Nationals in Kansas City in Krueger’s senior season. There, they were eliminated in the second round by Southwestern University of Texas. Krueger had an outstanding senior season in leading the Blugolds to a 24-7 record. While earning All-Conference and All-District honors, Krueger led the team in scoring with a 15.1 average and in rebounding with a 6.0 mark. Playing before the implementation of the 3-point shot, Krueger was a good outside shooter but could also play with his back to the basket.  He led the team in field goal percentage at .526 and also was .759 free throw shooter. The Blugolds were the No. 1 defensive team in the NAIA in 1986, giving up just 55.1 points per outing. The Hartford High School prep standout led the Blugolds in blocked shots with 31 and also came up with 80 recoveries, steals and forced turnovers that season.

For his career, Krueger scored 1,041 points at a 9.3 clip and added 476 rebounds, 212 assists, 58 blocks and 66 steals. He was voted the Most Valuable Freshman in 1982-83 and won the team’s “Big D” award for his defensive work as a sophomore. After earning All-Conference honorable mention his junior year, he was selected to travel with the NAIA All-Stars to Greece and Israel the summer of 1984 but the trip was canceled. Instead, he traveled with the Mid-West All-Stars that toured Europe that summer.

Krueger received a degree in advertising design in 1986. The year after his graduation from UWEC, Krueger had a tryout with the Oshkosh Flyers of the CBA and was one of the last players cut. He then played two years with the Vaerlose Basketball Club in Denmark’s First Division. He led the team in scoring, rebounding and free throw percentage both years with a 32 ppg average in 1989. He also coached two junior teams within the club. While playing in Denmark, Vaerlose played against a touring Canada/Estonia Team which included several ex-Canadian Olympic players. He was asked to join the team and traveled to Estonia to play in a European tournament. Krueger also played with Wausau-based Loppnow’s, a team dominated by former Blugold players, which won three golds and a silver in the Badger State Games.