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By David Boyce  |  Northwest at Central Missouri  |  Thursday, January 12, 2017  |  Multipurpose Building  |  Warrensburg, Mo.  |  5:30/7:30 p.m.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - One of the hardest things for athletes to endure is an injury that prevents participation in a sport they have spent hours training for. Northwest Missouri State junior guard Xavier Kurth knows this well.
 
In each of his first two seasons with the Bearcats, Kurth had his season curtailed because of an injury. Of course, it was frustrating for him. He concluded a stellar career at St. Joseph Lafayette by earning first-team all-conference, all-district and all-city honors.
 
In Kurth's first season at Northwest, he saw action in 11 games. He played in 15 last season.
 
"It is indescribable," Kurth said of the injuries. "Basketball is a game I have always loved. To finally get healthy and play a full season so far is incredible."
 
Because of an injury to senior Anthony Woods, Kurth has started the last three games and scored in double figures in each of them, including a 15-point, 13-rebound performance against Missouri Southern a week ago.
 
"It has been huge, and he brings a different dynamic than Anthony can bring," Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. "He goes and gets offensive rebounds. Obviously, he gets easy buckets off those rebounds. He has a little more length defensively. He can do some things Anthony can't, but we want Anthony back. He adds another point guard, another driver. Xavier has filled the void and then some."
 
Woods is aching to get back and would love to see some action Thursday night when No. 1-ranked Northwest, 14-0 overall and 6-0 in the MIAA, takes on Central Missouri, 9-4 and 3-2, at the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
"It has been unfortunate that Woods has been out, but it has really been an opportunity for us to get better as a team to add another guy who can contribute," said junior forward Brett Dougherty.
 
In some aspects, Kurth does some of the same things that Woods is able to do, liking driving through defenses for layups. Kurth has watched Woods and learned from him.
 
"After games, I sometimes ask, 'how are you getting this shot?' He has given me some pointers and I have accepted that," Kurth said.
 
"Woods and I are pretty much the same. We are drivers, defenders and hustle guys. We do whatever we can to bring energy to the team."
 
The true beauty of the Bearcats over the last 5 years is the culture of unselfishness. The players care about winning more than personal statistics.
 
"We don't care who gets the credit and who is successful," Dougherty said. "It starts with the type of guys we have on the team and the type of guys coach Mac recruited. He preaches that all the time."
 
Added Kurth, "In this culture, it is almost like a big puzzle. Everybody brings something new to create this bigger piece. Everybody has their strength and as long as everybody plays to their strength, and not outside what you are able to do, we are pretty successful."
 
It took a while for Kurth to figure out how he fit in the puzzle. He wanted to do his part to help the Bearcats. He started the first three games of the season when junior Chris-Ebou Ndow was slowed down by a very bad cold.
 
After those games, Kurth went through an eight-game span in which he wasn't playing up to the level he wanted to. He was searching for his role on the team.
 
"I thought I found it and then I got off track," Kurth said. "Over the break, I met up with my high school coach, coach Chris Neff. He said, 'Xavier, you know how to play basketball. Play to your strength and do what you do best.'
 
"I asked coach Mac what I need to do to get on the floor and he told me the same thing. I really focused on doing the best I can do."
 
McCollum simply wanted Kurth to be himself.
 
"He started to figure out it is ok to be Xavier," McCollum said. "He doesn't have to be Zach Schneider or Justin Pitts and other types of players. It is ok to be a blue-collar guy. That is what winners do. Those are the guys who win you games. He has embraced that and you can see the result of that now."
 
The Bearcats know they need everybody if they want to win Thursday at Central Missouri. For one, the Mules are seeking a bit of revenge after losing 76-57 at Northwest on Dec. 11.
 
"I think they are 20 points better at home," McCollum said. "They are 5-0 there. It will be a fun atmosphere. They will be ready and so will we."
 
Kurth and Dougherty expect a tough environment to play in.
 
"Central is not an easy place to play," Dougherty said. "They will be ready to go after last game. They expect us to play the same way we did before. We have gotten better and we want to show that."
 
One difference Kurth sees from this year's team and the previous two seasons is hunger. In the previous two seasons, Northwest lost a few games early on before hitting their stride in January.
 
The Bearcats started this season playing well and have improved from there.
 
"I think this year, more than any other years, we are so hungry," Kurth said. "Last year was the third straight Sweet 16 appearance. It is irritating to get there and so close _ two possessions, a rebound, a steal _ to where we move on. Augustana ended our season last year. I think the hunger is there to prove we are better than what we were in the past."