NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 15 with a first place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players.
NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year
#44 Clayton Vette
C, 6-9, 240, Sr.,
Waverly, Iowa
Waverly-Shell Rock HS
WInona State
Clayton Vette returns for his senior season after being named an All-American as a junior. Vette led the Warriors in scoring with 16.7 points per game and in rebounds (6.8 rpg). He earned All-American and all-region honors from Division II Bulletin and was an all-region pick of the NABC. He also earned All-NSIC first team honors. Vette scored in double figures in 22 games and had 12 games of at least 20 points. He recorded six double-doubles on the year, including a 27-point, 11-rebound performance against UC-Colorado Springs. He scored 28 points at Bemidji State and averaged 18.9 points per game during the final eight games of the season. He also became a member of the Winona State 1,000 point club as a junior.
NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year
#40 Alex Novak
C, 6-8, Sr.
Oxford, Iowa
Clear-Creek-Amana HS
MSU Moorhead
Alex Novak started 30 of 31 games a year ago in helping MSUM to its first-ever NCAA tournament as a Division II program. Novak averaged 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a junior last year and shot an impressive 63.6 percent from the field. He led the Dragons in rebounding 25 times and in scoring four times. He had nine double-doubles and had 22 games scoring in double figures, including a season-high 18 twice against Concordia-St. Paul (01/20/12) and against Bemidji State (03/03/12). He is just 182 points away from 1,000 for his career.
The NSIC Standings
The regular season champion will be based on the 22-game NSIC schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14) and teams in the other division once (8). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be awarded. The 16-team NSIC/Sanford Health Men’s Basketball Tournament will be play on Feb. 27 and March 2 at the higher seed. The semifinals and championship will be March 8-9 at Taylor Arena in Rochester, Minn.
The 2012-13 men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 9 and NSIC action on December 1.
2012-13 NSIC Men's Basketball Players to Watch
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE - #1 Cameron McCaffrey (G, 6-1, 170, Sr., Portland, Ore. / Century HS) started all 28 game last season and averaged 14.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. The senior averaged 29.5 minutes per contest and dished out 50 assists while picking up 20 steals. McCaffrey scored in double figures 22 times and reached 20 points five times, including a season-high 27 points against Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 8. A 6-foot-1 guard, McCaffrey hit 39 3-pointers and shot 42.0 percent from the field. McCaffrey is a two-time Academic All-NSIC honoree and a first team All-NSIC selection in 2011.
BEMIDJI STATE - ##1 Dermaine Crockrell (G, 6-1, 165, Sr., Mesa, Ariz. / Scottsdale CC) was named 2011-12 NSIC Newcomer of the Year after immediately making an impact for BSU in 2011-12 with his quickness, offensive production and defensive ability. He played in his first game Dec. 16 and scored 10 points, but followed that with 21 in his second game in the green and white. Overall he posted four 20-point performances (season-high 27 at Minnesota Duluth Feb. 4) and finished the conference season second on the team and 23rd in the NSIC in scoring with 12.7 points per game. He was named NSIC Player of the Week Feb. 6 after his performance at UMD. In conference play, he added 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. He shot 52.1 percent from the field to rank 15th in the league and posted a 44.0 percent clip from beyond the arc that ranked ninth in the conference. In 21 games played, he averaged 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per game. He shot 50.3 percent from the field and was a 44.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - #24 Isaiah Thomas (F, 6-6, 208, Sr., Fridley, Minn. / Fridley HS ) is Concordia’s top returning scorer (10.3) and rebounder (4.2) from a year ago and is the only returner to play and start all 26 games. He was the league’s fourth-ranked three-point shooter, burying 2.3 per game (60 total) while ranking 10th in percentage (.426). He’s a three-year contributor, already playing in 78 games and is a two-year starter averaging 25-plus minutes per game in back-to-back seasons. Last year, he notched a career-high 25 points in a win at Minnesota State, and has made five three-pointers in a game seven times in his career. He’s Concordia’s fourth-ranked three-point shooter with 126 career three’s made, while ranking fifth in career percentage (.395).
UNIVERSITY OF MARY - #12 Alex Dorr (F, 6-6, 205, Sr., Norwalk, Iowa / Norwalk HS) joined the Marauders from Iowa State as a sophomore and played a key role in U-Mary advancing to the 2011 NCAA tournament. Showing an ability to score inside and out, the 6-6 forward moved into the starting lineup last season and averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds. The Norwalk, Iowa, native shot an impressive 54.2 per cent from the field and a stellar 49.3 per cent behind the arc. He was third in the NSIC in three-point shooting percentage and ninth in field goal percentage.
MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON -#4 Almir Krdzalic (G, 5-11, 160, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D. / Lincoln HS) enters the 2012-13 season as one of four seniors for Minnesota, Crookston. He led all returnees in scoring last season averaging 5.2 points and led the team with 98 assists. Krdzalic started all 26 games for Golden Eagles last season and looks poised to be their man at the point guard position during the 2012-13 campaign. He was 36-of-50 from charity stripe for 72.0 percent. Krdzalic tallied double-figure scoring on five occasions. His season-high 17 points against Mayville State Dec. 7. He dished out a season-high 10 assists versus Southwest Minnesota State Jan. 2.
MINNESOTA DULUTH - #22 Jake Hottenstine (G, 6-3, 205, Sr., Green Bay, Wis. / Bay Port HS) returns as one of the go-to options for UMD after logging more minutes than any other Bulldog a year ago (and starting all 27 games). A second team All-NSIC pick as a junior, Hottenstine put together a solid campaign in which he finished the season as UMD’s leading rebounder (6.2 boards per game) and second leading scorer (16 points per game). A highly athletic and versatile talent, Hottenstine shot over 50 percent from the field (148 for 294) and over 40 percent from downtown as the Bulldogs’ most reliable shooter. Hottenstine also took care of the ball in his third collegiate go-around, putting together an assist-to-turnover ratio just shy of 1:1 for the year. He could see plenty of time at both the shooting guard and off guard positions under head coach Matt Bowen, who is in his first season at the helm for UMD.
MINNESOTA STATE - #42 Connor O’Brien (F, 6-7, 200, Jr., New Prague, Minn. / New Prague HS) led the Mavericks in rebounding last season (8.0) and was third on the squad in scoring (11.8). His eight rebounds a game was the second-best rebounding effort in the league a year ago. The owner of seven double-doubles in 2011-12 – and eight in his career – O’Brien shot 46.9 percent from the floor and 72.3 percent from the free throw line while leading MSU in blocks with 45.
During his time at MSU, O’Brien has played in 58 games, earning 48 starts.
MSU MOORHEAD - #40 Alex Novak (F, 6-9, Sr., Oxford, Iowa / Clear-Creek-Amana HS) started 30 of 31 games a year ago in helping MSUM to its first-ever NCAA tournament as a Division II program. Novak averaged 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a junior last year and shot an impressive 63.6 percent from the field. He led the Dragons in rebounding 25 times and in scoring four times. He had nine double-doubles and had 22 games scoring in double figures, including a season-high 18 twice against Concordia-St. Paul (01/20/12) and against Bemidji State (03/03/12). He is just 182 points away from 1,000 for his career.
MINOT STATE - #24 Josh Johnson (F, 6-5, 208, Sr., Lufkin, Texas / Lufkin HS) was a bright spot for the 2011-12 Minot State men’s basketball program during a tough NCAA Division II Provisional season as he led the Beavers in scoring (15.8 ppg.), steals (31) and blocked shots (23). The junior college transfer from Lufkin, Texas, was the team’s leader in scoring in 16 contests, scoring a career high 29 points against Black Hill State (2/10). Johnson was second on the team in rebounds per game (6.6) and averaged 1.6 assist per game as well. He finished with five double-doubles during the season, including a 21-point, 15-rebound game against University of Northern British Columbia (12/29).
NORTHERN STATE - #35 Dustin Tetzlaff (F, 6-7, 210, Sr., Watertown, S.D. / Watertown HS / South Dakota) returns for his senior season in 2012-13 after leading the Wolves last season. Tetzlaff averaged 14.5 points (12th in the NSIC) and 6.8 rebounds (5th in the NSIC) per game for the Wolves, who finished 13-13 overall and 9-13 in conference play. He also led the league in offensive rebounds with 3.15 of his 6.8 per game coming on the offensive end of the court. Tetzlaff is one of three seniors on the NSU squad.
SIOUX FALLS - #34 David Maxwell (F, 6-5, 215, Sr., Parkston, S.D. / Parkston HS) returns for his senior season after averaging 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 25 starts last season. Following a rocky start, Maxwell heated up in the final five games where he shot an impressive 61% from the field and 67% from beyond the arc to average 13.2 points per game. He truly saved the best for last, charting a season-high 16 points, eight rebounds, and one steal against Lindenwood in the championship game of the NCAA Transitional Tournament hosted by Black Hills State. Maxwell’s performance earned all-tourney honors. He finished 2011 ranked second on the team in assists, free throws made and steals.
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE - #13 Jordan Miller (G, 6-5, 197, Sr., Mitchell, S.D. / Mitchell HS) earned first team All-NSIC honors a season ago, starting all 30 games and averaging a team-high 14.2 points per game and connecting on a team-high 58 3-point field goals. Miller shot 81.9 percent from the free throw line and dished out 84 assists to finish second on the team. He led the squad in scoring in 13 games, assists 14 times and rebounds in six different games. Miller begins the season ranking 11th in school history with 1,106 career points.
ST. CLOUD STATE - #14 Shaun Jensen (G, 6-0, 185, Sr., Spring Lake Park, Minn. / Spring Lake Park HS) is St. Cloud State’s top scorer from last season and a 2012 All-NSIC First Team selection. Jensen averaged 13.8 points per game and also led the team in assists with 142. He was a 45.4 percent field goal shooter. He was named to the 20120 NABC Central Region All-District Second team. Jensen scored a career high 24 points against Winona State on Feb. 3, 2012 and dished out his career high eight assists in the same game. He ranked second in the NSIC in assists. Jensen led the Huskies to a 20-9 overall record that included a 12-4 home mark. SCSU was 15-7 in the NSIC, good for third place and advanced to the NCAA Division II Central Region tournament. At the regional tournament the Huskies defeated Bemidji State in first round play before falling to Metro State University.
UPPER IOWA - #44 Tucker Wentzien (C, 6-8, 240, Jr., Solon, Iowa / Solon HS) returns to Upper Iowa for his senior season after earning All-NSIC Second Team honors last year. Wentzien has started 65 of the 77 games he has played for Upper Iowa in his first three years. The Solon, Iowa native averaged 13.7 points thanks to 50.3% shooting from the field and 38.5 from behind the three point line as a junior. His 7.3 rebounds per game were third most among NSIC individuals. Wentzien has scored 805 points and collected 466 rebounds in his first three seasons as a peacock. The Solon, Iowa native scored a career-high 26 points at Bemidji State University on Feb. 24 and snared a career-high 14 rebounds at Minnesota State University Moorhead on Jan. 13. Wentzien scored in double figures 19 times topping 20 points three times; he also registered four double-doubles.
WAYNE STATE - #5 Amry Shelby (G, 5-11, 170, Sr., Marion, Iowa / Marion HS) has led Wayne State in scoring each of the last three seasons. As a junior in 2011-12, Shelby collected First Team All-NSIC honors after averaging 15.4 points per game to go with 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He had nine games of 20 or more points and scored in double digits in 21 of 27 games last season, shooting 41% from the field and 81% at the free throw line. As a sophomore, Shelby was Second-Team All NSIC averaging 13.9 points per contest and averaged 13.8 points per game as a freshman. Shelby enters his senior season ranked 17th on the all-time WSC scoring list with 1,188 points.
WINONA STATE - #44 Clayton Vette (C, 6-9, 240, Sr., Waverly, Iowa / Shell Rock-Waverly HS) returns for his senior season after being named an All-American as a junior. Vette led the Warriors in scoring with 16.7 points per game and in rebounds (6.8 rpg). He earned All-American and all-region honors from Division II Bulletin and was an all-region pick of the NABC. He also earned All-NSIC first team honors. Vette scored in double figures in 22 games and had 12 games of at least 20 points. He recorded six double-doubles on the year, including a 27-point, 11-rebound performance against UC-Colorado Springs. He scored 28 points at Bemidji State and averaged 18.9 points per game during the final eight games of the season. He also became a member of the Winona State 1,000 point club as a junior.
#NSIC#