Burnsville, Minn. - Minnesota State was the unanimous choice in the 2013-14 NSIC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ overall and south division poll. The defending NSIC Overall, South Division and NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Champions received 225 points and all 15 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for own team). St. Cloud State, the coaches choice in the north, and Winona State tied for second in the poll with 191 points. Augustana was fourth with 181 and a first place vote. Southwest Minnesota State was fifth with 174 points.
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.
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 Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place Sat.-Tues., March 1-4 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. First round games will be played on the campus of the top eight seeds on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The 2013-14 men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 8 and NSIC action on the week of November 25.
|
Overall Preseason Coaches' Poll |
Points |
|
North Division |
Pts |
|
1. Minnesota State (15) |
225 |
|
1. St. Cloud State (7) |
49 |
|
2. St. Cloud State |
191 |
|
2. MSU Moorhead |
41 |
|
Winona State |
191 |
|
3. Minnesota Duluth |
30 |
|
4. Augustana (1) |
181 |
|
4. Minot State |
29 |
|
5. Southwest Minnesota State |
174 |
|
5. Northern State |
27 |
|
6. MSU Moorhead |
158 |
|
6. Bemidji State (1) |
25 |
|
7. Concordia- St. Paul |
124 |
|
7. U-Mary |
16 |
|
8. Minnesota Duluth |
115 |
|
8. Minnesota Crookston |
7 |
|
Northern State |
115 |
|
South Division |
Pts |
|
10. Sioux Falls |
98 |
|
1. Minnesota State (7) |
49 |
|
11. Minot State |
85 |
|
2. Winona State |
40 |
|
12. Bemidji State |
77 |
|
3. Augustana (1) |
36 |
|
13. Wayne State |
67 |
|
4. SMSU |
34 |
|
14. Upper Iowa |
61 |
|
5. Concordia-St. Paul |
21 |
|
15. University of Mary |
43 |
|
6. Sioux Falls |
20 |
|
16. Minnesota Crookston |
15 |
|
7. Upper Iowa |
12 |
|
first place votes in ( ) |
|
|
Wayne State |
12 |
Brett Ervin was selected by the league coaches as the 2013-14 NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year. Erwin started 25 of 26 games for UMD last season on his way to All-NSIC Second Team honors. He finished sixth in the NSIC in scoring with a 16.2 points per game average and his .466 shooting percentage from beyond the arc was tops in the NSIC. He was UMD’s leading scorer in nine games and tied his career-best scoring output with 27 points vs. Concordia-St. Paul on Jan. 18. He posted 20-plus points in ten games played and earned a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 boards in the Bulldogs’ 71-69 win against U-Mary on Jan. 5.
2013-14 NSIC Men’s Basketball Players to Watch
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE - #34 Daniel Jansen (F, 6-9, 230, So., Orange City, Iowa / MOC-Floyd Valley HS) earned NSIC Freshman of the Year honors in 2012-13 and returns as Augustana’s leading scorer from last season. Jansen averaged 11.1 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds during his freshman campaign. The 6-foot-9 forward started all 31 games last season, averaging 24.4 minutes per game and shot 51.4 percent from the field. Jansen led the team with 22 blocks, finished second with 25 steals while leading the team with three double-doubles. He scored a season-high 24 points at Northern State on Feb. 9 and posted his season-high of 12 rebounds against Upper Iowa in the NCAA Tournament on March 16. He scored 10 or more points in a game 21 times on the season and led the team in scoring four times.
BEMIDJI STATE - #3 Zach Noreen (F, 6-6, 250, Sr., Avon, Minn. / Albany HS) played in 30 and started 29 games as a junior. He recorded 9.7 points per game to sit fourth on the team in scoring. Noreen shot 47.6 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc and led the team in blocks with 25, while his 17 rejections in NSIC play ranked tied for 15th. He posted 3.7 rebounds per game and added 25 assists and 21 steals in 22.7 minutes per game. Noreen compiled double-digit scoring efforts in 15 contests, which included a career-high 19 points in the NSIC opener versus Minnesota Crookston (Dec. 1). He knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers against the Golden Eagles on a career-high eight attempts. Noreen showed up big in contests against nationally-ranked teams. He scored 18 points at No. 21 Winona State (March 2) in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament and hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 1:26 left in regulation and posted a career-high eight rebounds and a career-best three blocked shots against then-No. 22 St. Cloud State (Feb. 23).
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL - #25 Terez VanPelt (G, 6-1, 165, Jr., Osseo, Minn. / Osseo HS) finished last season ranked third in the league in scoring (19.3) and fourth in assists (4.74) in a breakout sophomore campaign. He was also fourth in the league in assist-turnover ratio (1.80) and 13th in free throw percentage (83.8%) while playing in 35.74 minutes per game, second most in the conference. His 521 points on the season ranked second in Concordia history, eight behind Brian Jamros’ 529 points in the ‘03-04 season. VanPelt got to the free throw line with consistency and made the most of it when he got there. He attempted the most free throws in conference play of anyone ranked in the top 15 in free throw percentage. His 150 free throws made out of 179 attempted both rank as Concordia single season records.
UNIVERSITY OF MARY - #20 Jalen Jaspers (G, 6-3, 200, Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle) enters his third season as a starter for the University of Mary. A key reserve on the Marauders 2011 NCAA tournament team as a freshman, Jaspers moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and averaged 8.5 points/game. Known for his defensive tenacity, the Minneapolis native improved his offensive game last season, averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting a scintillating 50.9 per cent from the floor. Jaspers also averaged a career-best 5.0 rebounds/game. He closed out the season with an impressive three games, averaging 21 points and shooting 63 per cent. Jaspers scored a career-high 23 points in the regular season finale against Northern State.
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON -#12 Ashton Harrell (Sr., G, 6-2 180, Houston, Texas) is coming off a successful junior season after transferring from Panola College. Harrell led the team in scoring as a junior with 10.0 points per game. He shot 31.5 percent from beyond the arc and 46.8 percent from the field and was second on the team with 28 steals. Harrell started out slow but came on strong as the season progressed as he was averaging just 3.7 points per game in the first three games of the season. He started to come on the scene with 15 points on the road against Bemidji State University Dec. 1 and 16 against St. Cloud State University Dec. 8. From Jan. 19 until the close of the season Feb. 27, Harrell averaged 12.9 points per game. He had a breakout performance with a career-high 29 points as the Golden Eagles snapped a winless season in the NSIC by upsetting No. 22 St. Cloud State University. Harrell was 8-of-9 from the field, 4-of-5 from three-point range and 9-of-13 from the charity stripe in the upset. Harrell will be one of two seniors on the UMC squad in 2013-14 along with Brandon Burns (Sr., F, 6-6 230, Baton Rouge, La.)
MINNESOTA DULUTH - # 44 Brett Ervin (C, 6-7, Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS) started 25 of 26 games for UMD last season on his way to All-NSIC Second Team honors. He finished sixth in the NSIC in scoring with a 16.2 points per game average and his .466 shooting percentage from beyond the arc was tops in the NSIC. He was UMD’s leading scorer in nine games and tied his career-best scoring output with 27 points vs. Concordia-St. Paul on Jan. 18. He posted 20-plus points in ten games played and earned a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 boards in the Bulldogs’ 71-69 win against U-Mary on Jan. 5.
MINNESOTA STATE - #50 Assem Marei (F, 6-9, 250, Jr., Cario, Egypt) who is entering his second season at MSU was named to the All-NSIC Second Team for his efforts during the 2012-13 season, Marei started all 33 games for the Mavericks where he averaged 13.6 points and a team leading 7.3 rebounds per game, to go along with a team-high seven double doubles. He shot 55.6% (169-of-304) from the field and also led the team in blocks with 54. Marei kept the awards rolling in during the 2013 postseason as he was named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team and the NCAA All-Central Region Team. During MSU’s seven postseason games, Marei averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and posted two double doubles.
MSU MOORHEAD - #2 Jordan Riewer (G, 6-2, Jr., Staples, Minn. / Staples-Motley HS) has started 50 of the 61 games he has played in the past two seasons, including all 30 a year ago. He is the team’s top returning scorer after averaging 11.3 points per contest a year ago. Riewer led the team with 34 steals and was second with 113 assists. Riewer was third on the team with 53 three-pointers as well and also averaged 3.2 rebounds per game.
MINOT STATE - #3 E.J. Williams (G, 6-0, 190, Sr., Raleigh, N.C. / Capitol Hill High School / Cape Fear Community College) made an immediate impact on the Minot State University men’s basketball program as he paced the Beavers with 308 points (11.4 average) in 2012-13. The junior college transfer from Raleigh, N.C., also led the Beavers in steals with 33 and was eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in free throw percentage, knocking down 85.2 of his attempts. He led the Beavers in scoring nine times, including a career-high 25 points in an 86-76 win against Bemidji State (2/15/13).
NORTHERN STATE - #2 Seth Bachand (F, 6-6, 215, Jr., Sturgis, S.D. / Sturgis Brown HS) is the leading returning scorer for the Wolves in 2013-14 as he was fifth on the team a season ago averaging just under six points per game. Bachand also averaged 3.7 boards a season ago in 20 games before an injury cut his season short. Seth also led the team with an outstanding 63 percent shooting from the floor (48-for-76). Bachand also averaged an assist and a block per game for the Wolves last season.
SIOUX FALLS - #11 Derek Brown (G, 6-0, 180, Sr., Clark, S.D. / Clark HS) made 17 starts as a junior and the Clark (S.D.) product has 38 career starts to his name. He averaged 10.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 per contest last season while scoring double-digits in nine of the Cougars first 13 games (15 overall). Brown drilled 58 three-pointers to rank sixth in the NSIC and his .443 clip from long range was the league’s fourth-best mark. He nailed a career-high six 3-pointers en route to a 20-point outing in USF’s win over U-Mary (2/9) and would connect on three or more 3-point field goals attempts on 10 separate occasions. Brown is a career 88.3% shooter from the free throw line and he enters his senior campaign with 662 career points (7.4 ppg average).
SMSU - #44 Nick Smith (C, 6-9, Sr., Johnston, Iowa / Johnston HS) was SMSU’s leading rebounding and second leading scorer a season ago. Smith started all 30 games last season averaging 12.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He led the NSIC in both field goal pct. and blocked shots, while ranking seventh in rebounds. He shot 59.2 percent from the field, ranking 23rd in the country and finished 34th in the country in blocked shots with 52. Smith - the program’s all-time blocked shots leader with 121 – led SMSU with six double-doubles in 2012-13. He begins this season having played in 86 career games scoring 851 points and grabbing 492 rebounds, while shooting 55 percent from the field, which ranks third in program history.
ST. CLOUD STATE - #20 Damarius Cruz (G, 6-0, 195, Sr., Plymouth, Minn. / Armstrong HS) started all 28 games in the Huskies backcourt last season and averaged 10.4 points a game. He shot 41.4 percent from three-point range and scored a career-high 25 points against the University of Sioux Falls on Jan. 12. Twice during the season he made six three-point baskets in a game, going 6-of-10 at Augustana College and 6-of-9 against Northern State. A team captain in 2013-14, Cruz is the Huskies top returning scorer. St. Cloud State posted a 20-8 overall record, finished the NSIC schedule with a 15-7 mark and won the NSIC North Division title.
UPPER IOWA - #1 Joey Woods (G, 6-3, 201, R-Sr., Naples, Fla. / Golden Gate HS) played in all 32 games and made 28 starts as a redshirt-junior. He led UIU with 2.7 assists per game and was fourth on the team in scoring with 7 points per game. He finished third on the squad with 3.5 rebounds per game and tied for first with a team-high 1.1 steals per game. He recorded a season-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Minot State on Jan. 11 and registered five double-digit scoring games He finished the year with 225 total points, 111 rebounds, 87 assists, 35 steals, 9 blocks and 61 turnovers.
WAYNE STATE - #25 Adol Aluong (G 6-1 190 Sr. Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt HS) appeared in 23 games and started 11 for WSC during junior season. He scored 116 points to average 5.0 points per game and while shooting 46.7 percent from the field (43-92) and shot 45.5 percent from long range (20-44). He tied a career high with 15 points at Southwest Minnesota State on 2/15/13 and set a new career high in three pointers with five (5-6) at Southwest Minnesota State on 2/15/13. Aluong also achieved new career highs in rebounds (6 vs. St. Cloud State on 2/1/13), steals (4 vs. St. Cloud State on 2/1/13) and assists with five at Sioux Falls on 2/16/13.
WINONA STATE - #30 Taylor Cameron (G, 6-5, 200, Sr., Oshkosh, Wis. / North HS) is entering his third season as Winona State’s starting point guard. Cameron has improved throughout his career, averaging 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while helping lead the Warriors to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Cameron was one of the main reasons for Winona State’s run to the fourth NCAA Central Region Championship in program history, scoring a career-high 25 points in a victory over Augustana and adding 15 points and eight boards against Minnesota State in the regional final. In four NCAA postseason games last season, Cameron averaged 16.8 points and 6.0 rebounds, earning regional all-tournament honors.