For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 17, 2019
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release
Minnesota State Picked in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
MSU South Division Favorite / UMD North Division Favorite
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Minnesota State was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2019-20 season. The Mavericks received 214 points, garnering seven first places votes to sit six points ahead of second place Augustana. The Vikings had 208 points and six first place votes. Minnesota Duluth was third with 196 points and the other three first place votes.
In the divisional rankings, Minnesota Duluth was the unanimous choice in the north, picking up all seven first place votes for 49 points. Northern State was second with 40 points and the other first place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own team). In the south, Minnesota State held the top spot with 47 points and five first place votes. Augustana was second with 44 points and the other three first place votes.
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 in the preseason poll.
The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game 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., February 29 to March 3 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 2019-20 men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 1 with Wayne State at the D2CCA Division II Tip Off Classic with the rest of the league starting up on Friday, November 8. Conference action beginning for the majority of teams on Saturday, November 30.
NSIC Players to Watch - 2019-20
Preseason Players of the Year in Italics (More info at link above)
| # |
South Division |
Pos |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
School |
Hometown |
High School |
| 23 |
Matt Cartwright |
G |
6’4 |
180 |
Jr. |
AUGIE |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
O’Gorman |
| 15 |
Jordan Coblin |
G |
6’1 |
185 |
Jr. |
CSP |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
Grandview Prep |
| 21 |
Cameron Kirksey |
F |
6’7 |
215 |
Sr. |
MSU |
Apple Valley, Minn. |
Apple Valley |
| 5 |
Teathloach Pal |
F |
6’9 |
210 |
Jr. |
USF |
Fridley, Minn. |
Fridley |
| 13 |
Kenny Byers |
G |
6’4 |
194 |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Olathe, Kan. |
Olathe North |
| 20 |
Joe Smoldt |
G |
6’0 |
175 |
Jr. |
UIU |
Reinbeck, Iowa |
Gadbrook-Reinbeck |
| 32 |
Jordan Janssen |
F |
6’7 |
215 |
So. |
WSC |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Lincoln East |
| 24 |
Kevion Taylor |
F |
6’5 |
215 |
Jr. |
WSU |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
Whitnall |
| # |
North Division |
Pos |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
School |
Hometown |
High School |
| 3 |
Ja Morgan |
PG |
6’1 |
180 |
Sr. |
BSU |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
Palo Verde |
| 0 |
Jaylan White |
G |
5’11 |
175 |
Sr. |
UMARY |
St. Charles, Iowa |
Interstate 35 |
| 0 |
Harrison Cleary |
PG |
6’1 |
180 |
Sr. |
UMC |
Oak Creek, Wis. |
Oak Creek |
| 10 |
Brandon Myer |
F |
6’8 |
210 |
Sr. |
UMD |
Superior, Wis. |
Superior |
| 1 |
Johnny Beeninga |
G |
6’1 |
175 |
Sr. |
MSUM |
Wayzata, Minn. |
Wayzata |
| 3 |
Kyle Beisch |
G |
6’3 |
185 |
Sr. |
MINOT |
Fort Dodge, Iowa |
Fort Dodge |
| 24 |
Parker Fox |
F |
6’8 |
210 |
So. |
NSU |
Mahtomedi Minn. |
Mahtomedi |
| 4 |
Trevon Marshall |
G |
6’0 |
160 |
Sr. |
SCSU |
Evanston, Ill. |
Evanston |
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