2020-21 NSIC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

12/17/2020 11:00:00 AM

Augustana & Northern State Tabbed Preseason Favorites

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Northern State was the unanimous choice in the north, while Augustana was selected in the south division of the 2020-21 NSIC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. The NSIC schedule will be 16-games played over 8 weeks with teams playing the same opponent at one site on back-to-back days. The season will start with two non-conference games against one NSIC out-of-division opponent. The conference schedule will then consist of 14 games with teams playing each member of its division twice. For this season, the NSIC will only crown a North Division and South Division Champion.

In the preseason voting Northern State picked up all seven first place votes for 49 points. MSU Moorhead was second with 43 points and the other first place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own team). In the south, Augustana amassed 46 points and four first place votes to edge second place Sioux Falls, which had 41 points and three first place votes. Winona State was third with 36 points and the other first place vote.

NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 7 with a first place vote receiving 7 points, second place 6, third place 5, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.

Northern State and Winona State will boast preseason players of the year as Parker Fox was chosen in the north and Kevion Taylor in the south.

The NSIC / Sanford Health Men’s & Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place Thursday-Sunday, February 25-28 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The top for teams from each division will make up the eight-team field for the 2021 tournament.

#24 Parker Fox (F, 6-8, 210, Jr., Mahtomedi, Minn. / Mahtomedi HS) - Northern State University

2019-20 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and first team all-conference member
Averaged 19.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, shooting 60.5% from the floor
NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament MVP
Named to the D2CCA and NABC All-Region teams

Last season Parker proved himself to be one of the most electrifying and productive players in the league. He scored, rebounded and blocked shots at a high level all year. He is a terrific finisher around the hoop, totaling 87 dunks on the season. Parker’s presence on the floor has an effect on every aspect of the game. Parker’s improvement from year one to year two was incredible. He put in a lot of hard work on his own over the summer and enters the season extremely hungry for more success in year three.

Northern State Head Coach Saul Phillips

#24 Kevion Taylor (F, 6-5, 215, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis. / Whitnall HS) - Winona State University

Was a NSIC First Team All-Conference selection last season
Hit a program-record 109 three-pointers, good for a .396% from behind the arc
Set a new NSIC mark for three-pointers made in a season at 85
Was 2nd on the team in total points with 576
Has 1,356 career points over his first three seasons

Kevion is someone that has improved his game each of his first three years in our program. He had a tremendous junior season: averaging 21 ppg, 8 rpg, 42% from deep, led the NSIC in 3pt FGM/gm & was named All-NSIC First Team. Kevion wants to be in the gym all the time so his work ethic has allowed him to continue to get better. We will need him to continue to be a productive scorer for us & he knows teams will game plan to limit his effectiveness. We have talked to him about using the dribble to create opportunities to score & getting to the free throw line at a much higher clip to help his game & our team improve.

Winona State Head Coach Todd Eisner

NSIC Team Previews & Players to Watch

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

19-11, 13-9 NSIC - 6th Overall, 4th South

The Augustana Vikings return the entire starting five from 2019-20, looking to build off the momentum built by winning six of the final seven games of an injury-plagued season. The Vikings have earned a preseason national ranking of No. 17 by the NABC and were tabbed No. 13 by Basketball Times. Returning is First Team All-NSIC selection Tyler Riemersma after averaging a year-long double-double of 12.5 points and 10.4 rebounds. He set an NSIC record with 239 rebounds in the 22 conference games played. Joining him is 2018-19 Second Team All-NSIC selection Matt Cartwright who averaged a team-best 13.8 points per game before an injury derailed his season after nine games.

Along with Riemersma and Cartwright, Augustana also returns double-figure scorers in Matt Todd (12.5) and Dylan LeBrun (12.1). In all, Augustana returns 88 percent of its points scored from last season. Among the other returners, the Vikings have everyone back who scored at least 7.5 points per game, including Michael Schaefer (8.7), Adam Dykman (8.6) and Isaac Fink (7.5). The Vikings' lone newcomer is Akoi Akoi. The Sioux Falls native was a First Team All-State selection at O’Gorman High School after averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game. Augustana opens the 2021 campaign with a pair of contests at MSU Moorhead.

We have approximately 80 percent of last year’s offense back, including all five starters. There is excellent chemistry on our team, with the most upper-class players we have had in three years. I like the resiliency they have shown during this pandemic, and I know they are very excited about the upcoming season.

Head Coach Tom Billeter

#25 Tyler Riemersma (F, 6-8, 215, Sr., Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson HS) - Augustana University

Only player in NSIC to average a double-double in 2019-20 with 12.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game
Set an NSIC single-season record with 239 rebounds in a conference season and secured the second-most rebounds in a single game in Augustana history with 29 last season
Is part of a returning core for Augustana that returns the entire starting lineup from last season

Tyler is a First Team All-NSIC player and also a CoSIDA Academic All-American. He is relentless on the glass and is a very intelligent player who excels both on the court and in the classroom. He set the NSIC single season record for rebounds in a conference season while finishing eighth in the country for total rebounds. He finished third in the country with a little over four offensive rebounds per game.

Head Coach Tom Billeter

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

14-13, 11-11 NSIC - t-9th Overall -t- 4th North

Bemidji State comes into the 2020-21 season with hopes on climbing the NSIC North Division standings after finishing fourth last season. Head Coach Mike Boschee enters his ninth season with the Beavers and returns three starters, including all-conference seniors Derek Thompson and Nick Wagner. Thompson, an All-NSIC Second Team selection in 2019-20, averaged 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. Wagner, an All-NSIC Honorable Mention selection and the Beavers’ 2020-21 Player to Watch, set the BSU single-season record with 80 three-point field goals and scored at least 20 points six times, including at least 30 points twice. He was near the top of the NSIC in three-point shooting, ranking second in 3-point field goal percentage and third in 3-point field goals per game.

Last season, BSU was one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation, ranking 14th nationally and first in the NSIC shooting 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. Overall, the Beavers ranked among the top four in the conference in 3-point field goals per game (2nd), free throw percentage (3rd), assists per game (4th), defensive rebounds per game (4th), scoring margin (4th) and scoring offense (4th).

The Beavers squad features five newcomers, including three transfers and two freshmen.

Boschee helped the Beavers to six wins over the final seven games of the 2019-20 season, including three road victories and an 83-76 win over (RV) University of Minnesota Duluth, the last of which was his 100th career victory at BSU.

I really like the chemistry and competitive spirit on this team. We have some guys that really like to get after it on the defensive end that really helps the whole team in many ways. We should play an unselfish brand of basketball that really moves the ball well offensively.

Head Coach Mike Boschee

#30 Nick Wagner (G, 6-3, 190, Sr., Galesville, Wis. / Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau HS) - Bemidji State University

Led BSU with 14.7 points per game in 2019-20
Ranked second in the NSIC in 3FG percentage, third in 3FGs per game and fourth in total 3FGs made
Set BSU single-season record with 80 3-pointers
Scored at least 30 points twice and 20 points six times

Nick will be someone we lean on quite a bit offensively this year. He can score in a variety of ways by taking it to the hoop or shooting the three. He has good size and strength that should help him score efficiently.

Head Coach Mike Boschee

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

9-18, 7-15 NSIC, t-11th Overall - t-6th South

The 2020-21 season marks a new era for Concordia-St. Paul men’s basketball as Matt Fletcher was named the 10th head coach in the program’s history this past summer. Fletcher joins the Golden Bears after a highly successful four-year run as the head coach at Bethany Lutheran. During his four years there, Fletcher guided the Vikings to their first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament while also earning UMAC Coach of the Year honors. Fletcher inherits a roster that features five different players that started at least 10 games and six that averaged at least 17.0 minutes per game last season, including the team’s top two leading scorers. Concordia’s player to watch, senior Jordan Coblin, is coming off a massive first season on campus as the transfer ranked 11th in the league in scoring (16.4) and third in the league in assists (4.9) while finishing second on the squad with 5.1 rebounds per game. The Boca Raton, Fla. native also ranked 13th in the NSIC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.24) and 16th in field goal percentage (46.0%). Concordia’s other key returners include seniors Lee Higgins, Jacob Shields and Carlos Barela in addition to junior Noah Kannegiesser and sophomore George Scharlau. Higgins joined Coblin in double figures last year with 12.6 points on an efficient 58.0% from the floor and 51.4% from beyond the arc. Fletcher added to the mix with a pair of Division I transfers from South Dakota in Matt Johns and Caden Hoffman to go along with four freshmen.

I think we have some pieces to really compete at a high level, from the start. We have a core group of talented players and then a couple additions that will help us right away. We will need to all be on the same page and clicking on all cylinders to compete in this crazy tough league and South division. I think we have an extremely talented group of Seniors in Jordan Coblin, Carlos Barela, Lee Higgins, and Jacob Shields. It will be fun to watch them take a big step in this league and knowing what it will take to win games. I am expecting a big step in the right direction for Golden Bear Basketball.

Head Coach Matt Fletcher

#15 Jordan Coblin (PG, 6-1, 180, Sr., Boca Raton, Fla. / Grandview Prep) - Concordia University, St. Paul

Ranked third in the NSIC with 4.9 assists per game and 11th with 16.4 points per game in 33.3 minutes per night
His 1.24 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked 13th in the league while his 46.0% field goal percentage ranked 16th
Finished second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game and 24 steals while his 38 made threes led the team

Jordan is a special talent. His ability to shoot, attack the rim, and pass the ball makes him unique. He is a physical guard that has the ball on a string and does a really good job of getting his teammates open looks. He comes in as often as possible to learn the new system, study film, and continue to improve. I am excited to watch Jordan compete in the NSIC this year, learning from last year and how ready he will need to be, night in and night out.

Head Coach Matt Fletcher

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

12-17, 7-15 NSIC - t-11th - t-6th North

All-Northern Sun center Matthew Kreklow headlines an experienced University of Mary squad that returns nine of the Marauders top 11 scorers from last season. Kreklow, UMary's all-time and single-season blocked shots leader, keyed a defensive effort that allowed just 70.7 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the Northern Sun. A relentless force on both ends of the court, Kreklow averaged 14.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 bocks/game while shooting 56.1 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent at the free throw line. He is 24 points shy of 1,000 for his career and ranks 8th all-time at UMary in rebounds. Senior forward Wyatt Carr was third on the Marauders in scoring at 8.1 ppg. Deadly beyond the arc, Carr hit a team-high 43 treys while shooting 50.6% on 3s. Sophomore guard Josh Sipes averaged 6.6 ppg in his first collegiate season and dropped 42 treys. Junior guard Trever Kaiser gave the Marauders a scoring jolt off the bench, averaging 7.2 ppg. Senior guard Glenn Jordan moved into the starting rotation halfway through last season and averaged 5.3 ppg. Other returners for the Marauders include forwards Kade Amundson, Justin Engg, Lucas Mayer and Regan Tollefson. Newcomer Davids Atelbauers, a transfer from NCAA Division I North Dakota and a member of the Latvia U20/21 National Team, and Yuba Community College transfer Kam Warrens also will play key roles for UMary.

With all the challenges that the pandemic has brought we are very fortunate to have 12 returning players from last year. Our experience and the fact that we have 8 upperclassmen hopefully will give us an advantage with the short season.

Head Coach Joe Kittell

#44 Matthew Kreklow (F, 6-9, 220, Sr., Maple Plain, Minn. / Delano HS) - University of Mary

2019-20 All-NSIC Second Team selection
Averaged 14.4 points (17th in NSIC), 8.1 rebounds (7th) and 2.0 blocks (3rd) per game while shooting 56.1% from the floor (4th) and 80.6% at the line (11th)
Nationally he was 17th in blocks and 47th in field goal percentage
All-Time block leader in UMary school history with 131 and ranks 8th in rebounds (508) and 21st in points (976)

Matt is an amazing leader on and off the floor. He is an impressive student-athlete who is already working on his MBA degree. He has turned into one of the top players in the NSIC and one of the top players in UMary Basketball History. He is coming off of a All-NSIC Second Team season and is currently first in Marauders Basketball history in block shots.

Head Coach Joe Kittell

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

11-18, 7-15 NSIC - t-11th - t-7th North

UMN Crookston has won 28 games in the last two years, a record for the program during the NCAA Division II era. A major talking point is the graduation of All-American and the NSIC's All-Time Leading Scorer Harrison Cleary. UMN Crookston brought in 12 newcomers to help in the replacement of Cleary and his fellow seniors. UMN Crookston returns five players from their 2019-20 roster with Brian Sitzmann (R-Jr., G, Savage, Minn.), Ibu Jassey-Demba (Sr., F, Birmingham, England), Quintin Winterfeldt (So., G/F, Waupun, Wis.), Tyrese Shines (So., G, LaGrange, Ill.), and Zach Westphal (R-So., G, West Fargo, N.D.). Sitzmann leads the way after starting 27 games last season. He averaged 7.4 points per game and shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Shines tallied 6.6 points per game, while Jassey-Demba notched 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, including a game-winning shot on the road at rival Minnesota State University Moorhead. Minnesota Crookston is slated to open up at home Jan. 2 and 3 against Concordia University-St. Paul in a pair of non-conference tilts.

There is a renewed energy with this group. We have five key returners and 12 new players. We do not have an elite player, but we have more scoring options and will have much more balance this year than we've had in years past. We also have more depth than we've had and will be able to play a deeper bench.

Head Coach Daniel Weisse

#14 Brian Sitzmann (G, 6-4, 192, R-Jr., Savage, Minn. / Prior Lake HS) - University of Minnesota Crookston

Started 27 games as a red-shirt sophomore for the Golden Eagles
Averaged 7.4 points per game in 2019-20
Shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc
Season-high 20 points against Concordia-St. Paul and Sioux Falls

Brian is a year older and stronger. We are looking for him to get more aggressive offensively and is one of our toughest perimeter defenders.

Head Coach Daniel Weisse

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

22-9, 15-7 NSIC, t-3rd - 2nd North

The University of Minnesota Duluth men’s basketball team looks to improve on last season. The Bulldogs finished in 2nd place last season in the North Division of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. UMD finished the year with a 15-7 record against NSIC opponents, and a 22-9 record overall. UMD was a very disciplined team last season, committing 329 fouls on the year, which was 7th lowest in the NSIC and 26th across all of DII. While remaining disciplined, the Bulldogs made their chances count from the free throw line. Their 78.9% from the charity stripe was second in the NSIC and 15th in all DII. UMD is looking to keep the pedal to the metal in the scoring front, finishing last season with the top points per game average (82.8). Redshirt sophomore Drew Blair is the player to watch for the Bulldogs this year. He finished last season as UMD’s second top scorer and the NSIC’s 13th best (15.9). He was one of the best shooters in the NSIC last season. He shot 49.0% (third best on UMD, 12th in the NSIC) and was tops on the Bulldogs from the charity stripe at 87.5% (third in the NSIC).

I'm excited about the youth movement in our program. We will be the youngest team in the NSIC this year, but our young talent has a chance to compete in the league from day one. Their hunger to compete daily has been phenomenal. We are longer & more athletic 1-5 which should help us on the defensive side of the floor and we hope to be very balanced on the offensive end. I'm looking forward to this year and the future of this team staying together for the next 4+ years.

Head Coach Justin Wieck

#22 Drew Blair (G, 6-6, 190, So., Stevens Point, Wis. / Stevens Point Area HS) - University of Minnesota Duluth

All-NSIC Second Team
Started 30 of 31 games in his freshman campaign
Averated 15.9 points a game, good for second with UMD and 13th in the NSIC
Was second on the team with 1.2 steals per game, good for ninth in the NSIC

Drew is coming off a fantastic freshman season for the Bulldogs. He provided an immediate scoring impact for our program. Drew is a crafty, smart & highly skilled guard who can score in multiple ways. His ability to stretch the defense beyond the 3pt line is a huge key for our team. As he continues to grow and mature physically, Drew will be a leading force for our program over the next 4 years

Head Coach Justin Wieck

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

17-15, 12-10 NSIC - 8th Overall - 5th South

Minnesota State returns six letterwinners, including two starters after finishing last season with a 17-15 record after advancing to the finals of the NSIC Tournament. MSU will see the return of junior center Kelby Kramer and sophomore forward Ryland Holt. Kramer started in all 32 games last season as he averaged 9.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Kramer also led the team in blocks with 79 and shot a team-best 61.6% from the field. Holt played in 31 games last season including 23 starts and finished second on the team in scoring and rebounds with 14.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Holt also finished second on the team in steals with 22 as he shot 56.5% from the field and 40.0% from three point range. Senior guard Jamal Nixon and sophomore guards Malik Willingham and Landon Wolfe also return after playing in at least 27 games last season. Against Concordia-St. Paul last season, Willingham notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while also passing out seven assists. Wolfe tallied a season-best 19 points against the Golden Bears also, while Nixon hauled in a season-high 10 rebounds against Washburn. Sophomore guard Quincy Anderson also returns after sitting out last season due to injury. As a freshman during the 2018-19 season, he tallied one double-double and a season-high 14 points against Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. MSU will welcome in six newcomers and freshman guard Noah Hart who redshirted last season.

I am excited about this team because we have such versatility on both sides of the ball. Plus, this season we are deeper and will rely on multiple players on different nights.

Head Coach Matt Margenthaler

#33 Kelby Kramer (C, 6-10, 235, Jr, Rock Springs, Mont. / Rock Springs HS) - Minnesota State University, Mankato

Totaled 79 blocks last season, the second-most in a season in team history
Led the Mavericks in rebounds with 293 (9.2 rpg)
Led the team in shooting percentage as he shot 61.6% from the field
Tallied seven double-doubles last season
Was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week twice and the NSIC Newcomer of the Year last season

Kelby was selected newcomer of the season last year. He has made great strides on both sides of the ball and has come in more confident. I feel that Kelby can and will be one of the best bigs in this league and in the nation before it's over.

Head Coach Matt Margenthaler

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

19-12, 13-9 NSIC - t-6th Overall - 3rd North

The MSUM men return three starters from last year’s 19-12 team that advanced to the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament semifinals, led by junior guard Gavin Baumgartner, who was first-team All-NSIC in 2019-20. Baumgartner led the Dragons in scoring (17.2 points per game) and steals (30) while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. Also returning is junior guard Bryce Irsfeld, who averaged 11.6 points per game, which was second on the team. He shot 88.2 percent from the foul line. Sophomore forward Dane Zimmer is back; he led the Dragons with a 65.5 percent field-goal percentage a year ago. He averaged 8.3 points per game. MSUM returns nine letterwinners overall. MSUM is entering its 11th season under the direction of Head Coach Chad Walthall, who has averaged 21 wins per season in his tenure as Dragon mentor.

I think we have a good mix of experience at every position. Most of the time this league needs some maturity to be consistent enough to do well through the long haul. Obviously, with the shortened season it may not be true this year however. Regardless, there will be plenty of challenges in the handling of the pandemic issues and how everyone responds to it.

Head Coach Chad Walthall

#12 Gavin Baumgartner (G, 6-4, 185, Jr., Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata HS) - Minnesota State University Moorhead

All-NSIC First Team selection in 2019-20
Led team in scoring at 17.4 points per game
Shot 50.5 percent from the field
Started 62 games past two seasons

Gavin took a big step a year ago in his development as a scorer as well as maturing into a leadership roll for us. He did not naturally need to accept the role of our primary scorer last season but his willingness to take on that added responsibility was a real positive for our team. He has always been a complete player and will have, obviously, a big impact on whatever success we have this season.

Head Coach Chad Walthall

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

10-19, 4-18 NSIC - 16th Overall - 8th North

The Minot State men’s basketball team returns four seniors including senior point guard and leader Max Cody. Cody is on the verge of surpassing the 1,000-point mark during his dynamic career.

Cody is a three-year starter at point guard and has been in the top-30 in Division II in assists over the past two seasons along with being among the career-leaders in that category at MSU. He has averaged 14 points per game over the last two seasons and possesses great confidence, knowledge, and understanding of what the Beavers are trying to accomplish this season. His leadership skills and competitive spirit will help this team succeed in 2021.

Senior Kody Dwyer brings an inside presence and poise to the post for the Beavers. Dwyer is looking for a breakout season after averaging 11.0 points per game in 2019-20. Dwyer led the team with 149 total rebounds over 29 games played a season ago. Last year, the Zimmerman, Minnesota product, played a career-high 699 minutes averaging 24.1 minutes per game.

Coach Murken added a pair of key transfers during the last 2019-20 recruiting cycle; including junior forward Cam’ron Dunfee from Dawson Community College where he averaged just shy of 11.0 points per game during his second season. Dunfee is a versatile guard/forward that can rebound and at 6-3 is a matchup nightmare with an athletic frame and propensity to push the pace.

Steven Ross Jr. is another addition via-transfer as the junior guard from Milwaukee Area Technical College showed off his scoring ability averaging 14.4 points per game and recording 416 total points over 29 games last year. Ross Jr. led the Stormers to a 31-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA DII National Poll and will bring high expectations to Minot for this coming season.

The Beavers return two of their regular starting-five from a season ago but have key contributors from last season’s 10-win campaign in Stephane Manzi, Sam Ohlrich, and Kobe Jackson returning to see expanded roles in 2020-2021.

We also have a great culture of work in our program. We have four seniors in our program that set the tone that you win by being consistent and showing up every day refusing to settle for less than your best. I’m very proud of what the young men in our program stand for and who they are as people. We have a lot more depth this season than we have had recently. I love the competition that we have at every position. It gives us more play makers, more athleticism and should lead to a more balanced attack on offense and on defense.

Head Coach Matthew Murken

#5 Max Cody (G, 6-1, 200, Sr., Melbourne, Australia / Haileybury) - Minot State University

Averaged 15.1 points per game and 4.7 rebounds
Scored season-high 27 points on 9-of-18 from the field and 6-of-11 from three-point range while collecting five rebounds on Jan. 11
Played season-high 44 minutes on Dec. 21 at University of Mary
Made season-high six three-pointers on Jan. 11 against Minnesota Duluth
Grabbed season-high nine rebounds at St. Cloud (12/7)
Dished out season-high nine assists against Sioux Falls (1/18)
Scored 826 career-points prior to the start of his senior season.

Max is a 5th year senior and a 3rd year starter at point guard for us. He’s been in the top 30 in NCAA D2 in assists the past two seasons and is among the career leaders at Minot State. Max has also averaged 14 points per game over the last two seasons. He has a great understanding of what we are trying to accomplish offensively and combines that with a competitive spirit and leadership skills.

Head Coach Matthew Murken

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

26-6, 18-4 NSIC - 1st Overall - 1st North

The Northern State men’s basketball team is coming off their third straight NSIC Championship with a 26-6 record in 2019-20. NSU went 18-4 in the NSIC and sat atop the NCAA National Attendance standings for the 13th consecutive season. The Wolves qualified as the fourth seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament, however the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Three Wolves earned NSIC All-Conference honors (Fox, King, Stark), with Parker Fox being named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, Fox earned All-Region accolades from both the D2CCA and NABC. Northern enters their second season under the direction of head coach Saul Phillips, returning nine from a season ago. The returners include starters Andrew Kallman, Mason Stark, Tommy Chatman, and Parker Fox. In addition, the Wolves welcome ten incoming freshman, transfers, and roster additions in 2020-21.

I am eager to get this team back out on the floor this season. We return a lot of important pieces from a team that was playing very well when the season ended last year. The core of this group has known nothing but winning championships since setting foot on campus. Our returners play very well off each other and pass the ball as well as any team I’ve been involved with. While we lost some excellent leadership and talent in our three seniors who graduated, we also have added some pieces and seen the development of players whose role was not as large last season. This group is self-motivated and has been a pleasure to work with.

Head Coach Saul Phillips

#24 Parker Fox (F, 6-8, 210, Jr., Mahtomedi, Minn. / Mahtomedi HS) - Northern State University

2019-20 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and first team all-conference member
Averaged 19.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, shooting 60.5% from the floor
NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament MVP
Named to the D2CCA and NABC All-Region teams

Last season Parker proved himself to be one of the most electrifying and productive players in the league. He scored, rebounded and blocked shots at a high level all year. He is a terrific finisher around the hoop, totaling 87 dunks on the season. Parker’s presence on the floor has an effect on every aspect of the game. Parker’s improvement from year one to year two was incredible. He put in a lot of hard work on his own over the summer and enters the season extremely hungry for more success in year three.

Head Coach Saul Phillips

University of Sioux Falls

22-8, 17-5 NSIC - 2nd Overall - 1st South

After winning its first NSIC South title a year ago, the nationally-ranked University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team will try for two in a row. The Cougars, directed by all-time wins leader and reigning NSIC Coach of the Year Chris Johnson, has been picked second in the NSIC South in a preseason coaches poll. The Cougars, scheduled to open a 16-game regular season on Jan. 2-3 against U-Mary at the Stewart Center, have already been ranked 23rd in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) national preseason poll and 19th by The Basketball Times. USF earned votes in the D2SIDA preseason poll while earning a fifth place spot in the D2SIDA Central Region preseason poll. A year ago, USF was a program-DII-best 22-8 with a DII-program-best mark of 17-5 in league play. USF returns five starters, which includes first team all-conference junior guard Chase Grinde (12.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 28 double-digit scoring games) and second team all-league redshirt senior forward Teathloach Pal (10.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 24 double digit scoring games and 14 double doubles). Sophomore guard Jack Thompson (10.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 spg) also returns after earning NSIC All-Freshman Team honors. USF also welcomes back 6-9 senior forward Austin Slater (9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) as well as junior guard Troy Houghton (6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and a group of talented newcomers. USF led the NSIC in scoring defense at 66.2 ppg and was second in rebounding margin at 7.3 per game (35.7 to 28.4).

We are returning a very experienced group including all 5 starters. I believe that we are deeper than last year and am excited to get on the floor with this team.

Head Coach Chris Johnson

#14 Chase Grinde (G, 6-4, 225, Jr., Spring Grove, Minn. / Spring Grove HS) - University of Sioux Falls

Selected First Team All-NSIC in 2019-20 after averaging 12.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.7 apg
Has 604 career points, 299 rebounds, 145 assists and 28 double-digit scoring games
Two-time Academic All-NSIC honoree has four 20-point games with a high of 29

Chase is a strong, tough wing who scores in multiple ways for us. He rebounds well and adds a toughness to our entire group.

Head Coach Chris Johnson

Southwest Minnesota State University

8-21, 5-17 NSIC - 15th Overall - 8th South

The Southwest Minnesota State men’s basketball will look to rebound from an eight-win season in 2019-20, the program’s fewest victory total since 1994-95.

Last season’s team did not have a senior on the roster and saw five sophomores, redshirt freshmen or true freshmen play a majority of the minutes. This season’s team will be fairly young once again as two expected returning starters will miss the 2020-21 season. Senior Kenny Byers, who was named second team All-NSIC last season after leading the team in scoring, rebounding and assists, will opt out. He is expected to return in 2021-22. Junior Grant Kramer averaged 7.2 ppg in 20 games in 2019-20, but will miss this season due to injury.

Senior Nick Dufault returns for the Mustangs after ranking second on the team in scoring (10.8) and connecting on a team-high 55 3-pointers. Also back is sophomore guard Cliff McCray, who started every game as a true freshman a season ago and averaged 8.7 ppg with 31 3-pointers and dishing out 58 assists. Sophomore center Jake Phipps had a strong finish to the 2019-20 season and closed the year averaging 7.6 ppg and shooting 63 percent from the field, which ranks third best in team single-season history. Senior forward Weston Baker-Magrath is another returning starter after setting a team single-season record last year with 57 blocked shots.

It will be fun to see the progress of the young guys from last season. We look forward to the challenge a tremendous south division this year. The schedule will be unique. Ready for some games!

Head Coach Brad Bigler

#12 Nick Dufault (G, 5-11, 195, Sr., Waseca, Minn. / Waseca HS) - Southwest Minnesota State University

Earned Academic All-NSIC in 2019-20
Ranked second on the team in scoring last season at 10.8 ppg
Connected on a team-high 55 3-pointers last season
Scored 20 or more points three times
Ranks 10th in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (40.5)

Nick has been a great Mustang over his career. He has earned everything. Very proud of how he carries himself on and off the floor.

Head Coach Brad Bigler

St. Cloud State University

14-15, 11-11 NSIC - 10th Overall - 5th North

The St. Cloud State men’s basketball team is ready to return to the top half of the NSIC standings in 2020-21. After posting a 14-15 overall record in 2019-20, with an 11-11 mark in NSIC play, the Huskies are poised to make an upward jump in 2020-21 thanks to the return of some key players. Sophomore guards Anthony Roberts (Chicago, Ill. / Oak Park) and Caleb Donaldson (Bloomington, Ill. / Bloomington) officially have a year of college basketball under their belts, while senior Ilya Tyrtyrshnik (Kyiv, Ukraine / Kyiv Specialized School #49) is set to lead the team in his second year in head coach Matt Reimer’s system. Additionally, eight newcomers join St. Cloud State for the upcoming season, while returners Daniel Geistler (Nowalk, Iowa / Norwalk), Nick Grantham (Melbourne, Australia / Frankston Basketball Association) and Ethan Schuemer (Lombard, Ill. / Willowbrook) look to make big contributions this upcoming season.

I am excited about this team because we appear to have more depth and flexibility then we did last year. We are very young and inexperienced but this team has the opportunity to grow a great deal if they continue to work hard and buy into what we are trying to do. They have been fun to work with so far and I know they are looking forward to the challenges that lay in front of them.

Head Coach Matt Reimer

#22 Anthony Roberts (G/F, 6-4, 210, So., Chicago, Ill. / Oak Park River Forest HS) - St. Cloud State University

One of two Huskies to appear in and start all 29 games in 2019-20
As a freshman, ranked second on the team in scoring (13.9/game) with 404 points, 189 rebounds, 17 blocks and 28 steals
Ranked top-10 in the NSIC in field goal percentage (.495) and top-20 in rebounds/game (6.5), total rebounds (189), minutes (32.3/game) and scoring (13.9)

Anthony had a very good freshman year and we are looking forward to him taking the next step in his progression as a player. Anthony is versatile and can play and guard multiple positions on the floor. He is a hard working kid that leads by example and we are very fortunate to have him in our program.

Head Coach Matt Reimer

Upper Iowa University

19-11, 15-7 NSIC - 4th Overall - 2nd South

Upper Iowa’s men’s basketball team is chomping at the bit to get back on the court this season and pick up right where they left off a season ago. The Peacocks posted a 19-11 record overall, a 15-7 NSIC record and a 10-4 mark against NSIC South opposition. UIU finished the season in second place in the NSIC South, just one game behind the University of Sioux Falls, whom they defeated twice in the regular season. Brooks McKowen, who enters his eighth season at the head of the UIU program, has eight of the nine players that saw regular minutes back for this season including a trio of All-NSIC performers in seniors Jarese Williams and Joe Smoldt and sophomore Jake Hilmer. Williams, this season’s NSIC Player to Watch for UIU, led the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game and converted 43.4% of his three-point attempts last season and is now just 54 points shy of the 1,000-point milestone. Smoldt crossed the 1,000-point barrier last season and averaged 12.7 points per game for the Peacocks running his career point total to 1,192 in his first three seasons. Hilmer, UIU’s point, paced the Peacock high-scoring offense (80.1 points/game) with 12.2 points and 4.6 assists per contest. The Peacocks also return Lucas and Max Duax on the outside, shooter Jackson Joens, and posts Cade Moritz and Dylan Jones. Lucas Duax led the NSIC with 65 steals and chipped in 9.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while Moritz and Jones combined to scored 12.2 points and grab 6.7 rebounds in the paint for the Peacocks. Upper Iowa will get back on Prochaska Court in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 2-3 with a double header against St. Cloud State University.

We return the majority of our team from a very young team last season. It's a very unselfish group that enjoys playing together and pushes each other on a daily basis to improve.

Head Coach Brooks McKowen

#5 Jareese Williams (G, 6-2, 185, R-Sr., Mason City, Iowa / Mason City HS) - Upper Iowa University

Named to the All-NSIC Second Team
Named to the NSIC All-Academic Team
Named to NABC Honors Court
Led UIU in scoring with 12.7 points per game
Came down with a team-high 133 rebounds
Had 19 double-digit scoring nights, five of which were 20+ point performances

Jareese has developed in to a very good all around player and is a key player to our teams success. He has become one of the best shooters in the league with extremely good range. He also does a great job on the defensive end and is one of our best rebounders.

Head Coach Brooks McKowen

Wayne State College

10-22, 7-15 NSIC - 14th Overall - T6th South

Wayne State returns three starters from last year’s team that was 10-22 overall and tied for sixth in the NSIC South Division with a 7-15 league mark. But the Wildcats will also be young with nine of the 15 players on the roster being freshmen who have never suited up in a collegiate game for fourth year head coach Jeff Kaminsky. Headlining the group of returning starters is All-NSIC Second Team forward Jordan Janssen, who led WSC last season in most offensive categories averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The Lincoln East graduate tied for third in NCAA Division II last season with 17 double-doubles and ranked in the top 10 in seven NSIC stat categories. Junior guard Nate Mohr led the ‘Cats with 69 3-pointers and scored 11.8 points a contest while senior forward Ben Dentlinger is the other returning starter, averaging 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds a game while tied for sixth in the league in blocked shots with 1.3 per game. Other top returners are junior forward Henry Penner (5.6 ppg/3.2 rpg) and junior guard Nate Thayer (4.4 ppg/2.1 rpg). A talented group of nine freshmen will be asked to contribute right away and provide depth for the Wildcats this season. WSC is scheduled to open the season at home on Saturday, January 2nd vs. #7 Northern State.

My first thought is the depth that we have at every position and the quality of that depth. We have a good mix of returning players with experience along with a talented freshmen class. We have a really good work ethic with this group and we are all looking forward to any opportunity we will have to play this year. I really like the versatility we should have to play different line-ups.

Head Coach Jeff Kaminsky

#32 Jordan Janssen (F, 6-7, 225, Jr., Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln East HS) - Wayne State College

Named All-NSIC Second Team after ranking in the top 10 in the NSIC in seven statistical categories
Named NSIC South Division Player of the Week twice during the season (11/25/19 and 12/9/19)
Named to the NSIC Winter All-Academic Team
Started all 32 games and averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game with 17 double-doubles
Ranked second in the NSIC in rebounding, sixth in blocked shots (1.3), eighth in field goal percentage (.508), tied for eighth in assists per game (3.8), ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5) and tied for ninth in steals per game (1.2)
Shot 50.8 percent (196-386) from the field and 71.8 percent (150-209) at the free throw line

Jordan is the ultimate competitor and team player. He led us in almost every statistical category last year (points, rebounds, assists, steals, block shots). He has continued to improve his overall game and has gotten stronger. He is a great teammate and a pleasure to coach. I am excited about the continued progress he has made each season and look forward to the success he could have in 20-21.

Head Coach Jeff Kaminsky

Winona State University

18-12, 14-8 NSIC - 5th Overall - 3rd South

Coming off two consecutive trips to The Pentagon in NSIC playoff competition over the past two years, Winona State men’s basketball is primed for the 2020-21 campaign. WSU notched a 18-12 overall / 14-8 NSIC mark in 2019-20. WSU returns multiple starters, including WSU’s Player-to-Watch, guard/forward Kevion Taylor. In 2019-20, Taylor was the only NSIC men’s basketball player to place in the NSIC Top 10 in total scoring, 3-pointers per contest and rebounding.

Taylor, a senior from Milwaukee, Wis., will look to add onto his several Warrior record book Top-20 marks, including total points (1,368), 3-Point Field Goals Made (214) and career 3-Point Shooting Percentage (40.23%). NSIC coaches picked Taylor as the South Division Preseason Player-of-the-Year for 2020-21.

Devin Whitelow (Sr., G, Peoria, Ill.) leads a Warrior attack that includes 6’9” Andrea Lo Biondo (Sr., F/C, Legnano, Italy), a versatile inside-outside threat now in his second year at Winona State. The Warriors expect Alec Rosner (Jr., G, Appleton, Wis.) to build on his 2019-20 campaign where he started 28 contests and logged the third most minutes (948) on the team.

In addition to the 11 returning letter winners from a season ago, the Warriors added standout transfer talent in Owen King (Jr., F, Caledonia, Minn.) and Alou Dillon (Jr., F/C, Wauwatosa, Wis.), both of whom came to WSU from South Dakota State. WSU also added five true freshmen in a stellar recruiting year.

Head Coach Todd Eisner enters his sixth Warrior season, earning a 78-68 WSU record and a 495-234 overall career mark.

We are excited about our team this year because of the returning core of players, including four starters, that played well the last 2 months of the season. I feel like this group has handled these unusual circumstances as well as possible and when we were cleared to start fall workouts, the guys were ready to go to work. When you add the two transfers from South Dakota State, I think our depth will be good at every position. We are excited about the challenge of competing in the NSIC South as I think it is as deep as the division has been since I came to WSU in 2015. We know we will have to play very well every night to be successful and our players are excited about the challenge.

Head Coach Todd Eisner

#24 Kevion Taylor (F, 6-5, 215, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis. / Whitnall HS) - Winona State University

A NSIC First Team All-Conference selection
Started all 30 games for the Warriors
Hit a program-record 109 three-pointers, good for a .396% from behind the arc
Set a new NSIC mark for three-pointers made in a season at 85
Led the squad in free-throw shooting, hitting 87-of-102, a .853 average
Was 2nd on the team in total points with 576

Kevion is someone that has improved his game each of his first 3 years in our program. He had a tremendous junior season: averaging 21 ppg, 8 rpg, 42% 3pt, led the NSIC in 3pt FGM/gm & was named 1st team all-NSIC. Kevion wants to be in the gym all the time so his work ethic has allowed him to continue to get better. We will need him to continue to be a productive scorer for us & he knows teams will game plan to limit his effectiveness. We have talked to him about using the dribble to create opportunities to score & getting to the FT line at a much higher clip to help his game & our team improve.

Head Coach Todd Eisner

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