MSU MOORHEAD TABBED PRESEASON FAVORITE
WAYNE STATE & MINNESOTA STATE PICKED IN SOUTH DIVISION

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Minnesota State University Moorhead was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2021-22 season. The Dragons received 222 points, garnering 13 first places votes to sit 27 points ahead of second place Wayne State. The Wildcats had 195 points and two first place votes. Minnesota State was third with 192 points and the other first place vote.

In the divisional rankings, MSU Moorhead was the unanimous choice in the north, picking up all seven first place votes for 49 points. St. Cloud State was second with 36 points and the other first place vote. In the south, Minnesota State and Wayne State each had 42 points, with Wayne State collecting four first place votes and the Mavericks two. Upper Iowa was third with 39 points and the other two 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 12-team NSIC / Sanford Health Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place February 26 to March 1 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The top two seeds in each division will receive a first round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The 2021-22 men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, October 29 with MSU Moorhead playing two games at the D2CCA Division II Tip Off Classic in Canyon, Texas , and Northern State playing on November 6-7 in St. Joseph, Missouri.  The rest of the league starts on Friday, November 12. Conference action beginning on Tuesday, November 23.

• Named 2020-21 NSIC North Newcomer of the Year
• Named to All-NSIC North First Team
• Led the team in minutes in 31.4 minutes per game
• Averaged team-best 13.4 points per game

• 2021 NSIC South Division Player of the Year
• NABC All-Central Region First Team in 2021
• Averaged 16.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game
• 10 double-doubles, 4th in NCAA Division II last year
• Scored double digits in all but one game

NSIC Team Previews & Players to Watch

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

Augustana returns an experienced core for 2021-22 including six players who started at least six games in the shortened 2021 season. Among the returners is two-time All-NSIC South Division selection Tyler Riemersma and his double-double average of 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. The Vikings also welcome back Adam Dykman and his 12.7 points, Dylan LeBrun and his 12.5 points and Isaac Fink’s 10.6 points per game. That gives AU four of its top-five scorers a year ago returning. 

Dykman joined Riemersma on the NSIC South Division’s Second Team last season as he recorded 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing. In addition, he sank 43 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts. 

Augustana welcomes into the fold redshirt freshman Akoi Akoi and four true freshmen. Among the freshmen are Angelo Winkel, a 2021 Finalist for Iowa Player of the Year, Zac Johnson, his high school’s all-time leader in scoring and rebounding, Veron Eze, a member of the U23 FIBA 3x3 team for Great Britain and Alex Distras, a member of Great Britain’s U18 team. 

Augustana opens the 2021-22 campaign at the Central Region Challenge in Kansas City, Missouri, Nov. 12-13 against Southern Arkansas and Washburn. After the Vikings’ initial NSIC contest at Wayne State on Nov. 23, Augustana makes its home debut vs. Doane on Nov. 26. Entering their third season playing NSIC games inside the Sanford Pentagon, the Vikings make the 2021-22 debut inside the five-sided building on Dec. 2 against Sioux Falls. 

• Two Time Academic All-America Selection
• Has been named All-NSIC South Division the past two seasons
• Averaged a double-double of 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, the second-straight season of a double-double average
• Led Augustana with a .523 field-goal percentage while leading the team in scoring
• Secured an NSIC-high of 22 rebounds in a game last season against Wayne State

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

Bemidji State begins its 100th season in program history after finishing 7-9 overall and 6-8 in conference play during a shortened 2020-21 season. Head Coach Mike Boschee enters his 10th season with the program and helped the Beavers win five of their last six games last season. Returning from the starting lineup are three Beavers, including fifth-year forward and BSU Player to Watch Derek Thompson.

Thompson earned back-to-back All-NSIC Second Team selections after leading the Beavers in scoring, rebounds, blocks and steals. He recorded five games of at least 20 points, including a BSU single-game record 45 points during the season finale. Thompson also ranked fifth in the NSIC in scoring, 10th in field goal percentage and 11th in rebounds.

Statistically in the NSIC, BSU ranked among the middle of the pack in most categories, including seventh in field goal percentage, eighth in scoring offense and rebounding offense, ninth in rebounding defense and assist-to-turnover ratio, and 12th in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.

The Beavers squad features seven returning letter winners and seven newcomers, including three transfers and four true freshmen.

• Led BSU in scoring (17.9 ppg), rebounds (6.3 rpg), blocks (0.6 bpg) and steals (0.8 spg)
• Recorded five games with at least 20 points, including a BSU single-game record of 45 points
• Ranked fifth in the NSIC in scoring, 10th in field goal percentage and 11th in rebounds
• A two-time All-NSIC Second Team and Winter NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence member

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

Concordia-St. Paul will look to take a big step forward with a new-look squad in year two under head coach Matt Fletcher in 2021-22. The roster features nine newcomers, including seven freshmen, along with nine returners as the team looks to climb the standings in the NSIC South.

While the Golden Bears are set to field a young roster, they do return some key returners from last season’s group. Second year forward Marcus Skeete was tabbed as a player to watch after finishing last season strong. Skeete scored in double figures in five of the final eight games, including three double-doubles, to finish the season as the team’s leader in rebounds at 5.7 per game and their fourth-leading scorer at 9.9 points per game. He’s one of four returning starters as Jax Madson, Caden Hoffman and Matt Johns are also back for a second season in navy and gold. Madson finished second on the team with 10.2 points per game while Hoffman chipped in a team-best 2.9 assists per game and Johns tallied 8.0 points and 3.8 boards on the year.

Along with seven incoming freshmen, CSP also added a pair of experienced players in senior guard Jack Stensgaard from Wisconsin-River Falls and junior Roy Grigsby from Northern Colorado.  Stensgaard was an All-WIAC honorable mention performer for the Falcons while Grigsby got his feet wet at the Division I level with the Bears.

Concordia opens the season with a pair of Division I exhibitions before hosting the DoubleTree by Hilton Roseville Minneapolis Classic on Nov. 12-13.

• Led the team with 5.7 rebounds per game while ranking fourth with 9.9 points per game
• Shot 54.7% from the floor, 33.3% from three-point range and 73.9% from the free throw line
• Scored in double figures six times, reaching 20+ three times and tallying three double-doubles
• Started the final nine games of the season

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

The University of Mary men’s basketball team enters the 2021-22 season under new leadership. Jack Nelson was named the 9th head coach in program history and joins the Marauders with a decade’s worth of experience coaching in the Northern Sun. He spent the last three seasons at the University of Sioux Falls, helping the Cougars crack the national rankings each year while winning an NSIC South title in 2020. 

Nelson inherits a UMary squad that finished last season 4-12 overall and 4-10 in the NSIC in an abbreviated pandemic-induced topsy turvy season. While the Marauders lose their top three scorers – including all-NSIC performers Matthew Kreklow and Trever Kaiser –  ten players are back who competed last year for UMary. 

Josh Sipes, named the Marauders NSIC Player to Watch in 2021-22, is the team’s top returning scorer and deep threat. A junior from Bismarck, ND, who started all last year and most of his freshman season, shot 46.8 percent from behind the arc and made 22 treys. Sipes averaged 5.8 points and 3.7 rebounds/game.

Sophomore guard Matthew Johnson provided a spark for the Marauders in several starts and averaged 5.8 ppg and 3 assists/game while shooting 43% from the field and the arc. Other returning Marauders who saw significant action include forwards Lucas Mayer, Kam Warrens and Kade Amundson and guards Deven Franks and Treyton Mattern. 

Newcomers to watch include transfers Kai Huntsberry (San Diego City College), Veljko Radakovic (Maine) and Gertautas Urbonavicius (North Dakota).

The Marauders open their season against Northeastern State University and the University of Central Oklahoma on November 12-13 in Edmund, OK. 

• Appeared and started in 16 games
• Shot 44% from the field and a team-leading 47% from three
• Averaged 5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.7 apg
• Scored a season-high 14 points against St. Cloud State

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

The Golden Eagles will look to bounce back after a two win season last year. Redshirt senior Brian Sitzmann and redshirt juniors Leonard Dixon and Ethan Channel are back and are expected to play a giant role for the maroon and gold this season. Both Dixon and Channel are Oregon natives. Zach Westphal is back as well for the Golden Eagles and could play a big role off the bench. Minnesota Crookston has nine newcomers to their roster this season and a number of them have a chance to also make an impact. Head Coach Dan Weisse enters his eighth season and likes the depth of the 2021-22 Golden Eagles.

• Averaged 11.5 PPG and 3.1 RPG a season ago
• Shot 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep last season
• Scored in double-digits in seven out of 16 games for the Golden Eagles
• Scored a season-high 21 points in 37 minutes against Minnesota Duluth

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

UMD comes into this season returning all five of their starters from a season ago. All five of the starters averaged over 12 points per game last season, led by Redshirt Junior Drew Blair, who averaged 18.7 points per game. Blair, who was fourth in the conference in scoring, will look to lead the Bulldogs offense once again. Coach Wieck has been impressed with Blairs commitment to the weight room in the off-season as he has gotten stronger over the off-season. He believes this will improve Blairs ability to score in a tough NSIC. Coach Wieck is also impressed with his ability to distribute for his teammates, an ability that coach believes will only continue to improve. 

The Bulldogs will look to build on a 6-7 2020-2021 season, where they would start three freshman and two sophomores. As one of the conference’s youngest teams, UMD has potential to shock some teams in the conference. Along with their returners, they were able to bring in a couple freshman and a graduate transfer that will add some much-needed depth to fill out the roster. With returning much of the team from last year, Coach Wieck is excited to see the team’s growth and the experience they carry over into this season.

The Bulldogs will begin their season on November 12th as they will host Nebraska Kearney at 6:00 PM as part of the American Family Insurance Classic. They will begin their conference schedule on November 23rd as they will host St. Cloud State at 7:30 PM. 

• Comes into the season having started all 43 games of his career 
• Career average of 16.8 points per game
• Was fourth in the conference in scoring averaging 18.8 points last season
• Two-time All-NSIC Second Team selection
• Career field goal percentage of .468

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

The Minnesota State men’s basketball team welcomed back nine letterwinners and all five starters from last season’s team. Four Mavericks, including juniors Kelby Kramer and Devonte Thedford and sophomores Qunicy Anderson and Malik Willingham played and started in all 15 games, while sophomore Ryland Holt started in 15 games. Four Mavericks averaged more than 10 points per game last season, including Anderson who tallied a team-best 17.1 points per game, to go along with 6.1 rebounds per game. Thedford posted 13.5 points per game and led the team in assists with 61 (3.5 apg), while Willingham tallied 11.6 points per game while connecting on a team-best 41 three pointers. Holt notched 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as well, while Kramer tallied a team-leading 7.2 rebounds and 35 blocks, while averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. Freshman Brady Williams returns as well after playing in all 17 contests, while averaging 9.4 points per game. Freshmen Tyrell Stuttley, Mason Muller and Noah Hart also return for the Mavericks having each played in at least four games last season. Minnesota State will welcome in six newcomers to this season’s team including sophomore Shawn Hopkins and freshmen Kyreese Willingham, Gavin Ralph. Harrison Braudis, Chase Bartlett and Dawson Rudolph. Hopkins previously played at Butler CC, where he averaged 15.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 season.  

• Led the Mavericks in scoring with 17.1 points per game last season
• Played and started in all 17 games
• Finished second on the team in rebounds with 6.1 rebounds per game
• Scored at least 21 points in seven games last season, including a career-high 31 points against Winona State
• Tallied two double-doubles

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

MSUM is entering its 12th season under the direction of Head Coach Chad Walthall. The Dragons are coming off of another NCAA tournament appearance which saw them advance to the second round of the postseason. The Dragons return their top six scorers from a year ago, including 2020-21 NSIC North Newcomer of the Year Lorenzo McGhee, a senior guard who averaged 13.4 points per game last season. Junior guards Gavin Baumgartner and Bryce Irsfeld and forwards Gatdoar Kueth and Dane Zimmer also averaged in double figures last season for MSUM's 11-5 squad.

• Named 2020-21 NSIC North Newcomer of the Year
• Named to All-NSIC North First Team
• Led the team in minutes in 31.4 minutes per game
• Averaged team-best 13.4 points per game

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

Expectations are high for Minot State as the team returns 4-of-5 starters from a roster than advanced to the NSIC Tournament Semifinals last season and compiled a 9-7 overall record. Leading the way for the returners is 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward Melvin Newbern who led the Beavers in scoring 14.6 (ppg) and rebounds (9.4 rpg), and who is just 88 rebounds away from 1,000 in his collegiate career. 

Also back for his sixth season with the program is 6-1 senior guard Max Cody, who became the 17th player in Minot State men's basketball history to pass the 1,000-point mark in his career, and who is 66 assists away from becoming the all-time school record holder in that category. Cody averaged 14.5 ppg and dished out 83 assists last season. 

Also back are returning starters Cam’ron Dunfree (6-1, Sr., G), who averaged 12.5 points per game and hit a team-high 34 3-pointers, and Kody Dwyer(6-10, Sr, F), who averaged 11.9 ppg and 5.4 rebounds. Dwyer could become the Beavers 18th player to eclipse 1,000 career points, needing 270 this season to join that club.

• Averaged 14.5 points per game last season
• Led team with 83 assists in 2020-21
• 6th season with program
• 17th player to surpass 1,000 points in career (1,128 career points)
• 66 assists away from breaking Minot State's all-time record (549)

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

The 2021-22 Northern State University men’s basketball team will have an entirely new look on the court with one starter returning from a season ago. The Wolves won their fourth straight NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships last spring and advanced to the championship round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Following the sweet sixteen loss to Northwest Missouri State, Northern graduated three of their starting five. The Wolves return seven from that squad and welcome ten incoming freshman and transfers in 2021, entering their third year under the direction of head coach Saul Phillips. Jordan Belka will lead the team after being named the Northern State player to watch this season. He started 20 games as a junior, averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Northern opens the season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic versus Northwest Missouri State and Rockhurst. In addition, NSU will host a pair of tournaments during the month of November prior to the full slate of league action.

• Averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2021
• Shot 42.6% from 3-point range
• 3-time NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Champion

University of Sioux Falls

The University of Sioux Falls Men’s Basketball Team, which finished 7-5 and 5-5 in the NSIC a year ago in a CoVID-19-shortened season, will look to contend in the NSIC South and overall.  The Cougars return 67.8 percent of its scoring and 68.5 percent of its rebounding from a year ago. USF, directed by all-time wins leader Chris Johnson (240 wins), returns four players who started a year ago and six letter winners.  USF, which won the 2019-20 South title, will led by Player to Watch Jack Thompson (10.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2020-21) as well as 2019-20 All-NSIC selection and senior Chase Grinde (11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2020-21). USF also brings back senior forward Austin Slater (4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2020-21), guard/forward Jake Kettner (5.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2020-21) and forward Wesley Oba (4.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2020-21) as well as a group of talented returners and newcomers, which include senior transfer Matt Cartwright (2018-19 All-NSIC, 16.0 ppg).  A year ago, USF averaged 68.7 points per game while allowing 68.3 per game for second in the NSIC in scoring defense. USF is annually one of the league’s top rebounding squads and was first in overall rebounding at 39.7 and first in rebound defense (30.2) and offensive rebounds (15.3) a year ago. USF was also fourth in field goal percentage defense at 43.8 percent and third in steals at 6.83. The Cougars have been projected to finish eighth overall and fifth in the NSIC South in the NSIC Preseason Poll. USF opens the season at NSIC-MIAA Challenge in Kansas City, Mo., with the opener at 11 am, Nov. 12 against Southern Nazarene University followed by a matchup with Northwest Missouri State at 12:45 pm on Saturday, Nov. 13.     

• Selected honorable mention All-NSIC in 2019-20 as a freshman
• Named Academic All-NSIC and to NSIC All Academic Team of Excellence 
• Averaged 10.5 points, 3.4 rpg., 2.1 apg a year ago 
• Recorded 19 career double-digit games and started in 34 of 41 career games 
• Converted 52-of-144 three-pointers for 36.1 percent and hits 76.8 percent from the free-throw line 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Southwest Minnesota State will look to bounce back from an unusual season in 2020-21, playing just 11 games and having numerous players miss games due to COVID protocols. 

SMSU returns 10 letter winners from last season’s 3-8 team and will be bolstered by the return of senior guard Kenny Byers, a 2019-20 All-NSIC second team honoree, who sat out last season. Byers led SMSU in scoring (16.3), rebounding (6.9), assists (95) and steals (43) in 2019-20 and scored 20 or more points nine times, while recording eight double-doubles. 

The Mustangs return several starters from last season including sophomore center Jake Phipps, who averaged 11.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg while shooting a team-high 62 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Cliff McCray dished out a team-high 41 assists in nine games last season and averaged 7.7 ppg. Redshirt freshman guard Sam Schwartz poured in 9.3 ppg and ranked third on the squad with 12 3-pointers in his first season. Senior guard Grant Kramer also returns after appearing in five games last season and averaging 7.0 ppg. 

SMSU also had six true or redshirt freshmen play last season who gained valuable experience and return this season. 

SMSU has added junior forward, Anthony Costello, a transfer from Dakota State University. In 2019-20, Costello averaged 14 ppg and 7.1 rpg, while shooting 53 percent from the field. 

• 2019-20 All-NSIC Second Team
• Led SMSU in scoring (16.3), rebounding (6.9), assists (95) and steals (43) in 2019-20
• Recorded eight double-doubles in 2019-20 and scored double figures in all but three games
• Did not play last season

St. Cloud State University

The St. Cloud State University men’s basketball team is both older and wiser, meaning the Huskies are ready to take the next step in the NSIC standings. After posting an overall record of 8-9 with a 6-6 mark in NSIC play in the shortened 2020-21 season, St. Cloud State is poised to make an upward jump in 2021-22 thanks to the return of guards Anthony Roberts (Chicago, Ill. / Oak Park), Caleb Donaldson (Bloomington, Ill. / Bloomington) and Josh Tomasi (Melbourne, Australia / Box Hill). The trio led the Huskies in points and rebounds throughout the 2020-21 season, with Roberts and Donaldson receiving NSIC honors at the end of the year. Ryan Bagley (Pocatello, Idaho / Burley) and Matthew Willert (Buffalo, Minn. / Buffalo) round out St. Cloud State’s projected starting line up for 2021-22, while seven other student-athletes add depth to the Huskies roster. 

• 2020-21 First Team All-NSIC
• NSIC North Player of the Week
• Led the Huskies in points (338) and points per game (21.1) while shooting .498 from the floor last season
• Ranked top-10 in the NSIC in scoring (second) and rebounds per game (sixth)
• Scored 20+ points in nine of St. Cloud State's 16 games
• Career high 34 in a win over Concordia-St. Paul in January

Upper Iowa University

The Peacock men’s basketball team is poised for a big season in 2021-22. Upper Iowa returns all 10 of their top-ten scorers from a season ago including All-Northern Sun Conference First Team performer Jareese Williams, All-NSIC Second Teamers Joe Smoldt and Jake HIlmer and the NSIC South Division Defensive Player of the Year Lucas Duax. The quartet combined for 64.3 points, 18.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 5.2 steals per game last season. In addition to the four award winners from last season, Upper Iowa brings back posts Dylan Jones, Cade Moritz and Baden Noennig, as well as guards Max Duax, Jackson Joens and Jackson Foley. Mixing in with the group of familiar faces will be a pair of transfers Connor Duax (University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh) and Nick Reid (Emporia State University). Upper Iowa finished last season with a 10-7 record overall and an 8-4 mark in NSIC competition. UIU’s run in the postseason ended prematurely in an overtime loss at Minot State University 90-85 in a quarterfinal matchup of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. Head Coach Brooks McKowen is back on the sidelines for his ninth season with the Peacocks; the northeast Iowa native has led UIU to an overall record of 124-110 and an 89-77 mark in the NSIC. Both Williams and Smoldt return this season for a super senior campaign. Williams has scored 1,243 points for UIU including a 17.6 scoring average in 2021. The Mason City product has hit 42.7% of his three-point attempts converting 256 of his 599 career tries from long-range. Smoldt returns for a fifth season as well with a whopping 1,478 career points for the Peacocks. Last season, Gladbrook-Reinbeck prep averaged 16.8 points knocking down 40.3% of his threes and 85.3% of his free throws. Upper Iowa will hit the court on Oct. 30 at Creighton University with an exhibition against the NCAA Division I Bluejays. The Peacocks will open the regular season in Kansas City, Mo. playing Missouri Southern State University and Pittsburg State University on Nov. 12 and 14. UIU’s first home and conference game is slated for Nov. 23 against Winona State University.

• Averaged 17.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 2021 to lead Upper Iowa to a 10-7 mark overall and an 8-4 record in the conference
• Scored 1,243 points in his career thanks in large part to a scorching three-point shooting clip of 42.7% over his four-year career
• Named to the All-NSIC Second Team in 2019-20 and First Team in 2020-21
• Earned a place on the 2020-21 NABC All-Central Region Second Team

Wayne State College

Wayne State returns a wealth of talent from last year’s team that captured the NSIC South Division title for the second time in three seasons and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time in 21 years.  Sixth year head coach Jeff Kaminsky returns all five starters from last season’s club that was 11-7 and 10-4 in the NSIC South Division.  Headlining the list of returners in junior forward Jordan Janssen, last year’s NSIC South Division Player of the Year and NABC All-Central Region First Team selection, who averaged 16 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last season with 10 double-doubles while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.  Junior guard Nate Mohr, All-NSIC Second Team last season, returns with 12.7 points per game and a team-high 40 3-pointers. Alec Milender, an NSIC Honorable Mention choice one year ago, averaged 10.8 points a game in his first season as a collegiate player.  The ‘Cats also return one of the top shot blockers in the NSIC, 6-7 senior forward Ben Dentlinger, who was fourth in the league last season at 1.9 blocks a game.  WSC also brings back the Freshman of the Year, Justin Eagins (8.9 ppg) and starting point guard Jay Saunders, who produced 6.9 points a game with a team-high 22 steals as a true freshman last season.  Wayne State opens the 2021-22 season on Friday, November 12th at the GAC/NSIC Challenge in Shawnee, Oklahoma facing Oklahoma Baptist.                        

• 2021 NSIC South Division Player of the Year
• NABC All-Central Region First Team in 2021
• Averaged 16.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game
• 10 double-doubles, 4th in NCAA Division II last year
• Scored double digits in all but one game

Winona State University

Coach Todd Eisner has his Warriors ready to hit the floor with a tough nonconference schedule that will lead up to a very challenging conference season. Winona State will look at Devin Whitelow to be their floor-general this year, as his experience will help lead the Warriors as they try to improve within the NSIC from a year ago. Whitelow, the lone senior, has been great throughout his career, boasting a career assist to turnover ratio of 4.53. Junior, Luke Martens, is the leading scorer among all returners after averaging 9.5 points per game last year. Owen King will look to up his production after starting all 13 games and scoring 8.9 points per game during his first season at Winona State. Transfer, Alou Dillon, will be looked upon to help the Warriors inside the paint this year after playing two seasons at SDSU. Eisner believes that the work put in by his team in the offseason, combined with a strong nonconference schedule, will help the Warriors succeed in the NSIC. Winona State will have their eyes set on making the NSIC Tournament after missing it in 2021.

• Boasts a career assist/turnover ratio of 4.53
• Set the NCAA assist/turnover record of 5.96 in the 2018-19 season
• Averaged 31.8 minutes per game a year ago
• Shot 47.3% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the arc
• Has started in 90 of 99 games he has played, including starting all 74 games the past three seasons