2008 Woodie Awards
Men have high hopes for season
Matt Rydberg
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
In the final season of the NCC, a young Huskies squad seeks to make a name for themselves as the best in the NCC.
"This is one of the best freshmen classes I've ever seen," head coach Kevin Schlagel said.
The freshmen got their first experience in a preseason exhibition game against Valley City State.
Although SCSU coasted to a 75-59 victory, only its two seniors scored double-digits. None of the freshmen looked entirely comfortable under the glow of Halenbeck Hall.
"You are only as good as your seniors," Schlagel said.
A young SCSU men's basketball team looks to the only two returning seniors as captains.
Shooting guard David Dreas returns as a second-year captain after being named a pre-season top-25 All-American.
He averaged 19 points per game last season, leading the Huskies to a 19-11 record and a NCAA tournament birth.
Fellow senior guard Dusty Wabiszewski is the other captain this year for the Huskies. Last season, Wabiszewski led the team in assists and steals with 147 and 59 respectively.
In just two seasons at SCSU, he ranks 16th on the all-time assist leaders board with 238.
The only returning starter other than Dreas is 6-foot-8-inch center Matt Schneck, a sophomore who led the team with 160 rebounds last season while averaging 9.8 ppg.
The freshmen class is made up of four new faces: Forward Jesse Fisher from Pequot Lakes, forward Andrew Bernstetter of St. Joseph, forward Josh Ortmann of Buffalo and guard Taylor Witt from Morris.
"(The freshmen) have shown they can make an immediate impact," Schlagel said.
Last season, the Huskies playoff hopes were dashed by the eventual runner-ups Winona State University.
Winona again enters this year No. 1 in national polls.
SCSU comes into this season favored to do well in the very tough NCC's final season.
SDSU is the heavy favorite to win the conference, ranked No. 8 in the national poll. The Coyotes took all but one of the NCC preseason polls.
"South Dakota was probably one of the most impressive DII teams I've ever seen play," Schlagel said.
Mankato earned the only other No. 1 vote, although they were followed very closely by the Huskies for a close second place.
SDSU ran the floor last year, winning the conference tournament and amassing a 23-7 overall record.
With all their starters returning from last season, the Coyotes look poised to repeat their success.
In contrast, Mankato lost three of their starters from last season, including All-American Luke Anderson.
The Huskies get home court advantage in the third annual American Family Insurance Hoopster Classic.
They will see one current conference rival in the University of Nebraska-Omaha and two future conference (NSIC) rivals in Bemidji State University and the University of Mary.
The first tip-off is at 6 p.m. Friday.
"This is one of the best freshmen classes I've ever seen," head coach Kevin Schlagel said.
The freshmen got their first experience in a preseason exhibition game against Valley City State.
Although SCSU coasted to a 75-59 victory, only its two seniors scored double-digits. None of the freshmen looked entirely comfortable under the glow of Halenbeck Hall.
"You are only as good as your seniors," Schlagel said.
A young SCSU men's basketball team looks to the only two returning seniors as captains.
Shooting guard David Dreas returns as a second-year captain after being named a pre-season top-25 All-American.
He averaged 19 points per game last season, leading the Huskies to a 19-11 record and a NCAA tournament birth.
Fellow senior guard Dusty Wabiszewski is the other captain this year for the Huskies. Last season, Wabiszewski led the team in assists and steals with 147 and 59 respectively.
In just two seasons at SCSU, he ranks 16th on the all-time assist leaders board with 238.
The only returning starter other than Dreas is 6-foot-8-inch center Matt Schneck, a sophomore who led the team with 160 rebounds last season while averaging 9.8 ppg.
The freshmen class is made up of four new faces: Forward Jesse Fisher from Pequot Lakes, forward Andrew Bernstetter of St. Joseph, forward Josh Ortmann of Buffalo and guard Taylor Witt from Morris.
"(The freshmen) have shown they can make an immediate impact," Schlagel said.
Last season, the Huskies playoff hopes were dashed by the eventual runner-ups Winona State University.
Winona again enters this year No. 1 in national polls.
SCSU comes into this season favored to do well in the very tough NCC's final season.
SDSU is the heavy favorite to win the conference, ranked No. 8 in the national poll. The Coyotes took all but one of the NCC preseason polls.
"South Dakota was probably one of the most impressive DII teams I've ever seen play," Schlagel said.
Mankato earned the only other No. 1 vote, although they were followed very closely by the Huskies for a close second place.
SDSU ran the floor last year, winning the conference tournament and amassing a 23-7 overall record.
With all their starters returning from last season, the Coyotes look poised to repeat their success.
In contrast, Mankato lost three of their starters from last season, including All-American Luke Anderson.
The Huskies get home court advantage in the third annual American Family Insurance Hoopster Classic.
They will see one current conference rival in the University of Nebraska-Omaha and two future conference (NSIC) rivals in Bemidji State University and the University of Mary.
The first tip-off is at 6 p.m. Friday.