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Husky hoops open NCC
Women’s basketball team ready to get onto business
Usually during a normal college basketball season, the most crucial games are scheduled toward the end of the season. Competing teams in the conference usually square off late, so it makes the race for the conference crown a little more intriguing. That’s not the case for the SCSU and the University of South Dakota men’s basketball teams.
The fifth ranked Huskies (4-0) will square off with 24th ranked South Dakota Friday night at Halenbeck Hall for the NCC opener for both teams. USD, the defending NCC champions, will likely be looking at their main competitors for that honor this year.
SCSU brings in a potent offense that has been averaging 86 points a game. On the defensive side, they’ve only been giving up a paltry 63 points per contest. The Huskies lead the NCC in defense, free-throw percentage, and three-point shooting.
The Huskies also have more weapons to throw at South Dakota with the return of co-captain Rado Rancik from injury. They also have Johnny Reese back who didn’t play at all against the Coyotes last season. Add those two to Jason Kron, Forrest Witt, Alex Carlson, and B.J. Brant, and you have a very formidable lineup.
However, SCSU head coach Kevin Schlagel is just taking everything in stride this week.
“We’ll just go through our normal routine. We approach every game the same way,” Schlagel said after Saturday’s defeat of Central College. “Obviously going into the NCC is an adjustment. Playing Friday and Saturday is different, so we’ll have to concentrate on playing night after night.”
Junior forward Kron took the same approach.
“This will definitely be a change from non-conference,” Kron said. “We can’t really treat it like a difference-making game, though. We have to treat every game the same. But we are looking forward to starting next week. It’s going to be a big first game. If we come out and get after it, we can really open up some space in the region.”
South Dakota (5-0), the three-time defending conference champs, only return two starters from last year’s 22-6 team. But, they have added a lot with two surprising freshmen. Josh Mueller leads the Coyotes in scoring at 20.6 ppg. The other surprising freshman is Paul Marshall. Marshall is averaging 19.2 ppg through the first five contests.
USD also has the two returning starters, who are familiar with the Huskies. Senior Jimmie Foster, last year’s Co-NCC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-NCC, is averaging 13.4 ppg and 5.6 rebounds per game. Steve Anderson, the other returnee, so far has led the NCC in rebounding at 11.4 rpg.
The Coyotes lead the NCC in scoring at 98 points per game. They also lead the league in rebounding, scoring margin, turnover margin and steals.
All of these statistics mean one thing: it’s going to be one heck of a game.
After Friday’s game, the Huskies come right back on Saturday and play Morningside (1-4). The Mustangs have a new head coach, and only two returning players from last year’s fourth place team. Those two players are both sophomores, Dustin Cooper and Matt Roush. Roush leads the team in scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg). Cooper has averaged 10.0 ppg so far this season.
One thing teams can’t do is underestimate any opponent in the NCC. And that’s something the Huskies are focusing in on.
“I think we’re playing two great teams, so we really have to get ready,” Rancik said. “South Dakota and Morningside are very good overall, and we have to come ready to play 100 percent. We can’t give them any breathing room. I know they’re going to do the same to us, so we have to be prepared mentally.”
“It’s going to be a dogfight this weekend, just like every game is going to be this year. We just have to come ready to play,” Witt said.
There’s no doubt that the Huskies will.
The women will face a less daunting task than the men this weekend.
The women’s teams of South Dakota (3-2) and Morningside (4-1) shouldn’t put up too much of a fight against the Lady Huskies (2-1). Although, the conference season is beginning, and the women also have to make the adjustment.
The Huskies mauled the Cougars of Minnesota-Morris last weekend at their home-opener, 97-33. The Huskies jumped out to a 23-0 lead and never looked back. All 11 Husky players scored four points or more, with six of them reaching double figures. Lynnea Salscheider led the Huskies with 15 points.
The games this weekend will prove a little more difficult for SCSU.
Sophomore Mandy Koupal, who is averaging 19.8 ppg, and 9.6 rpg, leads South Dakota. As a team the Coyotes have only shot 36 percent from the field, but that number should rise as the season progresses.
Last season, the Huskies split their contests with USD. SCSU lost 79-74 at Vermillion, but came back and won in overtime against them at Halenbeck, 72-64.
Morningside is coming off a dreadful 4-22 season. They have a new coach, and have won four of their first five games. Seniors Kelly Yeakel and Megan Cloud lead the Mavs with 58 and 56 points scored, respectively.
The Mavs have shot 37 percent from the floor, and have been outscoring their foes by six points. Morningside’s only loss came at Sioux Falls, 76-67.
Although they were picked to place third in the NCC, these games will prove where the Huskies are. If SCSU gets sustained play from Tina Schreiner and Nicole Persby, they shouldn’t have a problem. Look for a quick start to the season for the Lady Huskies.
Andy Rennecke can be reached at: [email protected]
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