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SDSU is runaway favorite for NCC title
The North Central Conference men’s basketball season could be a dogfight until the bitter end, for second place that is. The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits are the clear favorite to repeat and sweep through the conference this season. SCSU feels that the Jacks are the cream of the crop, but they won’t back down.
“We’ll give it our best shot,” SCSU head coach Kevin Schlagel said. “We’ve competed with them over the last five years and we’ve been nose-to-nose with them every step of the way. We’re not going to back down from them. We’ll line it up and see what happens.”
“They’re a very good team,” SCSU junior point guard Alex Carlson said. “They’re going to have the same expectations that we had on us coming into last season. They’re a great team and it’s going to be fun to play them because we know it’s going to be a battle.”
Here’s a preview of each team (in order of predicted finish):
1. South Dakota State — Head coach Scott Nagy returns four starters from last year’s 24-6 squad that was one point away from advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight. Forward Derrick Schantz, centers Matt Jones and Josh Cerveny and guards Andy Moeller, Austin Hansen, Chris Stoebner all averaged over seven points a game last season. Hansen (15.2 points per game) and Jones (14.8 ppg and 8.7 rebounds per game) are the deadliest outside/inside punch in the NCC.
2. North Dakota — UND returns possibly Division II basketball’s best player in senior center Jerome Beasley. Beasley led the NCC with 10 double-doubles and a 21.7 scoring average, along with being named a second-team All-American. Deadly scorer Jeff Brandt returns for his junior season. Brandt averaged 14.6 ppg last season. UND coach Rich Glas has also brought in a possible sleeper in junior guard Myron Allen.
3. St. Cloud State
4. Nebraska-Omaha — The Mavericks bring back three starters from last year’s 24-9 squad who made the Wells Fargo semifinals. Seven players averaged at least 7.5 ppg for the NCC’s second place team last season. Center Adam Wetzel is the key returnee for the Mavs. Wetzel led the NCC with 90 blocks and averaged 10.7 ppg along with 5.8 rpg.
5. South Dakota — USD coach Dave Boots’ squad could be the sleeper team in the NCC. Top-notch sophomore point guard Josh Mueller is back after a stellar freshman campaign (17.3 ppg). Mueller led the NCC in assists and was fifth in the NCC (6.7 apg). Forward Steve Anderson, who was fourth in the NCC in rebounding with 8.1 rpg, returns along with J.D. Roberts to form a nice front line.
6. North Dakota State — You’re not in Colorado anymore Denver. The Bison return their top scorer in senior guard Denver TenBroek. TenBroek averaged 19.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg to pace NDSU last season. Junior guard Ben Nemmers is also back (11.5 ppg and 4.2 apg) to complement TenBroek on the offensive end. Head coach Dave Miles might have a star on his hands in sophomore guard Tyrone Terry.
7. Minnesota State, Mankato — Health is the main concern for the Mavericks. Injuries sidelined stars senior center Nick Ellengerger and junior guard Josh Ziemke last season. Senior forward Jermaine Brown and guard Drew Carlson picked up the slack though. Brown averaged 18.8 ppg and 6.7 rpg, while Carlson’s 15.9 ppg and 74 assists weren’t too shabby. If these four players can stay in the lineup together, the Mavs will open some eyes.
8. Northern Colorado — Who cares?
9. Augustana — A respectable 14-13 overall record last season didn’t turn into any NCC success, as the Vikings went 7-11 in the conference. Not much is going to change this season.
SDSU and UND will battle for the title, but SDSU’s shooting and rebounding prowess outweighs that of UND’s.
“We were favored last year and didn’t do it,” SCSU’s Forrest Witt said. “That’s fine with whatever everyone else says (SDSU sweeping through NCC), but we just have to care of what we do. I think we’ll be fine and be in the hunt at the end. That’s all we can ask for.”
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