Most of the Northern Sun basketball conference, including both men and women, opened their seasons this past weekend in the NSIC vs. Mid-American conference (MIAA) and also vs. the Great American conference (GAC). The extravaganza(s) consisted of 51 games at 11 different locations including men’s games at Duluth and Southwest Minnesota State, and women’s games at St, Cloud. Here are the results at 50,000 feet.
Minnesota men’s teams in the NSIC–all 9 teams participated–they went 6-4 vs. the MIAA and 6-2 vs. the GAC (Total 12-6)
Non-MN men’s teams in the NSIC–all 6 teams participated–they went 3-6 vs. the MIAA and 1-1 vs. the GAC (Total 4-7)
Minnesota women in the NSIC–6 of 9 teams participated–they went 7-5 vs. the MIAA and 2-2 vs. the GAC (Total 9-7)
Non-Minnesota women in the NSIC–3 of the 6 teams participated–they went 0-6 vs. the MIAA and did not play vs,. the GAC
Overall the Minnesota teams went 21-13 while the non-Minnesota teams went 4-13. The NSIC men went 16-13 while the women went 9-13.
Looking more closely, what did we learn over the past weekend.
It’s a New Year in Mankato
The Minnesota State Mavericks of course made history last spring by winning both the men’s and women’s national champoionships. And, the Mankato men and women were both picked in the pre-season coaches’ poll to repeat as NSIC champions. I went with Moorhead among the men and Mankato among the women. Well, the Mankato men are now 1-3, and the women 1-1. The men lost a pair of games at Lakeland, FL, the previous weekend to Florida Southern and North Georgia. They split a pair of games in Kansas City last weekend, beating South Arkansas (of the GAC) 71-67 but losing to Washburn (KS) (of the MIAA) 85-68. The coaches’ pre-season NSIC player of the year, senior forward Kyreese Willingham, is averaging 12 ppg and 6 boards while shooting 38 (overall) and 28 percent (3s) percent. As a team, Mankato is shooting 40 and 29 percent.
The women are 1-1 after splitting a pair of games last weekend. They beat Emporia State (MIAA) 99-74 and lost to Northwest Missouri (also MIAA85-67 at St. Joe, MO. In game 1, Destinee Bursch and Natalie Bremer combined for 43 points and 16 boards. In game 2, Bremer managed 20 points but just one board, and Bursch was held to 10 points. Mankato shot just 36 and 17 percent.
So, the Mankato women can and will still contend for the NSIC title. The men, well, only time will tell.
The Contenders–the Men
So if Mankato falters, who are the contenders for the NSIC titles? Among the men, Minnesota State (Moorhead) did nothing to diminish its stature as it defeated two GAC opponents in Kansas City–Henderson State 71-66 and Arkansas-Monticello 58-42. Jacob Beeninga scored 24 points in game 1 as the Dragons shot 44-38-90 percent, while 7-footer Jacob Jennissen scored 18 with 11 boards in game 2.
Southwest State won a pair of games (both against MIAA opponents) at home, beating Fort Hays State 68-62 as Aeron Stevens scored 29; and Nebraska-Kearney 77-73 as Stevens went 17 pts-7 boards-2 asts-2 bks and the Dragons shot 50-33-81 percent. Kearney led 65-58 late but Stevens and Jacob Braaten scored 6 points each down the stretch.
The long-suffering Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears look like they will finally compete this year. Antwan Kimmons, Ben Kopetzki and Marcus Skeete combined for 41 points and 14 rebounds last year, but Kimmons missed 2/3 of the season with injuries. The threesome opened this season by averaging 60 ppg and 23 boards as the Bears beat Nebraska-Kearney 95-93 in OT and Fort Hays 82-68 at Southwest State.
Finally, UMD also swept a pair of games at home, beating Southeast Oklahoma 115-81 and Oklahoma Baptist 71-52 (both from the GAC). Charlie Katona had 33 points and 15 boards in the 2 games and UMD shot 57 and 52 percent (FG overall) in the 2 games.
Among the men, Bemidji, UM Crookston, St. Cloud and Winona split a pair of games. No Minnesota men’s teams was winless on the weekend.
The Contenders–the Women
Among the women, Concordia, St. Cloud State and Southwest State each swept a pair of games. CSP beat Missouri Southern 72-69 and Central Missouri 83-61 at Warrensburg, MO. Lydia Haack scored 44 points in the 2 games, Lindsey Becher 27.
St. Cloud beat Central Oklahoma 68-63 and Washburn 63-51 at St. Cloud. The Huskies featured a balanced scoring attack and shot 43 and 44 percent in the 2 games.
Southwest State knocked off Washburn 82-72 and Central Oklahoma 73-62, also at St. Cloud. The coaches’ pre-season play of the year, guard Bri Stoltzman, scored 45 points for the Mustangs, who shot 50 and 47 percent.
Mankato and UMD each split a pair of games, while Moorhead and UM Crookston each went 0-2. Bemidji and Winona did not play.
Men’s Weekend All-Stars
Center–Jacob Jennissen, Moorhead
Power Forward–Aeron Stevens, Southwest State
Small Forward–Marcus Skeete, Concordia
Point Guard–Ben Kopetzki, Concordia
Shooting Guard–Antawn Kimmons, Concordia
Women’s Weekend All-Stars
Center–Lindsey Becher, Concordia
Power Forward–Natalie Bremer, Mankato
Small Forward–Ashley Sawicki, St. Cloud
Point Guard–Bri Stoltzman, Southwest State
Shooting Guard–Lydia Haack, Concordia