Northwestern picked to reclaim UMAC men's basketball title in 2016-17
ST. PAUL---ST. PAUL, Minn.---Heading into the final weekend of the season in 2015-16, it looked as though the University of Northwestern men's basketball team would repeat as regular season champions in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). However, the Eagles dropped their final two games and fell to second behind the College of St. Scholastica.
The 2016-17 season should see the Eagles return to the top of the UMAC as they collected seven first-place votes for 62 total points in the UMAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Thursday.
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Poll |
Matchups |
Team Previews |
Prior to the 2015-16 season, the Eagles had won three-straight regular season men's basketball titles and five of the previous six. They had also come off a "Sweet 16" appearance in the NCAA tournament. Despite falling to the Saints in the final game of the season, the Eagles mustered up a win in the conference playoff championship game to return to the NCAA tournament winning their sixth-consecutive postseason crown.
A year ago, the Eagles were among the top teams in every statistical category and proved to be very consistent throughout the year. The Eagles were first in points allowed per game (69.8) in conference play and were the only team to average less than 10 turnovers a game (8.9) against UMAC foes. They outrebounded opponents by 5.0 boards per game and ranked fourth in overall rebounds (38.3). Offensively, Northwestern ranked fourth in overall scoring (82.5), second in field goal percentage (49.2) and third in 3-point percentage (37.1).
The Eagles saw tremendous success – finishing 12-4 in conference games and 22-6 overall – due to a talented group of starting players which included 2014-15 Player of the Year Michael Carney and 2015-16 Second Team All-UMAC selection Kyle Ooms. Carney was a First Team honoree last season after leading the team with 14.6 ppg in conference games behind the third-best 3-point percentage (45.6) in the league. Ooms contributed 12.8 ppg, a league-best 65.3 percentage from the floor and 8.1 rebounds per game – third-best among all UMAC players.
Replacing this duo will be a large task in losing the team's top threat from deep and under the basket. However, Head Coach Tim Grosz returns three experienced veterans who should fill in the gaps. Among those players is the 2015-16 UMAC men's basketball tournament MVP Will Gisler. The senior started off the season slow but came on strong in postseason play scoring 31 points and adding 16 rebounds in his two tournament appearances. He finished the year with 10.3 ppg in conference play for fifth-best on the team.
Joining Gisler to lead the Eagles are Porter Morrell and Cody Sprenger who both averaged over 11 ppg in conference play and 31 minutes per game. Sprenger led the team with 2.9 assists per game and had a 2.1 assist/turnover mark as well as more than a steal per game. Morrell was second among starters for the Eagles in 3-point percentage (45.6) while he and Sprenger both shot over 43 percent from the field.
Regaining the top spot in the UMAC won't be easy, though, as the Eagles will need to hold off a St. Scholastica squad that impressed a year ago. The reigning champion Saints led the league in conference scoring (87.6 ppg), were second in rebounding (40.9 rpg) and second in rebounding margin (6.1). They also led the league in blocks per game (3.8).
Coach of the Year David Staniger saw his Saints win nine of their last 10 games en route to their first outright title in program history. Staniger has a tough task ahead of him for this season in replacing Second Team All-UMAC player Andrew Laughlin and Honorable Mention Jake Naslund. Both players averaged over 12 ppg against UMAC teams and Laughlin was second in the league in shooting percentage (63.3).
The Saints – who were picked second with 58 points and received two first-place nods – should be in position to challenge the Eagles for the top spot, though, with the return of UMAC Freshman of the Year Brandon Newman who averaged 11.8 ppg and shot 47.0 percent from the field. Second Team All-UMAC and All-Defensive Team selection Julius Johnson also returns after scoring 11.2 ppg and 4.6 assists per game.
Following the Saints, the University of Minnesota Morris was picked third with 46 points in the poll after making the conference tournament for the seventh-straight season. The Cougars finished fourth a year ago, but narrowly advanced to the UMAC semifinal game with a 83-80 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior before falling to the Saints.
The Cougars return star CD Douglas who could put them in contention for one of the top two spots int he final standings. Douglas was a First Team award winner and repeat pick for the All-Defenive team after scoring 22.8 ppg and leading the league in assists per game (5.0). Fellow All-Defensive Team pick Tyler Ukkelberg also returns following a sophomore season in which he averaged 1.3 blocks per game and 6.9 rebounds per game in UMAC games.
North Central University made the conference tournament for the third time in four year as the No. 3 seed. The Rams were dubbed fourth in the poll with 42 points behind the Cougars by just four points. They lose Honorable Mention scorer Cody Martin who avearged 13.8 ppg in league contests, but will return two Honorable Mention selections in Travis Voigt and Joel Cline who both averaged double figures as sophomores.
Bethany Lutheran College missed out on the postseason a year ago, but should be a contender after being picked fifth by the coaches with 32 points. The Vikings will rely heavily on First-Team selection Brandon Frelix who was fourth in conference scoring a year ago with a monstrous 20.2 ppg. He also ranks in the top 10 in rebounds. Brady Rose also returns and was an All-Defensive pick in 2014-15.
The Vikings will be challenged in the playoff hunt by Northland College who was picked sixth and just one point behind the Vikings with 31. The LumberJacks will be without the presence of Bryshaun Brown who was an Honorable Mention pick last year, but senior Dan Campion should set up for his final season and return to his Honorable Mention form from his sophomore season. Campion averaged 8.3 ppg, while senior Rijo Jackson should also contribute after averaging double figures overall.
Crown College was selected seventh in the poll with 25 points. The Storm will need another big year from junior Austin VanDerHeyden who was Freshman of the Year two seasons ago and All-UMAC Second Team with 18.4 ppg in UMAC play last season. Honorable Mention senior James Brown also returns after a solid junior campaign.
Wisconsin Superior slid into the postseason on the final weekend of the season, but were predicted to fall allt he way to eighth (19 points) this season after losing UMAC Player of the Year Zach Schradle who averaged 23.1 ppg in UMAC play. The Yellowjackets return just three players from the 2015-16 varsity squad.
Martin Luther College was selected ninth (9 points) after losing the league's leading scorer in conference games in Todd Brassow. They will look to leadership from new Head Coach and program alum Greg Holzhueter who replaces Jim Unke who served at the helm of the Knight program for 19 seasons.
The UMAC men's basketball schedule sees several conference teams taking on some of the top teams from the Midwest in non-conference play with games beginning Nov. 15 before conference games startDec. 2. That first weekend features the premier matchup of the season with St. Scholastica traveling to play Northwestern on Dec. 3 following what should be a tough game against North Central the night before.
The first weekend of the new year will see playoff hopefuls Bethany Lutheran and Northland do battle, while the Vikings and Cougars will look to get ahead in the standings with games against Northwestern and North Central the following weekend.
Minnesota Morris and Bethany will meet for their second meeting of the year on Jan. 28 before a weekend of top-five matchups the weekend of Feb. 3. Playoff spots will be on the line in the final weekend of the year with more top five match ups that will make the season exciting down to the final seconds.
Complete UMAC Schedule
2016-17 UMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Northwestern - 62 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica - 58 points (2 First Place Vote)
3. Minnesota Morris - 46 points
4. North Central - 42 points
5. Bethany Lutheran - 32 points
6. Northland - 31 points
7. Crown - 25 points
8. Wisconsin-Superior - 19 points
9. Martin Luther - 9 points
Team Previews
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UNW |
UWS |
1. University of Northwestern
Tim Grosz | 17th season|
2015-16 Season
12-4 UMAC, 22-6 | 2nd |
Postseason: Defeated CSS 93-70 in the UMAC Tournament Championship before falling to St. Norbert 77-58 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Will Gisler, Sr., G | First Team All-UMAC, 2014-15 | 10.5 ppg, 6.5 rebounds/game, started all 28 games in 2015-16|
- Cody Sprenger, Sr., G | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16| 10.9 ppg, 3.2 assists/game, started all 28 games in 2015-16 |
- Porter Morrell, Sr., G | Second Team All-UMAC, 2014-15| 10.9 ppg, hit 41 3-pointers, 2.7 assists/game |
Top Losses
- Michael Carney, G | First Team All-UMAC, 2015-16, UMAC POY in 2014-15| NCCAA Second Team All-American | 13.3 ppg, shot 44.9 percent from long range, averaged over 32 minutes per game|
- Kyle Ooms, F | Second Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 11.9 ppg, 7.8 rebounds/game, shot 63.8 percent from the floor |
Need to Know
- The Eagles made their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015.
- Northwestern returns seven players who averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season.
- Northwestern’s three returning starters all averaged double figures in scoring in 2015-16.
2. College of St. Scholastica
David Staniger |17th season |
2015-16 Season
13-3 UMAC, 19-8 | 1st |
Postseason: Defeated Minnesota Morris in semifinal, 81-66; Lost championship to Northwestern, 93-70
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Julius Johnson, Sr., G | Second-Team All-UMAC, 2015-16; UMAC All-Defensive Team 2016 | 9.6 ppg, 3.9 ast./g, 1.5 stl/g |
- Brandon Newman, So., G | UMAC Freshman of the Year, 2015-16 | 11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 stl./g |
- Kory Deadrick, Jr., F | 6.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg |
Top Losses
- Andrew Laughlin, F | Second-Team All-UMAC, 2014-15, 2015-16 | 12.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 57.8 FG % |
- Jake Naslund, G | All-UMAC Honorable Mention, 2014-15, 2015-16| 11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 ast./g |
Need to Know
- The Saints won their first outright regular season title in 2015-16 and just the fifth in program history.
- St. Scholastica won nine of their last 10 games en route to clinching the conference title.
- Staniger was named UMAC Coach of the Year after leading the Saints to program-best marks during his tenure.
3. University of Minnesota Morris
Paul Grove | 15th season |
2015-16 Season
9-7 UMAC, 13-14 | 4th |
Postseason: Defeated UW-Superior 83-80 in first round; lost to St. Scholastica 81-66 in semifinal
Starters returning: 4
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- CD Douglas, Jr., G | First-Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | UMAC All-Defensive Team, 2014-15, 2015-16 | 21.4 ppg, 5.1 ast./g, 1.7 stl/g |
- Tyler Ukkelberg, Jr., G | UMAC All-Defensive Team, 2015-16 | 10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.7 ast./g |
- John Haseman, Sr., F | 8.0 ppg, 52.8 FG%, 3.9 rpg |
Top Losses
- Joe Roggenbuck, Post| 8.9 ppg, 53.8 FG%, 6.1 rpg |
- Kevin Heysse, Forward | 2.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg |
Need to Know
- The Cougars have reached the UMAC Postseason Tournament seven straight seasons.
- Coach Grove has a 115-67 record in UMAC games.
- Douglas was third in the conference in both points per game (21.4) and field goal percentage (57.0), and second in assists per game (5.1)
4. North Central University
Jon High | 9th season |
2015-16 Season
10- UMAC, 16-15 | 3rd |
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Travis Voigt, Jr., G | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 16.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.2 apg |
- Joel Cline, Jr., P | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 14.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 64.7 FG% |
- Jared High, So., W | 12.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 44.8 3PT% |
Top Losses
- Cody Martin, G | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 12.4 ppg, 5.4 apg |
- Josh High, W | 12.0 ppg, 43 3PT% |
Need to Know
- Rams have made the UMAC playoffs in 3 out of 4 years since joining the UMAC.
- Rams won their NCCAA Region for the fourth consecutive year and finished fourth place in NCCAA National Tournament.
5. Bethany Lutheran College
Matt Fletcher | 1st Season |
2015-16 Season
8-8 UMAC record, 10-15 | 6th |
Starters returning: 4
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- Brandyn Frelix, Sr., F | First-Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 18.8 PPG – 4
th in UMAC| 6.2 RPG – 10
th in UMAC |82.8% FT% - 2
nd in UMAC|
- Neil Eichten, Jr., G | 11.3 PPG | 23 GP | 10.6 shot attempts per game |
- Brady Rose | All-Defensive-Team, 2014-15 | 5.9 PPG | 5.5 RPG |25 GP |
Top Losses
- Nick Sanborn, F | Honorable-Mention All-UMAC, 2014-15 |10.4 PPG |4.3 rebounds per game | 25 GP |
Need to Know
- The Vikings are under new leadership in head coach Matt Fletcher. Fletcher brings with him Nick Perrin, who was an assistant at Minnesota Morris last season.
- Bethany returns 86 percent of their scoring in 2016-17.
- The Vikings concluded the 2015-16 season with two wins against conference opponents in Crown and UMM.
6. Northland College
Scott Sorenson | 5th Season|
2015-16 Season
7-9 UMAC, 9-16 | 7th |
Starters returning: 4
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- Dan Campion, Sr., PG | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2014-15 | 8.3 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.1 A/TO|
- Rijo Jackson, Sr., G | 11.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg |
- Maverick Harris, Sr., G | 7.5 ppg, 37.1% 3FG, 1.9 A/TO |
Top Losses
- Bryshaun Brown, F | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 11.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg |
Need to Know
- Northland will have eight returning seniors and juniors, as well as return four of five starters and six of seven student-athletes who started at least one game last season.
- Northland returns 84 percent of minutes played, 81 percent of total points, 80 percent of total rebounds, and 80 percent of total assists from last year.
- Last year’s six-game home winning streak was the longest in nearly 20 years.
7. Crown College
Luke Herbert |7th season |
2015-16 Season
4-12 UMAC, 5-20 | 8th |
Starters returning: 4
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- Austin VanDerHeyden, Jr., P |Second Team All-UMAC, 2015-16, UMAC Freshman of the Year/Honorable Mention All-UMAC 2014-15| 17.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg |
- James Brown, Sr., W | Honorable Mention All-UMAC, 2015-16, Second Team All-UMAC, 2014-15 | 16.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 38% 3pt |
- Josh Volness, So., W | 10.0 ppg, 38.4% 3pt |
Top Losses
- Seth Moan, G | 13.6 ppg |
Need to Know
- Crown returns four of their top five scorers from a year ago.
- The Storm added 15 newcomers to their roster with a very deep recruiting class.
- Guards Terrell Thomas and Trey Peace return after missing last year due to football injuries.
8. University of Wisconsin Superior
Paul Eberhardt | 5th season |
2015-16 Season
8-8 UMAC, 12-14 | 5th |
Postseason: Defeated in UMAC Tournament first round 83-80 by UM-Morris
Starters returning: 1
Starters lost: 4
Top Returners
- Nate Kalien, Jr., G | 23 GP-23 GS, 9.6 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 33 assists
- Montroy Scott, So., G | 26 GP-2 GS, 9.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 43 assists
- Trevor Oswald, So., G | 11 GP, 1.1 PPG, 0.4 RPG
Top Losses
- Zach Schradle, G | UMAC Player of the Year, 2015-16 |26 GP-26 GS, 22.2 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 100 assists |
- Brian Lindblom, F | Second Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 26 GP-26 GS, 17.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 43 assists |
- Vid Milenkovic, F | 26 GP-19 GS, 8.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 41 assists |
Need to Know
- UW-Superior has just three returners from its 2015-16 varsity roster, adding 20 newcomers during fall camp
- The Yellowjackets have more freshmen (13) than upper classmen (10) on the roster today
- UWS returns just 25.6 percent of its overall scoring from a season ago (20.0 PPG out of 78.0 PPG)
9. Martin Luther College
Greg Holzhueter | 1st season |
2015-16 Season
1-15 UMAC, 1-24 | 9th |
Starters returning: 2
Starters lost: 3
Top Returners
- T.J Babinec, So., G | 15.5 PPG,76 3FG, 42 steals |
- Josh VonDeylen, Jr., F | 4.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 18 starts |
- Zach Peterson, Sr., C | 1.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 11 starts |
Top Losses
- Todd Brassow, G | First Team All-UMAC, 2015-16 | 22.8 PPG, MLC single-season record 570 points last season, 4.4 RPG |
- Michael Paulsen, G | 11.4 PPG, 76 assists, 34 steals |
- Austin Eisenmann, F | 5.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 29.7 MPG |
Need to Know
- New MLC head coach Greg Holzhueter played for MLC from 2007-11, and ranks as the program’s all-time leader in assists (370) and steals (170).
- Holzhueter is taking over the program from Jim Unke, who served as MLC men’s basketball coach for the past 19 seasons, and finished with 164 career wins.
- Sophomore T.J. Babinec set an MLC men’s basketball record with 76 three-point field goals last season, and shot 36.9 percent from beyond the three-point arc as a freshman.