Bethany Lutheran tops 2018-19 UMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Last year was a memorable season for Bethany Lutheran College men's basketball as it captured both the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season and postseason tournament titles to make its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The Vikings followed that up with a dominant upset win in the opening round over Saint John's University for the program's first NCAA postseason win.
Following that success, teams in the UMAC and the region won't take the Vikings lightly as they are now the team to beat topping the 2018-19 UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 62 points and seven first place votes, announced Thursday.
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2018-19 Schedule |
Last season, Betheny Lutheran finished with a 13-3 overall record and one game ahead of the College of St. Scholastica and two ahead of the University of Northwestern to earn the top seed in the UMAC postseason tournament. In the semifinal round, the Vikings shut down the University of Minnesota Morris 112-69 before ending Northwestern's postseason championship streak at seven in a row.
In conference games last year, the Vikings averaged a conference-best 84.4 points per game (ppg) and 40.9 rebounds per game (rpg). They topped the All-UMAC list with four selections, but will need to find a replacement for three of those individuals. Trenton Krueger returns for the Vikings after earning All-UMAC honors in his first season. The junior averaged 14.1 ppg in UMAC play and 7.3 rpg. He shot 57.1 percent from the field and added just over one block per game.
Joining Krueger is the 2017-18 Rookie fo the Year Jake Dale who averaged 9.9 ppg as a rookie. Senior guard Blake Lindstrom will also step up to help lead a talented group of incoming players who should replenish the Vikings' depth during their quest to defending their title.
The Vikings will again be challenged by St. Scholastica which finished 12-4 in second and Northwestern that was third at 11-5. The Saints took second in the poll with 56 points and one first place vote and the Eagles were third with 50 points and one first place vote. The Saints will rely heavily on a trio of experienced veterans highlighted by All-UMAC First Team pick Brandon Newman who averaged 13.1 ppg and shot 50.3 percent from the field in league play. Collin Anderson – who was an Honorable Mention selection – and Jarod Wilken both averaged in double figures last season and add depth in play-making areas of the game.
Northwestern stepped up big time last season after losing five starters from the year previous and managed to put the Vikings on their heels in the tournament championship game before falling by just six point int he waning seconds of the game. All-UMAC Second Team selection Tanner Youngberg returns after averaging 13.6 ppg in conference play and leading the league with 57.2 percent field goal shooting. Caleb Hageman was also a threat offensively earning him Honorable Mention honors as a junior. Anderson Bazile, Jr. is an experience senior who should help the Eagles start off on a strong foot in 2018-19 and challenge to take back the UMAC championship title.
Minnesota Morris and Crown College finished tied for fourth a year ago and both were slated in similar position in the poll with Minnesota Morris fourth with 42 points and Crown fifth with 37 points. The Cougars lose All-American CD Douglas but will rely heavily on senior Noah Grove who was All-UMAC Second Team after averaging 19.4 ppg in conference play a year ago. The Storm will need junior threat Tim Wendell to have another strong season to give them a shot at making a repeat tournament appearance. Wendel was third in conference scoring with 19.6 ppg.
The University of Wisconsin-Superior was picked sixth in the poll with 29 points and was one of just three teams to hand Bethany Lutheran a loss last year. The Yellowjackets return Colton Williams who averaged double digits last season. The standings round out with the final three teams separated by just eight total points. Northland College was seventh (20), Martin Luther College eighth (16) and North Central University ninth (12). Brandon Galland was a top-20 scorer a year ago for the LumberJacks and will be the top returner in 2018-19. Honorable Mention Ian Paulsen will lead the Knights after scoring 14.6 ppg a year ago, and Jared High will bring senior leadership for the Rams following an Honorable Mention season.
Most UMAC squads open up the 2018-19 season with non-conference action next weekend beginning Thursday, Nov. 8. Conference play then begins Wednesday, Dec. 5 and runs through Dec. 15-16 before the holiday break. Games begin again Wednesday, Jan. 2. The season concludes Saturday, Feb. 16 with the conference tournament set for the week of Monday, Feb. 18.
2018-19 UMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Bethany Lutheran - 62 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica - 56 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Northwestern - 50 points (1 First Place Vote)
4. Minnesota Morris - 42 points
5. Crown - 37 points
6. Wisconsin-Superior - 29 points
7. Northland - 20 points
8. Martin Luther - 16 points
9. North Central - 12 points
Team Previews
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Bethany Lutheran College
Matt Fletcher | 3rd Season |
2017-18 Season
13-3 UMAC, 20-9 Overall | 1st |
Postseason: UMAC Tournament Champs; NCAA Tournament 2nd Round; defeated 7th ranked St. John’s 102-92 in 1st round of NCAA Tournament
Top Returners
- Trenton Krueger, Jr., F | All-UMAC First Team | 14.8 ppg, 6.6 reb./game, 59.6 FG% |
- Jake Dale, So., F | UMAC Freshman of the Year | 8.7 ppg, 62.4 FG%, 4.3 reb./game |
- Blake Lindstrom, Sr., G | 6.9 ppg, 46 3FGM, 42.6 3FG% |
The College of St. Scholastica
David Staniger | 19th Season |
2017-18 Season
12-4 UMAC, 17-9 | 2nd |
Postseason: Lost to Northwestern in the UMAC Tournament Semifinals (69-65)
Top Returners
- Brandon Newman, Sr., G | 2016-17, 2017-18 First Team All-UMAC; 2015-16 UMAC Freshman of the Year | 14.4 Points per game, 101 assists, 116 rebounds |
- Collin Anderson, Jr., G | 2017-18 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 12.8 points per game, 54 3-point FG, .864 Ft pct. |
- Jarod Wilken, So., F | 10.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 30 Blocks |
Need to Know
The Saints have won at least 17 games each of the last three seasons, which marks the first time in program history that has occurred.
Crown College
Luke Herbert | 9th Season |
2017-18 Season
9-7 UMAC, 13-13 | T-4th |
Postseason: Lost to Minnesota Morris in opening round game of UMAC tournament
Top Returners
- Tim Wendel, Jr., F | All-UMAC First Team | 19.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 38.2% 3PT |
- Josh Volness, Sr., G | 14.3 ppg, 42.1% 3PT |
- Chris Moore, So., F| 9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg |
Need to Know
Crown is set to return 8 of the top 10 players in their rotation from a year ago.
Martin Luther College
Greg Holzhueter | 3rd season |
2017-18 Season
2-14 UMAC, 4-21| 9th |
Top Returners
- Ian Paulsen, Jr., F | 2017-18 HM All-UMAC, 2017-18 UMAC All-Defense | 2017-18 stats: 13.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.7 BPG |
- Richard Eckmann, Jr., F | 2017-18 stats: 10.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 40 3FG |
- Austin DeNoyer, Jr., G | 2017-18 stats: 12.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG |
Need to Know
Ian Paulsen led MLC in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks during the 2017-18 season.
North Central University
Jon High | 19th Season |
2017-18 Season
3-13 UMAC, 7-18 | 8th |
Top Returners
- Jared High, Sr., W | All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 16.9 PPG, 49.2 FG%, 43.7 3PT FG% |
- AJ McGrew, Jr., P | 8.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 45.9 FG% |
- Riley Loukinen, Jr., G | 7.8 PPG, 43.7 3PT FG%, 2.0 APG |
Need to Know
Jack Martin, Sr., W – returner, only played in 4 games last season, would have been a starter last year.
Northland College
Scott Sorenson | 7th Season |
2017-18 Season
8-8 UMAC, 12-13 | 6th |
Top Returners
- Brandon Galland, Sr., G | UMAC Academic All-Conference | 11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, Started 24 of 25 games in 17-18 |
- Ben Arqueros, Sr., PG| 5.5 ppg, 82% FT, Played in all 25 games in 17-18 |
- Benny Larry, Jr. | 7.8 ppg, 35% 3PT, Started 11 of 25 games in 17-18 |
Need to Know
The LumberJacks have won more games (conference and overall) in the last 3 years than during any 3 year stretch in the last 20+ years. They have also graduated 10 seniors in the last 2 seasons.
University of Minnesota Morris
Paul Grove | 17th season |
2017-18 Season
9-7 UMAC, 12-15 | T-4th |
Postseason: defeated Crown in first round, lost to Bethany in UMAC semis
Top Returners
- Noah Grove, Sr, F | 2018 All-UMAC Second Team | 19.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 apg |
- Jeffrey Halvorson, Sr, F | 8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 blocks/game |
- Trey Heinsuis, Sr, F | 2018 All-UMAC Defensive Team | 6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 steals/game |
Need to Know
Cougars led the conference in free throw percentage a year ago and were second in blocked shots.
University of Northwestern
Tim Grosz | 19th Season |
2017-18 Season
11-5 UMAC, 14-13 | 3rd |
Postseason: UMAC Tournament Runner-Up
Top Returners
- Caleb Hageman, Sr., G | UMAC Player of the Week, All-UMAC Honorable Mention, UMAC Academic All-Conference | NCCAA Athlete of the Week, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Academic Award | 14.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 APG|
- Anderson Bazile, Sr., G | 8.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.5 APG |
- Tanner Youngberg, Jr., G | Second Team All-UMAC, UMAC Player of the Week, UMAC Academic All-Conference | NCCAA North Central All-Region Honorable Mention | 12.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.9 APG |
Need to Know
Associate Head Coach Billy Aune is entering his 30th year coaching for the Northwestern men’s basketball program.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Greg Polkowski | 2nd season |
2017-18 Season
5-11 UMAC, 7-18 | 7th |
Top Returners
- Colton Williams, Sr., F| 12 points per game, 301 points, 5.6 rebounds per game |
- Montroy Scott, Sr., G |9 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 39 assists|
- Mac Reykdal, Jr., G | 4.4 points per game, .439 3-point field goal percentage, .423 field goal percentage |
Need to Know
UW-Superior will start the season with 10 freshmen on the roster.