The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team was tabbed to finish 16th out of 16 teams in the annual NSIC Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll. The Golden Eagles finished with 22 points in the poll, which is voted on by coaches from around the conference. NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 15 with a first-place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) was picked to win the conference, finishing with 222 points, while Wayne State College was picked second and Minnesota State was chosen to finish third in the overall standings. MSUM was tabbed as the unanimous favorite in the North half, garnering all seven first-place votes, while the Huskies of St. Cloud State were picked second.
Larenzo McGhee of MSUM was picked as the NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year, while Jordan Janssen of Wayne State College was voted the Preseason Player of the Year in the South.
Minnesota Crookston will look to rebound after a two-win season a year ago. Brian Sitzmann (G, Savage) and redshirt juniors Leonard Dixon (F, Demascus, Ore.) and Ethan Channel (G, Beaverton, Ore.) are key returners. Uzo Dibiamaka (So., G, Adelaide, South Australia) and Dylan Hushaw (So., G, Las Vegas, Nev.) are newcomers who are expected to make an impact in the backcourt. Zen Goodridge (Jr., F/C, Orlando, Fla.), Nathaniel Powell (So., C, Nottingham, England) and Marcus Thompson (Jr., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.) are also newcomers that add size and strength for the Golden Eagles.
UMC will host Mayville State Thursday at 6 P.M., in exhibition play, and open up the regular season on November 12 at the American Family Insurance Classic against East Central University (Okla.) in Duluth.
