THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will be opening conference play of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in Romano Gym, playing host to St. Cloud State on Nov. 30.

SCOUTING REPORT ON ST. CLOUD STATE: The Huskies come off a weekend of sweeps. First was a win by a sizeable margin of 94-67 over Waldorf (Iowa). SCSU would then go on to play Dakota Wesleyan University and beat them by a much closer margin, 75-71. The Huskies are now sitting 3-3 on the year and are opening up their conference schedule against the University of Minnesota Duluth. Matt Reimer is at the helm for the Huskies this season, his sixth at SCSU. He carries an overall record of 99-63 (.611) in his career as head coach. The Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the Southern Division of the NSIC, and eighth overall in the preseason poll.
Andrija Blatancic is leading the way on the offensive side of the ball for the Huskies this season, averaging 13.8 per game with 5.2 rebounds which is second on the team. Trevon Marshall, who was named as St. Cloud's preseason player to watch, is sitting second on the team in points per game this season, just behind Blatancic with 13.7 per game and is averaging 3.3 rebounds per game. The Huskies currently sit seventh overall in points per game in the NSIC with 77.8, and fourth for scoring defense with a 62.7 average per game.

THE SERIES: The Huskies have had the better luck when it comes to the all-time series between the two teams, with SCSU carrying a 55-35 all time record.  The Bulldogs were able to take both meetings between the squads last year, with both games being hard fought battles. The first was a 91-81 win to UMD, with Brandon Myer leading the way in both points and rebounds for the Bulldogs, grabbing a double-double with 31 points and 15 rebounds. The second meeting, UMD had a bit more of a lead, winning 75-60. Myer again lead the with another double-double at 24 points and 16 rebounds.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its two opponents stack up with their records, and in each other's respective preseason polls.
 

SCHOOL	OVERALL	PRESEASON CONF.	NABC
UMD	5-1	3RD	RV
SCSU	3-3	8TH	NR

THE BROADCAST: The match will be carried through a live broadcast with live stats capabilities.

Broadcast: UMDBulldogs.com/watch

Live Stats: UMDBulldogs.com/watch and follow the live stats button

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs played a two game stint last week, playing host to Wisconsin-Parkside and then traveling to Houghton, MI. to take on Michigan Tech. UMD was able to take both games in the week, first beating Parkside 89-69, where Brandon Myer had a double-double and Logan Rohrschieb lead the team with 26 points. The Bulldogs would then go on to beat Tech, 85-80. Myer would again thrown down a double-double while Hunter Plamann would lead the way with 19 points in the game.

POINTS GALORE: UMD ranks 2nd in the NSIC in points per game, averaging 91.7 per game on the year. Senior forward Alex Illikainen leads the with 19.7 per game on the year, sitting fourth in the NSIC. Seior forward Brandon Myer is just behind him with 19.0 per year, sitting sixth in the NSIC. Redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair is finishing out the top 10 in the NSIC, with 17.3 per game on the season.

3'S FOR DAYS: The Bulldogs sit in the top-10 for 3-point FG percentage (second, 41.4), 3-point FG defense (10th, 34.1) and 3-point FG's made (first, 67 (avg. of 11.2 per game)). Drew Blair is heading UMD in the percentage category, hitting 40.5% (15-37, ninth in NSIC) of 3's he's put up. He's averaging 2.5 per game, good for 11th in the NSIC. Senior guard Logan Rohrscheib is averaging 2.3 per game, sitting in 13th in the NSIC.

WHAT'S A MISSED SHOT: The Bulldogs are sitting fourth in the NSIC for field goal percentage, hitting 50.7% of their shots (193-381). Three of the Bulldogs, Illikainen, Blair and Myer, all sit in the top 20 in field goal percentage. Illikainen has hit 56.6% (seventh), Myer has hit 52.5% (12th) and Blair is at 47.7% (18th).

PASS ME THE ROCK: Minnesota Duluth ranks in second in the NSIC in assists, averaging 17.17 per game. Four Bulldogs are in the top 25 for assists per game. Senior guard Trevor Entwisle sits sixth in the NSIC with 4.0 per game, sophomore guard Hunter Plamann is in 19th with 2.8, Blair is in 20th with 2.8 and Myer is in 24th with 2.5 per game.

HOMEGROWN AND READY TO WREAK HAVOC: An All-NSIC first team player last season, Brandon Myer is the Bulldogs NSIC Player to Watch for. Myer led the club in points, rebounds, blocks and steals. The senior forward established career single-game highs in points and rebounds. He ended the season registering 21.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals -- all career highs -- while compiling 14 double-doubles, nine 25 (or more) point-games and a trio of 30-point games.

NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Bulldogs were tabbed with a third place finish in the NSIC preseason coaches poll this season, snagging three first place votes (out of 16) and receiving 196 points. UMD blew expectations out of the water last year, finishing in a tie for third (picked to finish 10th). The Bulldogs were tabbed as the Northern Division favorites this year, swinging seven first place votes (out of eight) and 49 points.

Minnesota State was selected as the NSIC favorites this season, swinging seven first place votes and getting 214 points. Augustana was chosen to finish just behind the Mavericks, garning six first place votes and receiving 208 points.

In the divisional rankings, Northern State was chosen as the second place finishers behind UMD, gaining the only other first place vote, garnering 40 points. MSU Moorhead follows them, totaling 39 points.

The Bulldogs own Brandon Myer was selected as the Northern Division Preseason Player of the Year, while Minnesota State's Cameron Kirksey was selected as the Southern Division Preseason Player of the Year.

NEW DOGS ON THE BLOCK: The Bulldogs come into the 2019-20 season with a plethora of new faces, with three freshman, guard Jack Middleton, guard Isaiah Watts and guard Charlie Gorres, and two DI transfers, forward Alex Illikainen and forward Yalim Olcay joining the squad this season. Redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair figures to factor into the mix this year as well.

THE SCOOP ON THE DOGS: UMD ushers in a new era of Bulldog basketball with Justin Wieck as the program's 17th head coach. Despite losing All-NSIC second team selection Sean Burns, the Bulldogs return All-NSIC first team selection Brandon Myer. UMD does bring back starter Logan Rohrscheib as well. Wieck did bring in two DI transfers in Alex Illikainen from the University of Wisconsin, as well as Yalim Olcay, who transfers from Western Carolina University. The Bulldogs bring a trio of freshman into the mix this year, with guard Jack Middleton hailing from Edina, Minn., guard Charlie Gorres from Cottage Grove, Minn. and guard Isaiah Watts coming from Bloomington, Minn. Redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair looks to hop in the mix this year as well.

THE COACH: Justin Wieck took over as the University of Minnesota Duluth head men's basketball coach on May 1, 2018, becoming the 17th head coach in the 89-year history of the Bulldog program and just the fourth since the 1984-85 season. Wieck is enetering his second season as head coach for the Bulldogs.
During his first year, Wieck has helped a duo of players, senior forward Brandon Myer and forward Sean Burns, elevate their game to all-conference heights, as well as having erned four conference player of the week honors. Wieck helped to improve the Bulldogs from having an underwhelming season in 2017-18, to a positive overall record of 17-10, while 14-8 in conference, last season, UMD's best since 2008-09. During the 2018-19 season, the Bulldogs ranked No. T-13 in fewest fouls, as well as No. 6 in all of Division II for the fewest turnovers. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 regionally for the first time since 2008-09, and had a 4-1 record against NCAA Tournament teams.
Wieck's first recruiting class includes Drew Blair, a 2018 top 15 player in Wis., two time state champion for Stevens Point and a Division II transfer from Northwest Missouri State. Alex Illikainen, a Division I transfer from the University of Wisconsin, a 2014 top 100 player in the U.S. and a former 4-star recruit. Charlie Gorres, a 2019 Minn. top 15 recruit. Yalim Olcay, a Division I transfer from Western Carolina and a 16U Turkish National Team Training camp invite. Jack Middleton, a 2019 Minn. top 15 recruit as a Minn. Mr. Basketball finalist.
"My family and I are ecstatic to join the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Duluth community," said Wieck. "There is tremendous leadership from the top down in this department, as well as so many successful head coaches and programs.  I am looking forward to joining such an awesome team.  This basketball program has tremendous potential.  The city of Duluth is a special place to be, UMD boasts a high academic reputation, a powerful and hungry fan and alumni base, and with the Romano Gymnasium renovations taking place this summer, this program is ready to take off.  I am looking forward to jumping right in with this current roster, building relationships and getting this program back to the top of the NSIC."
During Wieck's successful four years of assistant coaching service (offensive coordinator) at MSU-Moorhead, the Dragons rolled up a 96-38 overall record, made three NCAA Tournament appearances, captured at least a share of two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular titles, advanced to two NSIC Tournament finals and reigned as the NSIC North Division champions three times. Over that span, he helped produced two NSIC Players of the Year in Aaron Lien (2016-17) and Jordan Riewer (2014-15), six All-NSIC first team selections and two National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Americans.
In 2014-15 -- Wieck's first season -- MSU-Moorhead enjoyed its most productive season in program history. In addition to setting a team single-season record for victories by going 35-4, the Dragons laid claim to the NCAA II Central Region crown and made it to the NCAA Division II Elite 8 for the first time ever. Along the way, MSU-Moorhead also broke previous school marks for field goals made, field goal percentage, three-point field goals made, free throws made, and free throw percentage.
Prior to his arrival in Moorhead, Wieck served as the head men's basketball coach for two years at the University of Jamestown (N.D.), where he went 32-31 while directing the Jimmies to a NAIA Division II National Tournament appearance in 2012-13 as well as a second-place finish in the Association of Independent Institutions (Aii) Tournament. The following year, Jamestown captured both the inaugural North Star Athletic Association regular season and tournament championships while finishing 17-12 overall. Wieck, the 2013-14 NSAA Coach of the Year, saw four of his players receive all-conference first team honors and two become All-Americans during his time in Jamestown.
Wieck's resume also includes a two-year assistant coaching stint at NSIC member Northern State University (2010-12) where he handled the Wolves' recruiting coordinator duties.  In addition, he was employed for a total of four seasons as the video coordinator (2008-10) and graduate assistant coach (2006-08) at his alma mater, the University of Iowa. While with the Hawkeye staff, Wieck worked with Steve Alford and Todd Lickliter, both National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year recipients, and assisted the Iowa coaches in preparing opponent scouting reports along with breaking down Hawkeye practices and game films. He also served as assistant camp director for Iowa Summer Basketball Camps and was active in the academic monitoring and community outreach for the Hawkeye program.
A native of North Liberty, Iowa, Wieck joined the Iowa program as walk-on forward in 2004, fresh off a rewarding two-season career at Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). He eventually earned a scholarship as a senior -- the same year the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten Tournament and made their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Wieck, an Academic All-Big Ten selection, earned both his Bachelor's degree in finance (2006) and Master's degree in athletic administration (2008) from Iowa. He and his wife, Laura, have two children – son Jordy (7) and daughter Anya (5) and newborn Ella.

ON TAP: The Bulldogs continue their home stand by taking on Minot State (Dec. 6) and the University of Mary (Dec. 7).