THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will open up the 2019-20 regular season at the GAC/NSIC Crossover tournament this weekend, taking on Southern Nazarene (Nov. 8, 7:30 PM) and South Eastern Oklahoma State (Nov. 9, 3:30 PM)

SCOUTING REPORT ON NO. 9 SOUTHERN NAZARENE: The Crimson Storm come fresh off of a split in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. They first took on Missouri Western State and pulled out a win, outscroing MWS, 96-74. They then took on the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches unanimous national favorites in Northwest Missouri State (who took all 16 first-place votes). SNU was beaten by NMS, 100-88. The Crimson Storm come from a season where they won the GAC tournament and  made it to the second round of the NCAA Central Regional tournament, losing to Northwest Missouri State. Adam Bohac is back at the helm this season for the Crimson Storm, entering his 12th season. He has scored the Great American Conference Coach of the year two years straight, and carries a 230-116 (.665) overall record in his tenure.
Jhonathan Dull has started the year off well for SNU, putting up a pair of 30-point games (62 on the year, 31.5 per game) for the Crimson Storm. He's put up three blocks and gone 22-34 in field goals. He shares the team lead in total rebounds with 11 (one offensive, nine defensive). Morris Wilson II has 11 as well, putting up 21 points on the year (10.5 per game).

SCOUTING REPORT ON SOUTH EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE: The Savage Storm played Oklahoma University in an exhibition match, where they lost by just 13 to the Sooners. SEOSU finished last season by going 23-8, losing in the Championship game of the GAC tournament to Southern Nazarene University. The Savage Storm were able to make it to the NCAA DII Central Regional, losing in the second round to Missouri Southern State University. Kelly Green is back for his eighth season at the helm of the program, holding a 120-135 (.471) overall record while heading a program, 112-117 at SEOSU.
Kevin Buckingham is returning this year, who lead the team in scoring last year, dropping an average of 21.6 per game and 9.5 rebounds, both lead the team. He shot at a  60.2% rate from the floor, going 247-410 on the year. Kellen Manek was second on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.8 per game and totaling 180 on the year. He played in all 31 games last season, putting up 13.5 points per game while averaging 28.7 minutes a game.

THE SERIES: This will be the first time that the Bulldogs have met both the Crimson Storm and the Savage Storm in the programs history.

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

SCHOOL	OVERALL	CONF.
UMD	0-0	3RD
SNU	1-1	2ND
SEOSU	0-0	1ST

THE BROADCAST: The games will be carried live through a video stream with live stat capabilities. Southern Nazarene will be broadcasting every game, with live stats being on a separate link.

Broadcast: bit.ly/2pAmoHj

Live Stats: snuathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs 2018-19 season ended in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament at the hands of Winona State, dropping the game only by six points, 62-56. Head Coach Justin Wieck would finish his first season with a record of 17-10 overall (8-4 in the Northern Division (3rd) and 14-8 in the NSIC (T-3rd)). UMD played an exhibition match on Monday, dropping 77 on Wisconsin Superior, while UWS put up 65.

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.

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 will host the American Family Classic next weekend. Northern Michigan, Stonehill and Southwest Minnesota State are all joining the mix, with UMD taking on Northern Michigan (Nov. 15) and Stonehill (Nov. 16.).