THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will take to the road to face off against Sioux Falls (Dec. 13) and Southwest Minnesota State University (Dec. 14).

SCOUTING REPORT ON SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars are off to a hot start to both their regular season and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)  season. USF comes off a weekend where they swept their opponents. First, they took to the road to take on Concordia-St. Paul in a tight battle where they would come out on top 78-71. They then traveled to Mankato, Minn. to square off against Minnesota State University in another game that would come down to two possessions where the Cougars would come out on top again 86-81. Sioux Falls has won the past two games, and has won the past five of six, losing to only Minnesota Crookston, 94-69. The Cougars were selected to finish fourth in the Southern Division of the NSIC, and were in a tie for 10th in the NSIC Coaches Preseason Poll overall. Chris Johnson is in his 13th season as a head coach, and his 12th at the helm of the program. Johnson carries a 202-145 (.582) while at Sioux Falls, with a 218-160 (.577) overall record.
Teathloach Pal was chosen as the Cougars player to watch this season. So far on the year, Pal has averaged 11.0 points per game, third on the team. He leads the team in rebounds per game with 10.6 per game in 30.8 minutes per night. He's shooting at a 55.4 percent on the year. He has yet to make a three on the year, but has gone 17-23 from the free throw line. Chase Grinde has lead the offense this season, hitting 12.3 points per game while grabbing an average of 5.4 rebounds per game. He's averaging 30.2 minutes per game, second behind Pal. He's shooting at a 54.1 percent on the year, making four three's thus far. He's managed to dish out a team leading 21 assists so far as well.

SCOUTING REPORT ON SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The Mustangs are currently sitting at 3-6 on the year with a 0-3 record in the NSIC. SMSU has fallen to their last three opponents. Last weekend, they took on Minnesota State University in a 67-57 loss to the Mavericks. The Mustangs would then travel to Concordia-St. Paul, falling to the Golden Bears on a 75-70 battle til' the end. SMSU is 2-3 in their past five games, beating Minnesota Morris (82-59) and Mayville State (N.D.) (73-61). Brad Bigler is in his 11th season with the Mustangs. Bigler carries a 182-130 (.583) record while heading the program.
Kenny Byers was selected as the Mustangs player to watch this season. So far in nine games this season, Byers has averaged a team high 13.7 points per game while rebounding 8.7 rebounds per game, also a team high. He sees the floor an average of 29.4 minutes per night, and shoots at a 42.2 (49-116) percent from the floor. Byer has dropped five 3-pointers so far this year, making about a third (31.3 percent) of shots from beyond the arc. Nick Dufaullt has been right behind Byers in terms of scoring, dropping an average of 12.1 points per game while playing in 28.1 minutes a night. He's made 21 3's this year, shooting a 42.9% (21-49) from beyond the arc.

THE SERIES: In the past two years, the Bulldogs have struggled against both programs. The Mustangs have beaten UMD in the past two meetings, taking their match-up in '17 68-65, and beating the Bulldogs in last years meeting 75-63. The Cougars have done the same to UMD in the past two years, taking the '17 match-up 91-66, then winning last years match-up 73-66.

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	PRESEAON CONF.	NABC
UMD	8-1	3RD	RV
USF	7-2	10TH	NR
SMSU	3-6	12TH	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: UMD has been on a hot streak as of late, riding a current seven game winning streak. The Bulldogs would open up their NSIC play with a three win week. They would first have their opener against St. Cloud State delayed due to weather, but would beat the Huskies two days later in a 95-74 rout. UMD then played a pair of NSIC opponents, handing Minot State a 72-54 loss, then beating UMary 73-62.
 
POINTS GALORE: UMD ranks 2nd in the NSIC and 31st in DII in points per game, averaging 87.8 per game on the year. Brandon Myer leads the way with 20.3 per game, second in the NSIC. Alex Illikainen is sitting in sixth in the NSIC with 18.4 and Drew Blair sitting in 14th with 16.0 per game.

3'S FOR DAYS: The Bulldogs sit in the top-5 for 3-point FG percentage (second, 38.1), 3-point FG defense (third, 32.1) and 3-point FG's made (fourth, 86 (avg. of 9.6 per game)). Logan Rohrscheib is leading the way, hitting 51.3 (20-39) percent of shots beyond the arc. Drew Blair is just behind him with 18 made on the year, hitting 36.0 (18-50) percent of 3's he's taken.

WHAT'S A MISSED SHOT: The Bulldogs are sitting fourth in the NSIC for field goal percentage, hitting 48.1 percent of their shots (268-557). Three of the Bulldogs, Myer, Illikainen and Blair, are all in the top-15 for field goal percentage. Myer has shot 55.9 percent (fifth), Illikainen has hit 54.3 percent (eighth) and Blair has hit 47.7 percent (15th) of the shots he's put up.

PASS ME THE ROCK: Minnesota Duluth ranks in first in the NSIC in assists, averaging 15.89 per game. Three Bulldogs sit in the top-25 in the NSIC. Trevor Entwisle sits in fourth (4.6 per game), Drew Blair sits 21st (2.5 per game) and Hunter Plamann sits in 25th (2.4 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 St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minn. on Dec. 21.