THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth continues its homestand with a two game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference weekend, playing host to Minot State University (Dec. 6) and UMary (Dec. 7).

TEACHER APPRECIATION NIGHT/STARKS ACADEMY NIGHT: The Bulldogs will be having teacher appreciation night on Dec. 6, as well as Starks Academy night on De. 7.

SCOUTING REPORT ON MINOT STATE: The Beavers are off to a hot start this season, carrying a 6-1 overall record on the year, despite losing to UMary this past weekend in a tight battle, 53-56. The Beavers were ranked to finish eighth in the Northern Division of the NSIC, just behind the University of Mary. Matt Murken is in his eighth season Minot State, holding a 101-109  (.481) record with the Beavers, while having a 147-125 (.540) overall record, spending two seasons at a Non-member of the NCAA, Jamestown.
Kyle Beisch was chosen as MISU's player to watch this season. The Fort Dodge, IW native has averaged a team high 20.1 points per game average (second in the NSIC, 68th in DII). He sits fourth on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game. Two other Beavers average more than 10 points per game, with Max Cody (14.4) and Kody Dwyer (11.6) being the other two. Minot State averages 38.4 rebounds per game, with five Beavers snagging more than 4.0 per game. Trevor Rothstien leads the way with 6.5, With Dwyer sitting at 5.7, Stephsne Manzi with 5.7, Beisch with 4.7 and Cody with 4.4.

SCOUTING REPORT ON UMARY: The Marauders are the season on a hot note, grabbing a 5-1 record to start, and carrying a four game win streak. UMary comes off a weekend of playing one game, and beating Minot State in a tight conference battle, 56-53. The Marauders were chosen to finish in seventh in the Northern Division of the NSIC, just above Minot State. Joe Kittell is in his fifth season overall as head coach, carrying a 54-68 (.443) overall record with at the helm of the program.
Jaylen White was chosen as UMary's Player to Watch this season, and is currently sitting in third on the team with 13.8 points per game, with only three players on the team averaging more than 10.0 points per game. Connor Hellebust, sitting second on the team, averages 14.2 and Matthew Kreklow just ahead of him with 14.3. The next closet player on the team is Wyatt Carr, who averages 6.5 per game. Kreklow is leading the team in rebounding as well, grabbing 7.0 per game, with Hellebust averaging a total of 5.2 per game, sitting in second on the team. Carr is sitting third with 4.0, while White is just behind him with 3.5 per game.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs won both of last years meetings with the Beavers, winning 70-65 in the first meeting and 77-70 in the second match-up. UMD has won the past three of four against MISU. UMary has fared better against the Bulldogs, taking both match-ups with UMD last season, and the teams splitting in the past four. The two games last season came to a one possession game in both, with UMary winning 100-98 and 73-70 against the Bulldogs.

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	6-1	3RD	RV
MISU	6-1	15TH	NR
UMARY	5-1	14TH	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 snagged the conference opener against the St. Cloud State Huskies in a 95-74 victory. Brandon Myer lead the way for the Bulldogs, scoring 25 points in the decisive win, grabbing eight rebounds in the win. Jack Middleton would drop 16 and grabbed three rebounds. Alex Illikainen would drop 12 with a team high nine rebounds in the win. The Bulldogs would shoot at a 57.6% from the floor while going 38-66, and shooting 40.0% from three point range, going 10-25.

POINTS GALORE: UMD ranks 1st in the NSIC and 16th in DII in points per game, averaging 91.7 per game on the year. Brandon Myer leads the way with 19.9 per game, third in the NSIC. Alex Illikainen is sitting in seventh in the NSIC with 18.6 and Drew Blair sitting in 11th with 16.6 per game.

3'S FOR DAYS: The Bulldogs sit in the top-10 for 3-point FG percentage (second, 41.2), 3-point FG defense (10th, 34.4) and 3-point FG's made (third, 77 (avg. of 11.0 per game)). Jack Middleton is heading UMD , hitting 52.2% (12-23) of 3-pointers put up. Logan Rorscheib is behind him with a 50% (15-30) on the season. Drew Blair is leading the Bulldogs in 3's made with 16, shooting at a 39.0% (16-41) on the season.

WHAT'S A MISSED SHOT: The Bulldogs are sitting second in the NSIC for field goal percentage, hitting 51.7% of their shots (231-447). Three of the Bulldogs, Illikainen, Blair and Myer, all sit in the top 20 in field goal percentage. Illikainen has hit 55.3% (T-seventh), Myer has hit 55.3% (T-seventh) and Blair is at 48.6% (17th).

PASS ME THE ROCK: Minnesota Duluth ranks in first in the NSIC in assists, averaging 17.29 per game. Four Bulldogs are in the top 25 for assists per game. Senior guard Trevor Entwisle sits sixth in the NSIC with 3.9 per game, sophomore guard Hunter Plamann is in T-17th with 2.7, Blair is in -17th with 2.7 and Myer is in T-17th with 2.7 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 will take to the road for their first conference road trip to play Sioux Falls (Dec. 13) and Southwest Minnesota State (Dec. 14).