The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team will head out on the road this weekend to close out the final two games of the 2024-25 regular season, tipping off against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Friday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 PM and the Bemidji State University Beavers on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 3:30 PM.

 

Last Time Out 

 

The Bulldogs ended a three game homestand last weekend with a narrow one point loss to the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons on Friday and a dominant bounce back victory over the Northern State University Wolves on Saturday for Senior Day.

 

A gridlock of a matchup against the Dragons started off strong for UMD as they entered the halftime break with a 39-36 advantage. However, the advantage fizzled out as MSUM found a way to respond and take the lead as time winded down. The Bulldogs would get a chance at the end of the game to take the win, but a few tip in chances at the rim would not go their way as they fell 67-68.

 

The Bulldogs went on to bounce back for an impressive Senior Day win, taking a double digit 40-23 lead by the end of the first half. Their advantage only went on to grow in the second, putting together multiple point runs to cash in on a 83-52 win to close out UMD's regular season home schedule.

 

Last Week's Spotlight Players

 

#24 Charlie Katona - 3 GP, 61 PTS, 23 REB, 11 A, 3 STL, 50.0 FG%

 

#1 Joshua Brown - 3 GP, 39 PTS, 21 REB, 6 A, 2 BLK, 2 STL, 85.7 FT%

 

#32 Austin Andrews - 3 GP, 39 PTS, 25 REB, 3 A, 2 BLK, 75.0 FG%

 

Scouting Report - Minnesota Crookston

 

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles are 5-21 overall and 4-16 against NSIC opponents throughout 2024-25, most recently coming off a 77-62 loss to the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs.

 

The Bulldogs are 19-3 against the Golden Eagles since 2013 after defeating the Golden Eagles 107-67 earlier this season at Romano Gym. UMD holds a 13-0 home record and 6-3 away record against UMC, with the Bulldogs' largest margin of victory being the 40 points earlier this season.

 

The Golden Eagles are currently led in scoring by senior guard #3 Reid Grant who is averaging 16.0 points per game with 416 total points over 26 games this season.

 

Scouting Report - Bemidji State

 

The Bemidji State University Beavers are 10-16 overall and 7-13 against NSIC opponents throughout 2024-25, most recently coming off a 73-78 loss to the Wayne State College Wildcats. 

 

The Bulldogs are 16-6 against the Beavers since 2013 after defeating BSU 75-59 earlier this season. UMD holds a 10-1 home record and 6-5 away record over the Beavers, with their largest margin of victory sitting at 34 points (87-53, Feb. 2023).

 

The Beavers are currently led in scoring by junior guard #2 Tate Olson who is averaging 12.0 points per game with 312 total points over 26 games this season.

 

NSIC Conference Standings

 

A five team tie at the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) standings currently puts the Bulldogs at sixth place in the standings. As the Bulldogs look to collect a final pair of wins to add to their record, the standings could see some movement as three teams in the first place tie (Winona State, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State) will all play each other in this final weekend of conference play.

 

Bulldogs Against the Rest

 

The Bulldogs rank within the top five in the NSIC in 17 different statistical categories, including six different categories where they rank within the top three. These categories include:

 

Bench Points Per Game - 17.69 (5th in NSIC, 209th in NCAA)

Blocks Per Game - 3.3 (4th in NSIC, 106th in NCAA)

Effective Field Goal Percentage - 0.543 (4th in NSIC, 63rd in NCAA)

Field Goal Percentage - 47.9 (3rd in NSIC, 49th in NCAA)

Field Goal Percentage Defense - 41.5 (2nd in NSIC, 29th in NCAA)

Fouls Per Game - 15.4 (5th in NSIC, 58th in NCAA)

Free Throw Attempts per Game - 20.8 (5th in NSIC, 95th in NCAA)

Rebounds Margin - 4.8 (3rd in NSIC, 45th in NCAA)

Defensive Rebounds Per Game - 27.15 (5th in NSIC, 53rd in NCAA)

Rebounds Per Game - 36.46 (5th in NSIC, 112th in NCAA)

Scoring Defense - 66.3 (1st in NSIC, 17th in NCAA)

Scoring Margin - 10.0 (1st in NSIC, 25th in NCAA)

Three Point Percentage - 35.9 (5th in NSIC, 82nd in NCAA)

Three Point Percentage Defense - 31.5 (1st in NSIC, 40th in NCAA)

Turnover Margin - 1.8 (4th in NSIC, 73rd in NCAA)

Turnovers Per Game - 10.5 (4th in NSIC, 23rd in NCAA)

Winning Percentage - 69.2 (5th in NSIC, 55th in NCAA)

 

UMD Slated Third in NSIC Preseason 

 

The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team was slated to finish third in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in the preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs received 172 points in the conference poll, including one first place vote, after finishing off the 2023-24 season in the second round of the NCAA Central Region tournament.

 

Katona Named NSIC Player to Watch 

 

Fifth year senior Charlie Katona  was named UMD's NSIC Player to Watch for the 2024-25 season. Katona was a mainstay in the Bulldog starting five last season, starting in all 33 games for the Bulldogs and averaging 28 minutes a game. Katona recorded 424 total points while averaging 12.8 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game and will enter the season as the reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year.

 

Offseason Departures

 

The Bulldogs will see some changes in the rotation from last season, suffering huge losses with the graduation of Drew Blair and Jack Middleton, and with the transfer of Lincoln Meister.

 

Drew Blair was the premiere player in the Bulldog's offensive scheme last season, breaking the program's all time scoring record at the beginning of the season against Oklahoma Baptist and going on to lead the team in four different statistical categories (total points, points per game, rebounds, and steals). 

 

Jack Middleton was the cornerstone of the Bulldog's leadership, and proved himself as one of the most accurate shooters on the team. Middleton ended his career with the Bulldogs as a 40.8% 3-pt shooter and an 89.8% free throw shooter.

 

Lincoln Meister was the Bulldog's primary sixth man option, serving as a dominant presence under the rim and an elite blocker. Ending the season with 32 blocks, UMD loses one of their strongest defensive big men with his transfer to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

 

Last Season 

 

The Bulldogs closed out their 2023-24 season with their third straight NCAA tournament appearance, falling in the second round against the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats.

 

UMD closed out the regular season at second place in the NSIC standings, and would go on to fall in the championship game of the NSIC tournament to the eventual NCAA National Champs, Minnesota State Mankato.

 

The Bulldogs secured the third seed going into the NCAA Central Region tournament, and closed out the opening round with a buzzer beater layup from Mattie Thompson to defeat Fort Hays State. 

 

UMD ended their season in the semifinal round after a defense driven, 71-62 loss to the Bearcats.