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January 19, 2012

Courrier: NSIC continues to be entertaining, unpredictable

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer

AMBOY — Augustana, Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul were ranked in the top four of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men’s basketball preseason poll, and those teams have struggled.

Minnesota State-Moorhead, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State and Southwest Minnesota State weren’t given near that much love, yet they have played above expectations.

As always, Northern Sun basketball provides great entertainment and unusual outcomes.

People outside of Winona were ready to hand the conference hardware to Augustana before the season began, and with good reason. Cody Schilling was an obvious choice for preseason player of the year, but he will not be the league MVP at season’s end.

Augustana has three players in the top 17 for league scoring, yet the rest of the team has provided little.

Minnesota State’s struggles have been more profound, but if you look back, expectations were way too high for these players. Transfers Torrieo Williams and D.J. Hoskins are already gone, leaving an inexperienced group of one senior, four sophomores and four true freshmen.

Last weekend was a perfect example of what happens with young, inexperienced players: a dreadful outing Friday in a loss to Northern State, followed by bursts of very good basketball Saturday in a win over Mary.

There are already two players who have transferred to Minnesota State. Guard Jayme Moten will wait until next season to play, while Assem Ahmed, who arrived last weekend from Egypt, may get some time this season if the NCAA grants him immediate eligibility.

And you can expect more new faces before next season.

Some people seem surprised that Minnesota State-Moorhead is near the top of the league, but if you watched last season’s team, which had no seniors and add a talented transfer, you should have seen it coming.

Bemidji State has the top scorer in the conference in James Ellisor, which has helped the Beavers get off to a fast start. Minnesota Duluth has been more surprising. What once was a plodding offensive team, content to grind and be physical, is now the top-scoring team in the Northern Sun.

Southwest Minnesota State has been another big surprise, but the Mustangs have always played hard, one trait that allows you to win games you shouldn’t.

The second half of the season will undoubtedly provide more entertainment and unusual outcomes. Some of the teams near the top will falter, and someone from mid-pack or lower will rise up and be a pesky threat in the conference tournament.

Which teams will that be? Who knows? That’s what makes it fun to watch.



Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353 or e-mail at ccourrier@mankatofreepress.com or check out his local sports blog.

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