NDSU Finishes Blue Ribbon Challenge at Tennessee Tech Monday Night
11/19/2007 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
THIS WEEK: The 2-2 North Dakota State men's basketball team wraps up its Blue Ribbon Challenge schedule Monday night at Tennessee Tech (1-2). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Eblen Center (10,152) in Cookeville, Tenn., where Tennessee Tech has won 12 straight. An NDSU victory would secure third place in the tournament, which has already been won by Florida. The Gators (4-0) defeated Rutgers 88-63 on Saturday.
RADIO: WDAY-AM 970 (Fargo) and the Bison Radio Network with Scott Miller calling the play-by-play beginning at 6:45 p.m. The game can be heard on the Internet at GoBison.com.
ON THE WEB: Live stats and live video will be available on GoBison.com. Video is available by subscription to the All Access premium service starting at $7.95.
THE BLUE RIBBON CHALLENGE:
Florida, North Carolina Central, North Dakota State, Rutgers and Tennesse Tech are the five teams are competing in the inaugural Blue Ribbon Challenge. Florida capped a 4-0 run through the tournament with an 88-63 win over Rutgers on Saturday. The tournament concludes Wednesday when Tennessee Tech plays at North Carolina Central. Here is the schedule and scores:|
Date |
Game |
|
Fri., Nov. 9 |
FLORIDA 75, North Dakota State 65 |
|
RUTGERS 70, Tennessee Tech 64 | |
|
Sun., Nov. 11 |
FLORIDA 93, Tennessee Tech 65 |
|
RUTGERS 79, North Dakota State 67 | |
|
Mon., Nov. 12 |
RUTGERS 73, North Carolina Central 48 |
|
Wed., Nov. 14 |
FLORIDA 105, North Carolina Central 51 |
|
Sat., Nov. 17 |
NDSU 104, North Carolina Central 51 |
|
FLORIDA 88, Rutgers 63 | |
|
Mon., Nov. 19 |
North Dakota State at Tennessee Tech |
|
Wed., Nov. 21 |
Tennessee Tech at North Carolina Central |
THE COACHES: Saul Phillips (Wisconsin-Platteville, 1996) is in his first season as the North Dakota State head coach. Phillips was an assistant for the Bison the past three years. He came to NDSU from Wisconsin, where he was director of basketball operations for three years under Bo Ryan. He was an assistant coach for two seasons each at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Lake Superior State and was a graduate assistant at Wayne State in Nebraska for one year.
Mike Sutton (East Carolina, 1978) is in his sixth season as head coach at Tennessee Tech with a record of 90-65. The 51-year-old Sutton is well known for his tremendous progress in recovering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Stricken in April 2005 after capturing an Ohio Valley Conference championship, he spent much of the summer paralyzed and has since moved from a motorized wheelchair to a walker for mobility. Through it all, his teams have won 56 games the past three seasons, including back-to-back 19-win seasons. Sutton has 33 years of coaching experience, including stops at Virginia Commonwealth and Kentucky as an assistant to current Minnesota coach Tubby Smith.
THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between North Dakota State and Tennessee Tech. NDSU is 2-0 against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference with a pair of victories over Tennessee-Martin in 1978-79 and 1979-80. UT-Martin joined the OVC in 1992.
ABOUT THE BISON: North Dakota State is 2-2 after a 104-51 rout of North Carolina Central on Saturday night. It was the first time since the first two games of the 1989-90 season that NDSU has scored 100 points in back-to-back games. The Bison defeated Minot State 117-84 last Wednesday. Junior guard Ben Woodside went over 1,000 career points against Minot State with a game-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including five 3-pointers. The wins extended NDSU's home winning streak to 13 games dating back to the 79-59 victory over Idaho on Dec. 16 last season.
|
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
PPG |
RPG |
FG% |
FT% |
|||
|
F |
22 |
6-6 |
220 |
Jr. |
Morris, Minn. |
19.8 |
8.5 |
.580 |
.708 | |
|
F |
23 |
6-7 |
207 |
RFr. |
Pierre, S.D. |
9.0 |
4.3 |
.517 |
.667 | |
|
C |
40 |
6-10 |
255 |
Jr. |
Dickinson, N.D. |
6.5 |
6.0 |
.393 |
.571 | |
|
G |
10 |
5-11 |
189 |
Jr. |
Albert Lea, Minn. |
22.3 |
2.0 |
.500 |
.692 | |
|
G |
31 |
6-4 |
195 |
Jr. |
Madison, Wis. |
15.3 |
5.0 |
.500 |
.733 |
ABOUT TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles are 1-2 and have not played since last Tuesday's 97-54 home win over Union (Ky.). Tennessee Tech opened with a 70-64 loss at Rutgers and a 93-65 defeat at Florida in the Blue Ribbon Challenge. The Golden Eagles close out tournament play at North Carolina Central on Wednesday.
|
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
PPG |
RPG |
FG% |
FT% |
|||
|
F |
10 |
Amadi McKenzie |
6-7 |
230 |
Sr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
18.7 |
7.0 |
.541 |
.762 |
|
C |
33 |
Daniel Northern |
6-9 |
210 |
Jr. |
Warner-Robbins, Ga. |
8.3 |
6.0 |
.286 |
.900 |
|
G |
2 |
Anthony Fisher |
6-3 |
185 |
Sr. |
Alpharetta, Ga. |
14.0 |
2.7 |
.400 |
.889 |
|
G |
24 |
Rashaud Nixon |
6-4 |
180 |
Sr. |
Oxon Hill, Md. |
7.3 |
2.7 |
.381 |
.462 |
|
G |
30 |
Frank Davis |
6-2 |
185 |
So. |
Gainesville, Ga. |
8.7 |
1.7 |
.444 |
.750 |
TELEVISION SCHEDULE:
North Dakota State has added a fifth TV game to its men's basketball schedule this season. KXJB-TV of Fargo will televise the Jan. 25 home game with South Dakota State, and the game will also be seen on KSFY-TV in Sioux Falls, S.D. NDSU's regular-season opener at Florida on Nov. 9 aired on FSN Florida and FSN North, the Dec. 3 game at Minnesota will appear on the Big Ten Network, the Dec. 15 home game with Colorado State will air on FSN North, and the Jan. 31 game at Oakland will be televised on FSN Detroit. North Dakota State has an 0-9 record on TV during its four seasons as a Division I team.SEASON OPENERS: North Dakota State's 10-point loss at Florida slipped the Bison to 67-42 in regular-season openers dating back to 1897-98. The Bison snapped a three-year losing streak in season openers with a 91-76 victory at Idaho to start the 2006-07 season.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON:
North Dakota State was 13-1 in home games last season for a winning percentage of .929 that was the best in 23 years. Off to a 2-0 start at home this year, NDSU has a 13-game winning streak at the Bison Sports Arena and has won 27 of its last 29 regular-season contests. Meanwhile, the road has been less friendly for the Bison, who went 6-7 in road games last year and are 0-2 this year. Here is a statistical comparison of the Bison averages home and away in 2007-08:|
W-L |
FG% |
3-PT% |
FT% |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
TO |
STL |
BLK |
|
|
Home |
2-0 |
.550 |
.588 |
.712 |
110.5 |
45.0 |
23.5 |
11.5 |
9.0 |
2.5 |
|
Away |
0-2 |
.431 |
.324 |
.600 |
66.0 |
36.5 |
15.5 |
13.0 |
4.5 |
2.5 |
BISON PICKED FOURTH IN THE SUMMIT: North Dakota State was picked to finish fourth in The Summit League in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media. NDSU garnered four first-place votes and had 351 points behind preseason league favorite IUPUI (396), second-place Oral Roberts (393), and third-place Oakland (359). Two Bison players were selected to the preseason all-conference team. Junior guard Ben Woodside from Albert Lea, Minn., was a first-team pick, and junior forward Brett Winkelman from Morris, Minn., was a second-team pick.
BISON MAKING THEIR MARK: North Dakota State has made its mark in Division I men's basketball with several outstanding performances against teams from the Big East, Big Ten and Big 12, among others. NDSU made its first splash with a 62-55 win over the 15th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers on Jan. 21, 2006. The Bison are 2-0 against Top 25 teams after their 64-60 win at No. 8-ranked Marquette on Dec. 2, 2006. Here's a look at some of the other notable games NDSU has played in its four years of Division I hoops:
|
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Notes |
|
11/19/04 |
at Kansas State |
L, 61-70 |
First game as Division I team |
|
1/21/06 |
at Wisconsin |
W, 62-55 |
Wisconsin ranked No. 15 |
|
11/17/06 |
at Texas Tech |
L, 81-85 |
Trailed by 11 in the second half |
|
12/1/06 |
vs. Princeton |
W, 57-50 |
Trailed by 15 in the first half |
|
12/2/06 |
at Marquette |
W, 64-60 |
Marquette ranked No. 8 |
|
12/9/06 |
KANSAS STATE |
L, 81-83 |
Led by 10 in second half |
|
12/18/06 |
at Colorado State |
L, 80-82 |
Trailed by 10 in the first half |
|
11/9/07 |
at Florida |
L, 65-75 |
Within 6 at 2:23 mark of second half |
|
11/11/07 |
at Rutgers |
L, 67-79 |
Tied with 4:23 left |
THE RECLASSIFICATION: North Dakota State is in the final year of a five-year NCAA reclassificiation from Division II to Division I. This is NDSU's first year as a member of The Summit League after three years as a Division I independent. The Bison are eligible for the Summit League regular-season championship, but NDSU will not participate in the league's postseason NCAA-qualifying championship tournament until becoming an active Division I member in 2008-09.
HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM:
North Dakota State is in its 109th season of men's basketball and has played 2,374 games in that time with a 1389-986 record (.585). The Bison have put together 79 winning seasons, including a school-record 26 victories in 1924-25. NDSU won 10 championships in the North Central Conference and made eight NCAA Division II regional tournament appearances with a 9-8 playoff record before moving into Division I play in 2004-05.Bison Player Notes . . .
4
FREDDY COLEMAN: Redshirted last year...Has come off the bench in all four games...Starred off the bench against North Carolina Central with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists...Great athlete with playmaking ability...All-state football player for St. Paul Johnson High School as a quarterback and safety...Also punted and returned kicks and punts.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--8, North Carolina Central, 11/17/07
Assists--6, North Carolina Central, 11/17/07
Steals--2, North Carolina Central, 11/17/07
10
BEN WOODSIDE: Preseason all-Summit League first team by a vote of coaches, SIDs and media...Tabbed by CBS Sports as the league's Preseason Player of the Year...Has made 60 consecutive regular-season starts...Scored 31 poitns and became the school's 25th thousand-point scorer Nov. 14 against Minot State...Has 1,039 points and is on pace to break the school's career scoring record of 1,813...Got his first double-double against Minot State with a career-high 10 assists...Back-to-back Division I all-independent first team selection and Newcomer of the Year as a freshman...Excellent free-throw shooter...Made 14 of 14 at Colorado State as a freshman and 12 of 12 against South Dakota State as a sophomore...His 160 FTM as a freshman ranked third in school history and his 201 FTA ranked seventh...Big-game performer...Scored 31 in a two-point home loss to Kansas State last year...Poured in a game-high 24 points in the 62-55 upset at Wisconsin two years ago...Made 11 of 13 foul shots that game, including his last 10 in a row and 8 of 8 in the last 2:22...Double-digit scorer in 47 of 58 career games and has scored 20+ points in 22 games...Has not fouled out of a game...Minnesota "Mr. Basketball" award candidate and Class 3A Player of the Year at Albert Lea HS.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--8, three times
Assists--10, Minot State, 11/14/07
Steals--4, three times
Blocks--2, Idaho, 1/24/06
FG Made--11, twice
FG Attempts--21, at Utah Valley, 2/15/07
3-Pointers Made--5, three times
3-Pointers Attempted--13, at Florida, 11/9/07
FT Made--15, at Idaho State, 12/03/05
FT Attempts--22, at Idaho State, 12/03/05
First-Half Points--22, Mayville State, 12/28/06
20
LORENZO RILEY: Ineligible to play during the first semester this year after playing 26 of 28 games and making four starts last year...One of NDSU's top shot blockers, he made a block in 17 games last year, including 10 in a four-game span last January...Has 53 career blocks in two years, only five away from cracking the school's top 10 list.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--8, twice
Blocks--5, Mary, 1/16/07
Minutes--24, Jamestown, 2/8/06
21
AUSTIN PENNICK: Defensive stopper off the bench who could see time as the backup point guard...Played 31 minutes with only one turnover starting in place of Ben Woodside in the exhibition win over Minnesota State Moorhead...Made eight starts as a redshirt freshman last year while appearing in all 28 games...Averaged 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds over the final four games of the season...Season totals were 2.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--7, South Dakota State, 2/24/07
Assists--5, New Jersey Tech, 3/1/07
Steals--3, five times
Minutes--34, South Dakota State, 2/24/07
22
BRETT WINKELMAN: Preseason all-Summit League second team...Has made 60 straight regular-season starts...All-around skilled player who ranked fourth among the Division I independents in scoring (16.1 ppg) and was fifth in rebounding (6.8 rpg), sixth in FG percentage (.518) and eighth in FT percentage (.793) last year...Named to the all-independent first team...Voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-America University Division second team in 2007, the highest academic honor in program history...Two-time Division I independent all-academic pick...Sizzled for a career-high 32 points in last year's season opener at Idaho, and helped ice a home win over Wisconsin-Green Bay by making 11 of 11 free throws, including 8 of 8 in the final 2:09...Named to all-tournament teams his freshman year at Drake and Montana State, where he hit the game-winning shot both nights against Northern Illinois and Montana State...Minnesota "Mr. Basketball" award candidate and two-time all-state pick for Morris HS.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--13, Mayville State, 2/10/06
Assists--7, Wisconsin-Green Bay, 11/25/06
Blocks--3, South Dakota State, 2/24/07
Steals--4, twice
FG Made--11, Mayville State, 2/10/06
FG Attempted--19, at Rutgers, 11/11/07
3-Pointers Made--4, at Colorado State, 12/18/06
3-Pointers Attempted--6, twice
FT Made--13, Winston-Salem State, 2/21/07
FT Attempted--16, Winston-Salem State, 2/21/07
First-Half Points--15, at Idaho, 11/10/06
23
MICHAEL TVEIDT: Redshirted last year...Averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds in two exhibition games...Had 12 points, 8 rebounds in 35 minutes in his collegiate debut at Florida...Reached double figures again with 11 points vs. North Carolina Central...Three-time all-state selection in both basketball and football for TF Riggs HS...Possesses great speed and leaping ability...Set high school records in the high jump, medley relay and 1,600-meter relay, and was a state high jump champion.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--8, at Florida, 11/9/07
Assists--1, at Rutgers, 11/11/07
Blocks--1, Minot State, 11/14/07
FG Made--6, at Florida, 11/9/07
FG Attempted--10, at Florida, 11/9/07
Minutes--35, at Florida, 11/9/07
31
MIKE NELSON: Tenacious defensive player with terrific shooting accuracy...Scored in double-figures in 48 of 60 career games...Tied a career high with 9 rebounds vs. North Carolina Central...Quick starter...Reached double digits before halftime in 11 games last year...Had a career-high 29 points against Wisconsin-Green Bay, scoring 21 in the first half and 17 on a 24-2 run that broke open the game...Notched his first double-double with 10 points and 10 assists against Texas-Pan American (1/25/07)...MVP of the Marquette Pepsi Blue and Gold Classic last year, where he drilled 4 of 6 three-pointers and finished with 19 points and five rebounds in the 64-60 win over 8th-ranked Marquette in the championship...Voted to the Division I all-independent second team...Winner of the Wisconsin "Mr. Basketball" award his senior year at Madison Memorial HS.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--9, twice
Assists--10, Texas-Pan American, 1/25/07
Steals--4, Hamline, 11/20/05
Blocks--2, at Winston-Salem State, 1/20/07
FG Made--13, Wisconsin-Green Bay, 11/25/06
3-Pointers Made--4, five times
First-Half Points--21, Wisconsin-Green Bay, 11/25/06
32
JOSH VAUGHAN: Deadly accurate 3-point shooter who has run into some difficulty at game time...Scoreless for three games before making a pair of 3-pointers against North Carolina Central...Appeared in nine games over a month-long span last year without making a field goal before drilling six 3-pointers, one shy of the school record, for a career-high 18 points last March in the home win over New Jersey Tech...Drained three in a row in a 64-second span...Had made only three 3's all season prior to that...Part of a 58-game winning streak at Braham HS...Minnesota "Mr. Basketball" award finalist.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--4, at Winston-Salem State, 1/20/07
Assists--6, Wisconsin-Green Bay, 11/25/06
Steals--2, twice
3-Pointers Made--6, New Jersey Tech, 3/1/07
Minutes--24, Mayville State, 12/28/06
34
SAM SUSSENGUTH: Added nearly 20 pounds to his 6-foot-8 frame in the offseason and will be counted on to help fill the forward spot vacated by Andre Smith...Matched his career high with 12 points vs. Minot State, and snared eight rebounds...D-I independent all-academic team last year...Erupted for a career-high 10 points in the final seven minutes of the first half at Eastern Michigan and beat that with 12 in the first half at IPFW on 5-of-7 shooting...Made his first collegiate start with four points and career highs of three blocks and 10 rebounds at home to Winston-Salem State...Blocked shots in 10 different games.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--10, Winston-Salem State, 2/21/07
Blocks--3, Winston-Salem State, 2/21/07
Minutes--26, Winston-Salem State, 2/21/07
40
LUCAS MOORMANN: Returned to the starting lineup after a torn right ACL in practice sidelined him for the final 13 games last year...Blocked a shot in 12 of 15 games and took only nine games to pass his freshman output of 19 blocks...Named to the D-I independent all-academic team...Career-high 17 points plus seven rebounds vs. Valley City State...Gave the Bison strong play in a four-point loss at Texas Tech with 11 points, six rebounds and a blocked shot...Season-high 13 rebounds vs. Furman and his second collegiate double-double with 10 points and 11 boards vs. UW-Green Bay...Blocked four shots against Furman and five against UWGB in back-to-back games...His first double-double came as a freshman with 15 points and 14 rebounds at home to Idaho State.Career Highs:
Points
Rebounds--14, Idaho State, 12/17/05
Assists--4, twice
Steals--3, South Dakota State, 1/14/06
Blocks--5, Wisconsin-Green Bay, 11/25/06
FT Made--7, Idaho State, 12/17/05
FT Attempts--9, Idaho State, 12/17/05
3-Pointers Made--2, at Idaho State, 12/3/05
