Burnsville, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston was tabbed to finish 16^th in the NSIC and tied for seventh in the NSIC North in the annual NSIC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll.
 
The Golden Eagles finished with 22 points in the poll, which is voted on by coaches from around the conference. NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 15 with a first place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.
 
Minnesota State University Moorhead was picked to win the conference, finishing with 222 points, while Wayne State College was picked second and Minnesota State was chosen to finish third in the overall standings. MSUM was tabbed as the unanimous favorite in the North half, garnering all seven first place votes, while the Huskies of St. Cloud State were picked second.
 
Larenzo McGhee of MSUM was picked as the NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year, while Jordan Janssen of Wayne State College was voted the Preseason Player of the Year in the South.
 
Minnesota Crookston will look to rebound after a two-win season a year ago. Redshirt senior Brian Sitzmann (R-Sr., G, Savage, Minn.) and redshirt juniors Leonard Dixon (R-Jr., F, Demascus, Ore.) and Ethan Channel (R-Jr., G, Beaverton, Ore.) are back and are expected to play a giant role for the maroon and gold this season. Zach Westphal (R-Sr., G, West Fargo, N.D.) is back as well for the Golden Eagles and could play a big role off the bench. Uzo Dibiamaka (R-So., G, Adelaide, South Australia) and Dylan Hushaw (R-So., G, Las Vegas, Nev.) are newcomers who will make an impact in the backcourt. Zen Goodridge (R-Jr., F/C, Orlando, Fla.), Nathaniel Powell (R-So., C, Nottingham, England) and Marcus Thompson (R-Jr., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.) are also newcomers that add size and strength for the Golden Eagles.
 
Sitzmann got the nod as the player to watch for the Golden Eagles. Sitzmann is in his fifth-year at Minnesota Crookston and is the leading scorer that returns for the maroon and gold after scoring 11.5 points per game and pulling down 3.1 rebounds per game. Sitzmann scored in double figures in seven of the 16 games a season ago for the Golden Eagles.
 
Minnesota Crookston opens up their season this Saturday at 3 P.M., with an exhibition against Hamline University. The Golden Eagles also host Mayville State next Thursday at 6 P.M., in exhibition play. Minnesota Crookston opens up the regular season on Nov. 12 at the American Family Insurance Classic against East Central University (Okla.) in Duluth, Minn.