Men's Basketball | 11/7/2024 10:34:00 AM

#TIDBITS

Golden Eagle men's basketball is back in the air and what a time it is. College Basketball and Division II saw some teams lace it up for the regular season a weekend ago. This weekend, it's go time for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston will see a pair of familiar foes in Duluth this weekend, as they play a pair of teams from the Great American Conference: Oklahoma Baptist and East Central. The Golden Eagles opened up with the same two programs a season ago and were able to come out of the weekend with a perfect 2-0 record. The Golden Eagles will look for a similar result this weekend against the same two teams.

·   HE'S DENG GOOD. The Golden Eagles improved immensely on defense a season ago and a big part of that was the addition of Aguek Deng. Deng, now a redshirt senior, was everywhere on the defensive end for the Golden Eagles. Deng finished the season with 54 blocks, which led the Northern Sun and ranked 19th in the nation. Deng also led the league in blocks per game and was top-10 in the NSIC in rebounding and rebounds per game, as well. The Des Moines, Iowa native was a massive reason why the defensive side of the ball was improved for the Golden Eagles a season ago.

• EXPERIENCE WILL MATTER. Much like they did a season ago, the Golden Eagles will have a difficult non-conference schedule to navigate this season. The Golden Eagles were 3-2 in non-conference play a season ago and they will look to replicate that this season. In order to replicate that success, they might have to rely on their experience. The Golden Eagles return three starters from a season ago; Reid Grant, Jordan Mitchell and Aguek Deng are back and will help lead the charge into the Northern Sun. We also can't forget about redshirt sophomore Chandler Meeks, who is back after missing all of last season.

·  GUARDING GARRETT IS TOUGH. The Golden Eagles averaged about 65 points per game a season ago and they return senior Reid Grant, who averaged over 14 points per game a season ago. They do lose Blaize Sagna, who was one of the best scorers in the Northern Sun at more than 20 points per game. Replacing the nation's 19th leading scorer from a season ago isn't an easy task and might not be a one person job. The Golden Eagles did bring in Micah Garrett, who at Lane Community College a season ago, averaged over 17 points per game and was named a JUCO All-American for the Titans. If that can translate to the Golden Eagles, they should be just fine offensively.

·   SHOOT BETTER=WINS?  This might be one of the more obvious statements already, but when the Golden Eagles shot better than their opponents last season, it led to wins. Of course, that isn't always the case, but it was for the Golden Eagles in 2024. In all six of their wins a season ago, the Golden Eagles shot a better percentage from the field and even had seven games when they shot better than their opponents, but still lost. The Golden Eagles shot the ball well last year and will look for that same success with the rock this season.

·    MEEKS CREEK. What a joyous moment it will be for Golden Eagle fans when Chandler Meeks steps on the floor for the first time in nearly two years on Friday. Redshirt sophomore Chandler Meeks makes his return this weekend after missing all of last year due to injury. Meeks should insert into the lineup right beside senior Reid Grant and make for an electric backcourt. Meeks started in 18 games as a true freshman and averaged more than seven points per game, including a career-high 27 in a win over Southwest Minnesota State. The Golden Eagles are more than thrilled to have #5 back in the fold this season.

·   WE'RE STOKES TO HAVE YA. The Golden Eagles have a number of newcomers that could make a large impact this season, whether they are a freshman or a transfer. One of those hopeful impact players is junior Andrew Stokes. The lone Illinois native on the roster, Stokes is a Golden Eagle after spending two seasons at Benedictine University, where he averaged 13.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Division III school. Stokes could bring an inside presence that will be helpful for the Golden Eagles this season.

• J MITCH. Another player that returns to the lineup this season is redshirt senior Jordan Mitchell. Mitchell started 19 games a season ago and was a guy who did all the little things right for the Golden Eagles. Mitchell averaged 5.2 points per game on the season and was second in rebounding with exactly six boards per game. The Columbus, Ohio native had a pair of games with 11 rebounds last season and he could be in for a larger impact this season.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Bryan Beamish
Record at UMC: 8-48 Season at UMC: 11th Season (Third as Head Coach)

Oklahoma Baptist Bison
Head Coach: Jason Eaker
Record at OBU: 87-54  Season at OBU: 6th Season

East Central Tigers
Head Coach: Dan Wheeler
Record at ECU: 31-26  Season at ECU: 3rd Season


Weekend Matchups

Minnesota Crookston vs Oklahoma Baptist
Date: Friday, Nov. 8
Time: 3 P.M.
Place: Duluth, Minn. / Romano Gymnasium
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/
Stats: https://umdbulldogs.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Series Record: Minnesota Crookston leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 69-67 win for the Golden Eagles at Oklahoma Baptist last year

Minnesota Crookston vs East Central
Date: Saturday, Nov. 9
Time: 11 A.M.
Place: Duluth, Minn. / Romano Gymnasium
Watch: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/
Stats: https://umdbulldogs.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Record: Minnesota Crookston leads 2-0 in all-time series
Last Meeting: 62-56 win for the Golden Eagles last season


Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (0-0)
Projected Starters
Sr. G 3 Reid Grant (6-3, Johnston, Iowa) 14.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.1 APG
R-So. G 5 Chandler Meeks (6-1, Omaha, Neb.)
R-Sr. F 2 Aguek Deng (6-9, Des Moines, Iowa) 6.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 BPG
Jr. G 13 Micah Garrett (6-3, Portland, Ore.)
R-Jr. F 10 Jordan Mitchell (6-8, Columbus, Ohio) 4.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F 25 Andrew Stokes (6-5, Westchester, Ill.)
Sr. F 33 Ben Hoverson (6-6, Grand Forks, N.D.) 6.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG

Oklahoma Baptist Bison (0-0)
Projected Starters*
Sr. F 1 Nathan Wilson (6-8, Auckland, New Zealand)
So. G 3 Terry Coner, Jr. (6-0, Birmingham, Ala.)
Gr. G 5 Ricky Brown (6-2, Valdosta, Ga.)
Sr. F 20 Daniel Ranson (6-6, Charlotte, N.C.)
Sr. F 23 Jose Waring (6-7, Georgetown, Texas)

East Central Tigers (0-0)
Projected Starters *
Sr. F 5 Godsgift Ezedinma (6-6, Enugu, Nigeria)
R-Sr. G 32 Bryce Woolridge (6-3, Flower Mound, Texas)
Sr. F 15 Robel Desta (6-8, Houston, Texas)
So. F 22 Nikk Williams (6-8, Dallas, Texas)
R-Sr. G 1 Ethan Channel (6-3, Beaverton, Ore.)



KNOW THE OPPONENTS

Oklahoma Baptist. The Bison head into this season with massive expectations and rightfully so. Although OBU won just 12 games a season ago, they return a number of key contributors and return sophomore Terry Coner, Jr., who was named the GAC Freshman of the Year a season ago after averaging 16 points per game as a freshman. The Bison have hopes of the NCAA Tournament and that starts this weekend in Duluth.

HEY MR. SCOTT. The Bison have all the pieces around the aforementioned Coner, Jr., and that includes Ethan Scott, who is back this season after playing in just nine games a season ago. As a freshman for the Bison, Scott drained 55 three-pointers on the season, which led the team and made two shots from deep per game as a freshman. Scott did play against the Golden Eagles last season and was held to just two points in the game.

SOUTHPAW. Valdosta State transfer Ricky Brown is a lefty that can do it all for OBU and he will be a tough guy to contain in the season opener. Brown was an All-GAC Honorable Mention performer and started all 28 games for the Bison, while averaging just over 14 points per game. Brown and Coner, Jr., make for a scary good 1-2 combo offensively. Brown heads into his third and final season at Oklahoma Baptist.

RANSOM NOTE. Daniel Ransom is another Bison that averaged in double-figures that is back for head coach Jason Eaker. Ransom, another senior, is back after averaging 11.9 points per game and shot 33 percent from three in 20 games. The Bison will hope for Ransom to be another force offensively.

East Central. The Tigers finished last year with one more win than Oklahoma Baptist, going 13-15 a season ago. These two teams met in the season opener a season ago, as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 38-20 halftime lead, but East Central came roaring back and the Golden Eagles had to fend off the Tigers by six. What does this Saturday's matchup have in store?

ELITE DEFENSE. The Tigers were near the bottom in scoring offense a season ago, averaging just over 65 points per game, but they were an elite defensive team. ECU ranked 56th nationally in scoring defense and first in their conference, giving up 69 points per game. Part of the elite Tigers defense was their ability to force turnovers, as they ranked first in the Great American Conference, forcing almost 14 turnovers per game.

FAMILIAR FACE. East Central added a familiar face to their roster late in the summer. Ethan Channel joined East Central late in the summer and as crazy as it is, one of his first games in his new colors will be against his first four-year school. Channel played two seasons in a Golden Eagle uniform and averaged 11.8 points per game in 2021-22. Channel, one of the rare college players born in the 1990's, is now on his third NCAA team and will look for some revenge on Saturday against Minnesota Crookston.

LOOK FOR A BETTER START THIS SEASON. In last year's game against the Golden Eagles, East Central struggled to put the ball in the bucket. East Central shot just 30.5 percent from the field in the game, their second lowest of the season and had nearly as many 3's (8) as two-point field goals (10). If the Tigers can shoot a little better this weekend, they have to like their chances this weekend.