Northern State women picked second in NSIC hoops poll, men 13th

The Northern State women’s basketball team is ranked second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason poll.

The Wolves received three first-place votes, but defending NCAA Division II national champion Minnesota State, Mankato is the favorite with 12 first-place votes from coaches.

In the men’s preseason poll, the Wolves are tabbed to finish 13th as Minnesota State, Mankato is again the favorite.

Wolves will play exhibition doubleheader at Civic Arena

Both Northern teams will return to the Aberdeen Civic Arena for games this season. The arena was the home of the Wolves for many years before the Barnett Center opened on campus.

MORE: Northern State’s Caruso hits game-winning field goal to knock off Minnesota-Duluth

The Northern women will play Dakota State at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. That will be followed by the men’s game against Dickinson State at 7:30 p.m. The games are exhibitions.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids and available at nsuwolves.univeristytickets.com.  Admission is not included with Wolves Club memberships. The first 200 NSU students will get a Waldo-themed throwback night T-shirt.

Northern has also set its other specialty games.

I Hate Winter weekend is Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Barnett Center. On Jan. 24, the Wolves host Minnesota State, Mankato in a doubleheader that begins at 5:30 p.m. The next night, Northern battles Winona State with games starting at 4 p.m. More details will be released in the future.

Kids Day is Friday, Nov. 5 when the women’s basketball team hosts Pittsburg State of Kansas at noon. Area school districts can get free tickets for students. Contact Sam Masten at s[email protected] for more details or to determine availability.

Maddie Bragg named NSIC preseason women’s player of the year

Northern Junior Maddie Bragg was named women’s preseason player of the year. She averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.72 blocks per game last season.

The Wolves finished 20-9 overall and 16-6 in the NSIC last year.

The complete women’s preseason poll follows.

1. Minnesota State, Mankato
2. Northern State
3. Concordia St. Paul
4. Southwest Minnesota State
5. St. Cloud State
6. Minnesota State, Moorhead
7. University of Sioux Falls
8. Minnesota-Duluth
9. University of Mary
10. Winona State
11. Augustana
12. Minnesota-Crookston
13. Wayne State
14. Minot State
15. Bemidji State

MORE: High School football roundup: Roncalli upends Milbank; Huron ends Central’s streak

Northern State’s Michael Nhial scores on a layup against Minnesota State, Moorhead last year in the Barnett Center. Northern was picked 13th in the men’s NSIC preseason poll. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

On the men’s side, the Wolves will try to rebound from their worst season since the 1970s. They finished 10-19 overall and 8-14 in conference play.

All-conference players Jackson Moni and Josh Dilling both transferred. Junior Michael Nhial is the top returning starter. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year.

The complete men’s poll follows.

1. Minnesota State, Mankato
2. Minnesota State, Moorhead
3. Minnesota-Duluth
4. Southwest Minnesota State
5. Bemidji State
6. Augustana
7. University of Sioux Falls
8. Concordia St.-Paul
9. St. Cloud State
10. Minot State
11. Winona State
12. Wayne State
13. Northern State
14. Minnesota-Crookston
15. University of Mary