BURNSVILLE, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team, which returns nearly 68 percent of its scoring and rebounding, has been picked eighth overall in the 2021-22 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll as announced today by the league office.
 
The Cougars, directed by USF all-time wins leader Chris Johnson (240), was fifth in the South Division balloting by the coaches. The Cougars earned 131 points and finished just behind St. Cloud State at 132 ballot points for seventh overall. USF, which won the NSIC South title in 2019-20, has won 68 games in the past four seasons and had 19 wins or more in the three years prior to the CoVID-19-shortened season in 2020-21.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2021-22 season. The Dragons received 222 points, garnering 13 first places votes to sit 27 points ahead of second place Wayne State. The Wildcats had 195 points and two first-place votes. Minnesota State was third with 192 points and the other first-place vote.In the divisional rankings, MSU Moorhead was the unanimous choice in the north, picking up all seven first-place votes for 49 points. St. Cloud State was second with 36 points and the other first place vote. In the South Division, Minnesota State and Wayne State each had 42 points, with Wayne State collecting four first-place votes and the Mavericks two. Upper Iowa was third with 39 points and the other two first-place votes.

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.

PREVIEW -- USF returns 68 percent of its scoring and rebounding from a year ago

USF, which finished 7-5 and 5-5 in the NSIC a year ago in a CoVID-19-shortened season, will look to contend in the NSIC South and overall.  The Cougars return 67.8 percent of its scoring and 68.5 percent of its rebounding from a year ago. Back with USF again this year will be four players who started a year ago and six letter winners.  

USF will led by Player to Watch Jack Thompson (10.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2020-21) as well as 2019-20 All-NSIC selection and senior Chase Grinde (11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2020-21) as well as senior forward Austin Slater (4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2020-21), guard/forward Jake Kettner (5.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2020-21) and forward Wesley Oba (4.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2020-21) as well as a group of talented returners and newcomers, which include senior transfer Matt Cartwright (2018-19 All-NSIC, 16.0 ppg).  

"We are excited about the many players we have coming back alongside some really talented newcomers. I really like the mix of skill and toughness we have, and our improved ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter," said Johnson, who was the NSIC Coach of the Year in 2019-20. 
 
Thompson was an honorable mention All-NSIC selection in 2019-20 a a freshman and Academic All-League a year ago. He averaged 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 2020-21. Thompson has 19 career double-digit scoring games and starting in 34 of -41 career games. He also has hit 36.1 percent from three-point range as well as 76.8 percent at the foul line.

"Jack is our leader on both ends of the floor. He creates offense for others and can also score when called upon. He often gets the toughest assignment on defense as well. We are excited that he is back fully healthy and ready to lead our team," added Johnson.

USF also returns a pair of three-year starters in Grinde and Slater, who have a combined 175 games and 118 career starts.

Slater returns at forward and has 100 career games (55 starts) with 519 career points and 532 career rebounds. He is a three-time Academic All-NSIC selection, who has 15 double-digit scoring games, 12 double-digit rebounds games with five double doubles. Grinde, a three-time Academic All-NSIC honoree, has played in 75 games with 63 starts with 736 points, 62 three-pointers, and 356 rebounds along with 167 assists and 79 steals in his career. Grinde has 34 double-digit scoring games including five over 20 points.   
 
A year ago, USF averaged 68.7 points per game while allowing 68.3 per game for second in the NSIC in scoring defense. USF is annually one of the league's top rebounding squads and was first in overall rebounding at 39.7 and first in rebound defense (30.2) and offensive rebounds (15.3) a year ago. USF was also fourth in field goal percentage defense at 43.8 percent and third in steals at 6.83.

USF opens the season at the Central Region Classic in Kansas City, Mo., with the opener at 11 am, Nov. 12 against Southern Nazarene University followed by a matchup with nationally-ranked Northwest Missouri State at 12:45 pm on Saturday, Nov. 13.   
 
The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14) and teams in the other division once (8). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be awarded. The 12-team NSIC / Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place February 26 to March 1 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The top two seeds in each division will receive a first round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 23.