Post by Admin on Oct 14, 2014 12:02:54 GMT -6
Here's a good preview of the year ahead for the Wolves via AAN Writer Ryan Deal
www.aberdeennews.com/sports/nsu-men-return-several-key-pieces/article_818d0f9b-54cd-58dc-8052-0d4bcfd6758a.html
Northern State will not be short on depth, experience and players this season.
The Wolves have 16 players on their roster, including 13 returners from last season’s 18-11 team. Eight of the 13 returners have been with the Wolves for three or more seasons.
“We’ve got good experienced guys,” NSU coach Paul Sather said. “Guys that have played minutes. Guys that have had a pretty good significant role over the last year or two, in some cases three.”
The Wolves, who will officially start practice for the 2014-15 season Wednesday, have solid depth at all spots said Sather.
“I feel like we’ve got guys that can space the floor and make the shots,” said Sather, who is in his fifth season as NSU’s coach. “I feel like we’ve got the depth and size inside to really have a good post presence.”
The Wolves return their top three scorers. Senior post Seth Bachand led NSU in scoring (11.9 ppg) and rebounding (6 rpg) last season. Senior point guard Tydan Storrusten averaged 11.1 points, while junior shooting guard Skye Warwick scored 10.6 points.
Bachand, Storrusten and guard Mitch White are the three seniors for the Wolves this season. The trio played in all 29 games last season.
“We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs,” Sather said about the seniors. “We’ve been able to lean on those guys a lot. They have been able to set the tone a little bit as far as our expectations and what we want.”
Bachand (6-foot-6, 215) played mostly center last season, but this year the hope is to move him to the power forward spot. Sophomore Carter Evans (6-foot-10, 240-pounds) had an up and down freshman season that was riddled with injuries. Evans and fellow sophomore Michael Schreiber (6-foot-8, 225-pounds) are excepted to hold down the center spot. Sather said incoming freshman Justin Decker (6-foot-7, 225-pounds) is “physically the most ready as the freshmen go” and could provide depth at the four and five spot.
“We’ve got to be one of the bigger teams depth-wise in our league,” Sather said. “We’ve got some pretty good size and strength inside. I feel good about that.”
Junior Spencer Pankonin (6-foot-7), freshman Dan Becken (6-foot-7) and true freshman Jake Johnson (6-foot-8) will all battle for minutes at the power forward spot. Johnson could also slide over and play small forward, said Sather.
“We are big,” Sather said, “but I think we’ve got some length and some athleticism to be a good rebounding team.”
Storrusten, sophomore Tanner Heiser and true freshman Ian Smith will handle the point guard duties.
“I think we’ve got really good depth there, and a guy like Mitch could play some point, a guy like Skye Warwick we might see him play some point,” Sather said.
The Wolves have a logjam of players at shooting guard spot. Warwick, one of the top three-point shooters in the NSIC, started all 29 games last season. Sophomore Mack Arvidson, freshman D.J. Pollard, sophomore Darin Peterka and freshman Zach Tolson are among the other players battling for time at the two guard spot. Arvidson missed a bulk of last season due to a foot injury, but received a medical redshirt. Peterka played in all 29 games and proved he can score in bunches. Pollard and Tolson redshirted last season, but they could provide depth this season said Sather.
“I think we’ve got a lot of guys that will push,” Sather said. “We feel we’ve got depth at every spot.”
www.aberdeennews.com/sports/nsu-men-return-several-key-pieces/article_818d0f9b-54cd-58dc-8052-0d4bcfd6758a.html
Northern State will not be short on depth, experience and players this season.
The Wolves have 16 players on their roster, including 13 returners from last season’s 18-11 team. Eight of the 13 returners have been with the Wolves for three or more seasons.
“We’ve got good experienced guys,” NSU coach Paul Sather said. “Guys that have played minutes. Guys that have had a pretty good significant role over the last year or two, in some cases three.”
The Wolves, who will officially start practice for the 2014-15 season Wednesday, have solid depth at all spots said Sather.
“I feel like we’ve got guys that can space the floor and make the shots,” said Sather, who is in his fifth season as NSU’s coach. “I feel like we’ve got the depth and size inside to really have a good post presence.”
The Wolves return their top three scorers. Senior post Seth Bachand led NSU in scoring (11.9 ppg) and rebounding (6 rpg) last season. Senior point guard Tydan Storrusten averaged 11.1 points, while junior shooting guard Skye Warwick scored 10.6 points.
Bachand, Storrusten and guard Mitch White are the three seniors for the Wolves this season. The trio played in all 29 games last season.
“We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs,” Sather said about the seniors. “We’ve been able to lean on those guys a lot. They have been able to set the tone a little bit as far as our expectations and what we want.”
Bachand (6-foot-6, 215) played mostly center last season, but this year the hope is to move him to the power forward spot. Sophomore Carter Evans (6-foot-10, 240-pounds) had an up and down freshman season that was riddled with injuries. Evans and fellow sophomore Michael Schreiber (6-foot-8, 225-pounds) are excepted to hold down the center spot. Sather said incoming freshman Justin Decker (6-foot-7, 225-pounds) is “physically the most ready as the freshmen go” and could provide depth at the four and five spot.
“We’ve got to be one of the bigger teams depth-wise in our league,” Sather said. “We’ve got some pretty good size and strength inside. I feel good about that.”
Junior Spencer Pankonin (6-foot-7), freshman Dan Becken (6-foot-7) and true freshman Jake Johnson (6-foot-8) will all battle for minutes at the power forward spot. Johnson could also slide over and play small forward, said Sather.
“We are big,” Sather said, “but I think we’ve got some length and some athleticism to be a good rebounding team.”
Storrusten, sophomore Tanner Heiser and true freshman Ian Smith will handle the point guard duties.
“I think we’ve got really good depth there, and a guy like Mitch could play some point, a guy like Skye Warwick we might see him play some point,” Sather said.
The Wolves have a logjam of players at shooting guard spot. Warwick, one of the top three-point shooters in the NSIC, started all 29 games last season. Sophomore Mack Arvidson, freshman D.J. Pollard, sophomore Darin Peterka and freshman Zach Tolson are among the other players battling for time at the two guard spot. Arvidson missed a bulk of last season due to a foot injury, but received a medical redshirt. Peterka played in all 29 games and proved he can score in bunches. Pollard and Tolson redshirted last season, but they could provide depth this season said Sather.
“I think we’ve got a lot of guys that will push,” Sather said. “We feel we’ve got depth at every spot.”