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This week: Augustana (2-0) will face a pair of NAIA opponents this week, battling Valley City State (3-5) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and Dakota State (5-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.
The series: Augustana has won all four meetings with Valley City State in a series that first saw action during the 1939-40 season. The teams who share the same mascot last played on Nov. 22, 1996; Augustana thumped VCSU 103-66 at home in that meeting. Augustana is 19-14 against Dakota State all-time, including having won the last 12 contests between the two schools. The Vikings and Trojans first played on Sept. 13, 1923. In the last meeting on Dec. 19, 2009, Augustana picked up an 80-64 victory. For more information on both series, turn to page 9.
For the record: Valley City State and Dakota State will count their games against Augustana this week as exhibition contests. The games will be regular tilts for Augustana.
Against the DACs: Both Valley City State and Dakota State are members of the NAIA's Dakota Athletic Conference--a league with members in North Dakota and South Dakota. Last season, Augustana was 3-0 against teams from the DAC, topping Jamestown, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Dakota State. Current Augustana assistant coach Jeff Trumbauer has plenty of experience against DAC programs, having served as the head coach of member-school Jamestown for six years.
Augie ties: Current Dakota State assistant coach Ian McKeithen has some direct ties to the Augustana basketball program. McKeithen served as a graduate assistant under
Tom Billeter from 2008 to 2010. He played at DSU during his junior and senior seasons.
Last time out: Cameron McCaffrey netted a game-high 27 points on 11 of 17 shooting from the field to lead Augustana to a 69-53 victory over cross-town neighbor the University of Sioux Falls last Wednesday night in the Prairie Spirit Charitable Challenge at the Sioux Falls Arena. McCaffrey was the lone Viking to score in double figures, but Augustana also got eight points from Chad Hetermann and seven each from
Cody Schilling and
Ethan Thomforde. Schilling and Derek De Zeeuw each grabbed four rebounds for the Vikings.
No slump here: Though the Vikings are just two games into the 2010-11 season,
Cameron McCaffrey (Hillsboro, Ore.) looks to be well on his way to avoiding the proverbial “sophomore slump.” Last season's NSIC Fresman of the Year is averaging 23.5 points per game--the result of 20- and 27-point performances in Augustana's season-opening games. McCaffrey is shooting 57.6 percent from the field and has connected on 5 of 11 attempts from behind the arc. The guard started just one game a year ago but figures to be a staple in this year's starting rotation.
With a win: Victories on Wednesday and Friday would give Augustana its fifth 4-0 start to a season since the 2000-01 campaign. The Vikings also ushered in the 2000-01, 2001-02, 2004-05 and 2009-10 seasons with four wins.
Chairman of the boards: Junior
Derrick De Zeeuw (Brandon, S.D.) is his team's leading rebounder through two games. The forward snagged six boards against Jamestown to open the season and added four against the University of Sioux Falls last Wednesday. His 5.0 rebounds per game goes along with his 4.0 points per contest.
Possible breakthrough: The 2010-11 Vikings were billed as a “possible breakthrough” team in the Sporting News NCAA Division II Preseason Top-10 poll. Findlay (Ohio) took the No. 1 spot in the poll. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference-neighbor Winona State is ranked No. 9; the Warriors are the only NSIC team ahead of Augustana.
Cody country: Junior guard
Cody Schilling (Ellsworth, Minn.) is the only returning Viking to have started all 31 games a year ago. Named to the All-NSIC first team, he led Augustana in scoring (15.3) and rebounds (5.4). His play was key to the Vikings' 24-7 finish – a school record for wins – and a 15-5 conference mark good for third place. His efforts resulted in first-team selection to the NABC All-Central District team, as well as Division II Bulletin All-America honorable mention. Schilling was also tabbed preseason All-America by Sporting News and was cited as a “Player to Watch” in the 2010-11 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
According to the coaches: Augustana was selected fourth in the 2010-11 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Vikings received 138 points from the conference's 14 head coaches. Winona State received 10 first-place votes and 165 points to take the No. 1 position. St. Cloud State was second (four first-place votes, 157 points), and Minnesota State was third (143 points).
1. Winona State (10) 165
2. St. Cloud State (4) 157
3. Minnesota State 143
4. Augustana 138
5. U-Mary 119
6. Southwest Minnesota State 98
7. Concordia-St. Paul 89
8. Northern State 84
9. Wayne State 71
10. Bemidji State 64
11. MSU Moorhead 51
12. Minnesota Duluth 42
13. Upper Iowa 40
14. Minnesota, Crookston 13
( ) First Place Votes
Roster breakdown: The Vikings return three starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's NCAA Tournament squad that set a school record for wins with 24. Augustana features eight guards and eight forwards on its 2010-11 roster. There are also two seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, one redshirt freshman and five freshmen.
Receiving votes: Augustana received two votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll released Nov. 3. The Vikings were one of four NSIC teams to be ranked or receive votes. Cal Poly Pamona received 198 points and six first-place votes to take the top spot. NSIC neighbors St. Cloud State and Winona State checked in at eighth and ninth, respectively. Minnesota State received eight points.
NCAA Tournament time: The Vikings advanced to the NCAA?Tournament for the third consecutive season in 2009-10 and also made it to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. The Augustana men's basketball program has nine NCAA Tournament appearances under its belt. As of late, the Vikings have been consistent enough to qualify for the “dance” three times every decade. Head coach
Tom Billeter has led the Vikings to three of those appearances in his eight-year tenure.
Exhibitions to open: Augustana used two exhibitions to tune up for the 2010-11 season, facing Division III Gustavus and Division I?Arizona.
Cody Schilling,
Cameron McCaffrey and
Trevor Hass combined for 64 points to lead Augustana to a 101-74 victory over GAC in its first exhibition on Nov. 1. Arizona shot 45.8 percent from the field to hand Augustana a 70-59 exhibition loss on Nov. 7 in front of nearly 12,000 fans in Tucson, Ariz. McCaffrey scored a game-high 20 points for the Vikings, hitting four 3-pointers and finishing 7 of 11 from the floor. Schilling was also in double figures with 12 points. The Wildcats got 19 points and a game-high six rebounds from Derrick Williams in the win.
Coaches' corner: Now in his eighth season at Augustana, Billeter has steadily solidified the men's program. His Vikings have made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the Central Region championship game in 2009 and 2010. Over the last three seasons Augustana has compiled a 67-26 record, and each of the last three campaigns have resulted in 20 wins or more. Billeter owns a career record of 208-145. He is assisted by Jeff Trumbauer,
Collin Authier and Luke Wiersma.
Vikings add one for 2011-12: Head coach
Tom Billeter announced Nov. 9 that Appleton, Wis., native Ben Reker has signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic career at Augustana beginning in 2011-12. Reker is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward who is currently a senior at Appleton West High School. As a junior a year ago, Reker averaged 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He was named all-conference second team and guided his team to a 17-8 record. Reker also shot 56 percent from the field as a junior.
Follow live: There are several ways to get up-to-the-second updates from Augustana basketball games--both home and away. Jeff Fylling calls all the games live on KIKN-FM 100.5; that broadcast can also be picked up at www.kikn.com/stream. All of the Vikings' home games are video webcasted at www.GoAugie.com/webcast. Each conference road contest is also webcast by the host institution. A link for broadcasts on the road can be found on the “schedule” page on the men's basketball home page. Live statistics for all of Augustana's home games can be viewed by logging onto www.GoAugie.com/livestats. For live stats of each road game, check out www.GoAugie.com/livecentral or go the “schedule” page on the men's basketball home page.
The Augustana Coaches' Show: Live from the Gateway Lounge in Sioux Falls, The Augustana Coaches' Show airs each Monday at 5 p.m. Join Jeff Fylling and Augustana head coaches as they discuss various topics surrounding Viking athletics.
Stay connected: Follow Augustana all season long on its official online home, www.GoAugie.com. You can also get the latest news and updates on the Vikings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoAugie) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/GoAugie). To view video highlights and the latest episode of the Augustana Sportscene, log onto the Vikings' official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/GoAugie).
