GAME NOTES (PDF)
This week: Augustana (7-5, 4-4 NSIC) will spend the weekend in Minnesota for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games, facing Bemidji State (6-5, 3-4 NSIC) on Saturday and Minnesota Duluth (7-4, 5-2 NSIC) on Sunday. Tip for both games is 4 p.m.
Let it snow: Blizzard conditions in the upper Midwest last week dictated a slew of adjustment in the NSIC schedule. Last week's games against St. Cloud State and Concordia University, St. Paul originally scheduled for Jan. 1 and 2 were pushed to Jan. 3 and 4. As a result, this weekend's games were also pushed back one day to allow enough practice, rest and travel time. All of the conference games this weekend are now on Saturday and?Sunday instead of Friday and Saturday.
The series: Saturday will be the 11th meeting between Augustana and Bemidji State in a series that first saw action during the 1966-67 season. The Vikings are 6-4 agains the Beavers all time and have won the last four contests between the two programs. Last season, Augustana topped BSU 80-73 in Bemdji, Minn.
Tom Billeter is 5-2 against the Beavers. Minnesota Duluth holds a 11-7 advantage in the series with Augustana. The Vikings, though, have been victorious in the last two tilts, including a 93-54 thumping last season in Sioux Falls. Billeter is 6-10 against the Bulldogs.
Last time out: In two NSIC games rescheduled because of winter-weather conditions, Augustana put together another split earlier this week. On Monday, St. Cloud State held off a late run by the Vikings and managed a 76-74 victory. Augustana erased a 12-point deficit in the game's final five minutes and had the Huskies tied at 74-74 with 33 second left, but a pair of free throws from SCSU's Josh Ortmann and a missed go-ahead 3-pointer by Augustana's
Cameron McCaffrey with five seconds remaining sealed the Husky victory. On Tuesday,
Cody Schilling scored 25 points and
Derrick De Zeeuw logged Augustana's first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Vikings to a 75-65 victory over Concordia University, St. Paul. McCaffrey also reached double figures for the Vikings, finishing with 20 points.
That's a G: Junior
Cody Schilling (Ellsworth, Minn.) became the 28th player in school history to score 1,000 points after his 16-point effort against St. Cloud State on Monday. The guard enters this weekend with 1,032 career points in 74 career games--all of which he has started. Schilling is averaging 17.8 points per game this season.
Double time: Derrick De Zeeuw (Brandon, S.D.) put together the first double-double of the season for Augustana against Concordia University, St. Paul on Tuesday. The junior pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and scored 10 points to key the Vikings' 75-65 win. The outing was De Zeeuw's second double-figure rebounding game this season and marked the eighth time he has led the Vikings on the glass.
That was a close one: Augustana's 76-74 loss to St. Cloud State on Monday night marked the fourth time this season the Vikings have lost by less than four points. Augustana dropped a one-point game to Dakota State on Nov. 26 and followed it with a two-point defeat at the hands of Southwest Minnesota State on Dec. 3. The Vikings then dropped a three-point game at Minnesota State Moorhead before falling to the Huskies by two points earlier this week.
Holding on to that ball: The Vikings turned the ball over just seven times against Concordia University, St. Paul on Tuesday--an output that is a season low in a conference contest this season. It was also the third time this season that the Vikings have had fewer than nine turnovers.
Dynamic duo: Augustana holds the distinction of being one of two teams in the NSIC to have two players in the top10 for scoring in the latest conference statistics.
Cody Schilling (Ellsworth, Minn.) is currently averaging 19.1 points per contest in conference games, while
Cameron McCaffrey?(Portland, Ore.) is netting 16.3 points per outing. Both are averaging 17.8 points per game in all contests.
That's Leif: Sophomore post
Leif Nomeland (Osakis, Minn.) put together a strong tandem of games earlier this week against St. Cloud State and Concordia University, St. Paul. Nomeland scored 12 and eight points, respectively, to average 10.0 points for the week. He also collected seven rebounds and had two assists.
From the charity stripe: The Vikings found their stride at the line against Concordia University, St. Paul on Tuesday., connecting on 17 of 20 free throws and not missing any of their 10 attempts in the game's closing five minutes. The performance allowed Augustana to hold off a lingering Golden Bear squad down the stretch.
Road trippin': The Vikings will travel more than 1,000 miles this weekend, first traveling to Bemidji, Minn., then to Duluth, Minn., and back to Sioux Falls.
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.
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.
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 213-150. He is assisted by Jeff Trumbauer,
Collin Authier and Luke Wiersma.
Vikings add two for 2011-12: Head coach
Tom Billeter has signed Appleton, Wis., native Ben Reker and Evan Pierce from Pittsburgh, Pa., for the 2011-12 season. Reker is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward, while Pierce is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard who spent a semester at Division I Wagner.
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).
