SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It's a new season and a new look Augustana men's basketball team as the Vikings open 2022-23 at the Central Region Challenge for the second-straight season. The No. 18 Vikings face Arkansas-Monticello on Friday at 3 p.m. and Washburn Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games take place at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
There will not be a video stream of either game, however live stats will be available for both. Saturday's game will have an audio stream, courtesy of Washburn. Coverage can be followed at GoAugie.com/Live and on the GoAugie app. The app can be downloaded in the app store or Google Play.
 
About the Weevils
Arkansas-Monticello was tabbed 10^th in the preseason Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Weevils concluded 2021-22 with a 10-18 record. The top returning scorer is Ray Price and his 9.7 points per outing while being one of two players to start all 28 contests. Wesley Booker led the team with 7.3 rebounds a year ago and returns for his sophomore season.
 
About the Ichabods
Washburn is an opponent Augustana topped in the same tournament last year and watched play in the NCAA Central Regional, albeit on the other side of the bracket, that the Vikings hosted. Washburn is coming off a 22-11 record and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2022-23, the Ichabods were tabbed fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Michael Keegan was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year last year and is the top returning scorer with his 9.4 points per game. He also added 6.1 rebounds per outing. Connor Deffebaugh is not far off with his 9.1 points per game.
 
About the Vikings
Augustana opens the season ranked No. 18 in the country in the NABC Preseason Top-25 after winning the NSIC Championship a season ago. It's a new look Vikings with six returners and seven newcomers. The six returners accounted for 35.6 percent of the scoring last season with Isaac Fink the top returner with his 15 points per game.
 
Fink was tabbed as the Vikings' Player to Watch in the Preseason NSIC Coaches' Poll thanks to his 30 starts and team-best 33.9 minutes per game. He also secured 5.5 rebounds per game and led Augustana by making 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts.
 
Other returners include Bennett Otto and his 15 minutes per game while Akoi Akoi accounted for 12.5 minutes per game. Eric Tiedman, Alex Distras and Zac Johnson also return for the new season.
 
One Last Thing
Among the newcomers is a student-athlete who has game action in the Elmen Center and against the Vikings, Ryan Miller. The graduate transfer from Walker, Iowa, was a member of the Grand View squad that faced AU last season. Although Augustana won 91-75, Miller played 35 minutes while scoring a game high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting. He went on to earn All-America honors at the NAIA level after averaging 20.7 points per game on 45.3 percent field-goal shooting.