Complete Release (PDF)
This Week: The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (6-2, 0-1 NSIC) hits the road for the first time in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play when it travels to Aberdeen, S.D., to battle Northern State University (7-1, 1-1 NSIC) on Friday, Dec. 12 at the Barnett Center on the NSU campus. SMSU will then conclude the two-day road trip on Saturday, Dec. 13 with a showdown versus the University of Mary (2-5, 1-1 NSIC) at the McDowell Activity Center on the UMary campus in Bismarck, N.D. Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 8 p.m.
SMSU Drops Out of Top 25: SMSU dropped out of the latest NABC/Division II Top 25 poll released on Tuesday, Dec. 9. SMSU received just one point in the poll. SMSU, which made its first appearance in the national poll in nearly seven years two weeks ago at No. 19, dropped to No. 24 last week.
SMSU was No. 19 in the first regular season poll released on Nov. 25, marking the first time since Dec. 3, 2001, that SMSU appeared in the national poll. SMSU has been in the national poll 10 weeks in school history (seven weeks in 2000-01, one week in 2001-02 and two weeks in 2008-09).
(complete poll can be found on page 5)
About the Opponents: Northern State suffered its first loss of the season on Dec. 6 in overtime to Augustana and is 7-1 overall, 1-1 NSIC. The Wolves are 5-1 at home this season. Senior Kevin Raatzch, the NSIC preseason player of the year, is averaging a team-high 21.6 points per game and shooting 56.2 percent from the field. Head coach Don Meyer is in his 10th season with a record of 196-80. Now in his 37th season overall as a head coach, his teams are 898-300.
Mary begins the weekend 2-5 overall, 1-1 NSIC, and will host Minnesota State, Mankato on Friday night. Senior Geoff West lead the Marauders with 18.3 points per game and a team-high 23 three-pointers. Head coach Juno Pintar is in his fifth season with a record of 50-73.
The Series Match-Up: Southwest Minnesota State and Northern State meet for the 65th on Friday night with NSU leading 53-21, including 30-6 in games played in Aberdeen. NSU won all three meetings last season, including 71-69 in Aberdeen. The three victories by NSU?was a complete turnaround from the 2006-07 season when SMSU defeated NSU?three times. NSU?has won 11 of the past 15 games in the series. SMSU head coach Greg Stemen is 6-12 all-time versus NSU.
SMSU and Mary battle for the sixth time ever with SMSU leading 5-0, including 2-0 in Bismarck. SMSU earned a 71-59 victory over UMary in last season's meeting in Bismarck. SMSU head coach Greg Stemen is 5-0 all-time verus Mary.
(series information and all-time scores on page 1-2)
SMSU Last Time Out: No. 8 Minnesota State, Mankato shot 62 percent from the field, including 69 percent in the second half to earn a 93-84 victory over SMSU in the conference opener for both teams in Marshall on Saturday. SMSU held a 41-39 halftime lead but MSU rallied in the second half to earn the victory. SMSU trailed 80-76 with 3:30 left in the game but that was as close as the Mustangs would get. SMSU was led by a career-high 18 points from
Taylor Huseby on 8 of 11 shooting.
Nick Dale had his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while
Ross DeMasi grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. SMSU outrebounded MSU 45-31, but was just 21 of 35 from the foul line and shot just 40.6 percent from the field.
SMSU's 4-0 Start Ties for Best in History:?SMSU's 4-0 start this season tied the school record for the best start to a season. The 1998-99 team also began the season perfect after four games but lost its fifth game of the season to Valley City State. SMSU's chance for a 5-0 start ended with a 78-74 loss to Augustana at the NSIC?HoopsFest in Sioux Falls, S.D. No team in school history has ever began a season 5-0.
Another Solid Start Statistic:?SMSU's 6-1 record to start this season tied the school record for the best start to a season after seven games. The 1974-75 and 2006-07 also started the season 6-1, but only the 2006-07 team won its eighth game of the season to improve to 7-1.
The 2008-09 Schedule: Southwest Minnesota State will play one of its most challenging schedules in school history this season. SMSU is scheduled to play 30 regular season games which includes playing in the Disney West Coast Classic. The Mustangs will play 13?games against teams that played in last year's NCAA?tournament or are in transition to NCAA Division I. SMSU will also play one game versus NAIA?national tournament qualifier Northwestern College (Iowa).
SMSU Begins Season on the Road:?SMSU began the season with its first six games away from home marking the longest stretch of road or neutral site games to begin a season in school history. In fact the six games away from home is the longest stretch of road or neutral site games since the end of the 2000-01 season when SMSU?finished the year playing six straight neutral site games in the NSIC?and NCAA?tournament.
Mustangs Hit the Century Mark:?Southwest Minnesota State scored 103 points in a 103-52 victory over Humboldt State (Calif.) on Nov. 8 at the Disney Classic in Anaheim, Calif. It was the first time SMSU reached the 100 points scored mark since Dec. 2, 2003, and the 38th all-time. SMSU is now 32-6 in school history when scoring 100 points including 3-0 under head coach Greg Stemen.
Mustang Bench Key to Start: One of the keys to SMSU's 6-2 start this season has been its tremendous depth and great play by its non-starters. Ten players have appeared in all eight games this season and all 10 are averaging at least 12 minutes per game. Mustang non-starters are averaging 36.1 points per game compared to just 21.5 by their opponents. The SMSU bench has outscored its opponents bench players in seven of eight games this season. Below is a look at the season stats for the SMSU and opponents' bench players.
Bench FG% 3-FG% FT% REB PTS SMSU .469 .407 .568 18.0 36.1
Opp. .456 .308 .769 14.4 21.5
Keepin' the Opponent Under 70:?Defense has been a trademark for Mustang basketball under head coach Greg Stemen. During Stemen's now eight years as head coach, SMSU is 87-18 overall, including 5-0 this season, when limiting opponents to 69 points or less.
Consecutive Three-Point Games:?Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one three-point field goal in 289 straight games. The last time SMSU failed to score a three-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998 versus MSU?Moorhead in a game played at the North Dakota State Classic in Fargo.
2008 Disney Classic Champions: SMSU won the second annual Disney West Coast Classic earlier this season in Anaheim, Calif., finishing with a 3-0 record. SMSU's three victories came against teams that advanced to last season's NCAA?tournament. Senior forward
Ross DeMasi was named Most Valuable Player while junior guard
Jon DeRock was named to the all-tournament team.
SMSU Late in the Game:?Making plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor is a major key for teams in earning victories. The following is SMSU's and its opponents' statistical averages in the final five minutes this season:
<5 min. FG% 3-FG% FT% REB PTS TO
SMSU .519 .300 .667 4.3 11.1 1.4
Opp. .491 .400 .737 4.5 11.0 1.8
Krome All-Time at the Line:?Senior
Ryan Krome ranks sixth in school history for career free throw percentage at 81.1 percent (154 of 190).
1. .853 Matt Fletcher (198-232) - 2004-08
2. .845 Jacob Fahl (377-446) - 1999-03
3. .841 Sam Leggett (212-252) - 1974-76
4. .836 Jared Keaveny (107-128) - 2002-04
5. .826 Steve Elzenga (109-132) - 1983-86,87-88
6. .811
Ryan Krome (154-190) - 2005-09
DeMasi Climbing Record Books: Senior
Ross DeMasi ranks among the top 13 in three categories in the SMSU career record book. He is third all-time in field goal percentage at 57.1 percent (213 of 73), 13th in rebounds with 509 and 13th in blocked shots with 35.
SMSU All-Time Rebounds
1. 848 Frank Belmont (70o-778d) - 1971-75
2. 717 Mike Tobin (0o-717d) - 1982-86
3. 713 Mike Lang (96o-617d) - 1968-72
4. 648 Scott Koenen (198o-450d) - 1998-01
5. 583 Juan Mitchell (129o-454d) - 1983-87
6. 582 Chad Koenen (215o-367d) - 1998-02
7. 572 Steve Moore (93o-479d) - 1972-76
8. 563 Doug Imming (0o-563d) - 1979-83
9. 522 Chad Orum (166o-356d) - 2003-07
10. 518 Mark Ornatek (0o-518d) - 1977-81
13. 509
Ross DeMasi (197o-312d) - 2005-09
SMSU All-Time Field Goal Percentage
1. .573 Doug Imming (323-564) - 1979-83
2. .572 Mike Koenen (218-381) - 1997-99
3. .571
Ross DeMasi (213-373) - 2005-09
Mustangs On the Boards Strong Again: SMSU has opened the season outrebounding its opponents in seven of eight games and have a plus-13.3 rebound advantage on the season. This is a trend that has been a trademark of head coach Greg Stemen's teams in recent years. Last season the Mustangs recorded the same or had more rebounds than its opponents in 25 of 29 games and finished with a plus-4.6 rebound advantage per game. During the 2006-07 season, SMSU led the NSIC in rebound margin with a 5.5 advantage per game in 18 conference games.
Rebounding Key for SMSU Victories:?As noted in the information above, SMSU has been a strong rebounding team and is 39-11 when even or outrebounding its opponents since the start of the 2006-07 season, including 6-1 this season. During head coach Greg Stemen's tenure, SMSU?is 98-35 when tied or outrebounding its opponent but just 21-57 when being outrebounded.
Mustangs Home and Away:?SMSU has played just two home games this season after?finishing 12-2 at home last season and setting a school record with 13 victories in 2006-07. SMSU is 5-1 away from home this season after earning just five road or neutral site victories all of last season. Here is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2008-09:
W-L FG% 3-FG% FT% REB PTS TO
Home 1-1 .481 .353 .623 45.0 90.0 13.0
Away 5-1 .453 .375 .581 45.3 79.0 13.5
Mustangs Make R/A Home Sweet Home:?This season marks the 13th year that the R/A Facility has been the home arena for SMSU basketball and its proven to be a tough place for opponents to play in. SMSU?has compiled a record of 120-46 (.726) in 166 games and has had just one losing season in the arena. SMSU has recorded double figure victories in three straight seasons.
Year Overall NSIC Non-Conf.
1996-97 6-4 3-2 3-2
1997-98 8-5 4-2 4-3
1998-99 10-3 5-1 5-2
1999-00 12-3 7-2 5-1
2000-01 12-1 9-0 3-1
2001-02 12-2 7-2 5-0
2002-03 9-5 7-2 2-3
2003-04 9-5 5-3 4-2
2004-05 6-8 3-4 3-4
2005-06 10-5 3-4 7-1
2006-07 13-2 8-1 5-1
2007-08 12-2 7-2 5-0
2008-09 1-1 0-1 1-0
Totals 120-46 68-26 52-20
Kevin Andrews 08-09 Notes:?Ranks second on the team in scoring ... season-high 17 points vs. Upper Iowa (11/30) ... has started all eight games ... second on the team with 14 three-pointers ... ranks tied for second in assists with 20 ... has not missed a game in his career.
Andy Beilke 08-09 Notes:?Team co-captain ... averaging 5.8 points per game ... third on the team in three-pointers with seven ... scored season-high 16 points vs. Humboldt State.
Zach Bruns 08-09 Notes:?Has played in one game ... missed most of last season with an injury.
Trent Carlson 08-09 Notes:?Has played in two games scoring nine points ... scored eight points with two three-pointers vs. Humboldt State ... redshirt in 2007-08.
Nick Dale 08-09 Notes:?Has started all eight games ... leads team with 10 blocked shots ... ranks fourth in scoring ... scored career-high 13 points in win over North Dakota ... shooting 53.8 percent from the field ... recorded first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds vs. Minnesota State (12/6).
Ross DeMasi 08-09 Notes:?Named MVP?of Disney West Coast Classic ... leads team in rebounding with 10.8 per game ... has started all eight games ... has one double-double this season and eight in his career ... grabbed career-high 16 rebounds vs. Fort Lewis ... averaging team-high 28.5 minutes per game ... has grabbed double digit rebounds in four games.
Jon DeRock 08-09 Notes:?Leads the team in scoring with 13.8 per game ... team leader with 24 three-pointers ... scored season-high 24 points vs. North Dakota connecting on seven three-pointers ... named to all-classic team at the Disney West Coast Classic.
Taylor Huseby 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all eight games ... scored career-high 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting vs. Minnesota State (12/6) ... shooting 57.8 percent from the field.
Ryan Krome 08-09 Notes:?Team co-captain ... has started all eight games ... ranks sixth in school history in free throw shooting ... had nine points and seven rebounds in win over Alaska-Anchorage ... has not missed a game in his career.
Andrew Peschong 08-09 Notes:?Has started all eight games ... leads team with 35 assists ... third on the team in scoring with 10.3 per game ... scored career-high 20 points vs. Northwestern (12/3) ... dished out career-high eight assists vs. Minnesota State (12/6).
Scott Roehl 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all eight games ... averaging 3.6 rebounds per game ... tied career-high with eight rebounds vs. Fort Lewis.
Kevin Smith 08-09 Notes:?Has played in two games scoring five points ... redshirt in 2007-08.
DeAnthony Zanders 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all eight games ... tied for second on the team with 20 assists ... scored career-high nine points vs. Upper Iowa (11/30) ... transfer from Iowa Western C.C.
Welcome to the Show: SMSU has four new players who have seen their first regular season game action in Mustang uniforms this season. Junior guard
Jon DeRock, redshirt freshman guard
Trent Carlson and redshirt freshman forward
Kevin Smith all sat out last year as redshirts, while junior guard
DeAnthony Zanders transferred to SMSU this summer after two seasons of junior college at Iowa Western CC.
An R/A Facility First:?The Dec. 6 game between SMSU, ranked No. 24, and Minnesota?State, Mankato, ranked No. 8, was the first men's basketball game ever played at the R/A Facility between two teams ranked in the latest NABC/Division II Top 25 poll.
Remembering AW: Southwest Minnesota State will be wearing the initials “AW” on the back of its uniforms this season following the death of former men's basketball player Andy Wiersma. Wiersma died in a car accident south of Marshall on July 27. Wiersma played at SMSU from 2001-06 and following his senior season the men's basketball program honored Wiersma by renaming its “Mustang Award” the “Andy Wiersma Mustang Award”. The award is given each year to an SMSU men's basketball player who exemplifies the qualities of being a Mustang men's basketball student-athlete.
SMSU Signs Three In Early Signing Period:?SMSU head coach Greg Stemen has announced that three high school standouts have signed letters of intent to play basketball for SMSU starting in 2009-10. The three players who signed during the early signing period include 6-4 forward Billy Giddings from Blaine, Minn., 6-10 center Deryck Ludwig from Prior Lake, Minn., and 6-2 guard Matt Zager from Shakopee, Minn.
SMSU Versus Nationally Ranked Opponents:? SMSU is 1-1 versus nationally ranked opponents this season defeating No. 24 Fort Lewis on Nov. 9 at the Disney Classic, before losing to No. 8 Minnesota State, Mankato on Dec. 6. Last season SMSU finished 1-5 versus Top 25 teams losing to No. 10 Southern Indiana, beating No. 14 St. Cloud State, before losing to No. 5 Winona State, No. 8 Northern State, No. 3 Winona State and to No. 4 Northern State. During head coach Greg Stemen's tenure as head coach SMSU is 3-23 versus nationally ranked teams.
A New Look Northern Sun Conference: The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference will have a new look this season as the conference has expanded to 14 schools in the five-state area. Because of the expansion the 14-team schools will now play an unbalanced conference schedule. Teams will now play seven conference teams twice and the six other teams once for a 20-game conference?schedule. SMSU will play Augustana, Bemidji State, Mary, Minnesota Duluth, Upper Iowa and Winona State just once in conference play. The NSIC?tournament, which determines the league's automatic bid to the NCAA?tournament, will still be an eight-team tournament with the semifinals and finals being held at the highest remaining seed.
NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll:?Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish seventh in the 2008-09 NSIC?preseason coaches' poll. NSIC?newcomer, Minnesota State, Mankato was chosen as the preseason favorite pick earning 176 points including seven first place votes. Northern State was picked to finish second receiving 169 points and five first place votes, while Winona State, last year's NCAA?national champion, was selected third with 159 points and two first place votes.
2008-09 NSIC?Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Minnesota State (7) 176
2. Northern State (5) 169
3. Winona State (2) 159
4. Augustana 139
5. St. Cloud State 131
6. Minnesota Duluth 118
7. SMSU 116
8. Concordia-St. Paul 103
9. Wayne State 76
10. MSU Moorhead 69
11. Upper Iowa 68
12. University of Mary 55
13. Bemidji State 51
14. Minnesota, Crookston 26
( ) First Place Votes
Mustangs Finish High in NSIC Standings Again:?Southwest Minnesota State's third place finish in the NSIC?last season was its fifth top half finish in Greg Stemen's seven seasons as head coach. SMSU has finished second twice, third twice and fourth once during his tenure. SMSU has finished among the top four in the conference 11 times in the last 13 seasons.
Victory Total Sixth Best in History:?SMSU's 17 victories in 2007-08 is tied for the sixth most in one season in the school's history. SMSU has recorded seven seasons with 17 or more victories in the 41-year history of the program with four of them coming under the direction of head coach Greg Stemen.
SMSU in the Regional Poll:?Southwest Minnesota State was ranked in the NCAA North Central region rankings all six weeks during the 2007-08 season. SMSU was ranked 10th, 10th, 10th, 9th, 9th and 8th in the six polls before the regional tournament was announced.
Andrews Earns Academic All-District Honors: Junior Kevin Andrew was named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V College Division third team last season. The College Division District V team consists of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools from the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
Mustangs Win 12 At Home in 2007-08:?Southwest Minnesota State finished its 2007-08 home season with a 12-2 record tying for the second most home wins in one season in school history (done four previous times). SMSU also recorded 12 home wins during the 1986-87, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02 seasons. The record is 13 set during the 2006-07 season in 15 games.
History of the Program:?Southwest Minnesota State is in its 42nd season of men's basketball in 2008-09 and begins the season having played 1,117 games with an all-time record of 470-647. SMSU has racked up 16 winning seasons all-time with 10 coming in the last 13 years. The 2000-01 squad won a school record 28 games and captured the program's lone NSIC?championship, while also winning the NCAA?regional championship and advancing to the NCAA?Elite Eight.
SMSU Men's Basketball in NSIC Action:?The 2008-09 season marks the 40th year that SMSU men's basketball has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU has compiled an all-time record of 232-299 (.436) in 531 conference games finishing in the top half of the final conference standings 18 times in 39 seasons. SMSU has had much better success in the conference in recent years, having finished in the top half of the standings in 10 of the last 13 seasons and has recorded a conference record of 125-75 (.625) in 200 games since the 1995-96 season.
Internet Radio, Video & Stats: All SMSU?men's basketball games during the 2008-09 season can be seen and heard on the Internet. A video Webcast is available for all home games and conference games free of charge at www.northernsun.tv while the radio broadcast is available at www.SMSUmustangs.com. Fans can also follow the game on the Internet with live in-game statistics for all home games at www.SMSUmustangs.com and clicking on the “live stats”?link on the right side of the men's basketball page.
Radio Broadcasts:?SMSU?men's basketball will once again be heard all season long on KARL 105.1 FM, Marshall. Sports director Aaron Ziemer will handle the play-by-play for a sixth straight season.
