UMD Men’s Basketball: NSIC North Division Favorites & Siwek Named Top Player to Watch!

The University of Minnesota Duluth men’s basketball team is set to make waves in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division. As the season approaches, they’ve emerged as the top pick, with junior guard Caleb Siwek being singled out as the Player to Watch.

In the NSIC preseason poll, UMD clinched 47 points. Minnesota State University Moorhead closely follows with 43 points. Overall, UMD is tied for fifth place with Augustana University, each pulling in 174 points. Just ahead are Concordia University St. Paul (176 points), Minnesota State University Mankato (189), St. Cloud State University (194), and Southwestern Minnesota State University leading with 219 points.

After two seasons operating under a single-division system, UMD has a strong track record. They achieved a notable 33-11 record in conference play during that time. Previously, in the last five seasons with two divisions, UMD secured four top-three finishes and even won the North Division title in the 2021-22 season.

Caleb Siwek’s performance has turned heads. Last season, he averaged 12.7 points per game and recorded the third-most three-pointers on the team. His rebounding stats also stood out, with an average of 3.9 per game. UMD’s head coach, Justin Wieck, praised Siwek, saying, “Caleb turned the corner last year as one of our better shooters. His ability to play both guard positions so well makes him a key part of our team. He’s poised to grow into a valued leader.”

As the season kicks off, the Bulldogs will face the University of Wisconsin-Superior on November 3rd, with their conference battles beginning on November 25th against Bemidji State University. Fans are excited, and social media is buzzing with anticipation for Siwek and the team’s journey this season.

In recent years, the interest in college basketball has surged. According to a survey by the NCAA, attendance at college basketball games reached a record high last year, with over 27 million fans in attendance. This shows that excitement for college athletics is alive and well, making it a great time to be a UMD Bulldog fan.

For more on college basketball how teams rank, you can check the NCAA’s official website: NCAA.

Source link