MITCHELL, S.D. – After hosting the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship Game for the first time in 10 years and making its sixth consecutive appearance to the national tournament, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team is left wondering 'what's next?' They don't have to look far for their next hurdle as the NAIA condensed to one division and with the departure of four seniors creates. The Tigers will have their hands full, but welcomes the challenge with open arms.
Rewind to March 2020, 32 teams vied to become the final NAIA Men's Basketball Division II National Champion. However, COVID struck and canceled the tournament, leaving the 2019-20 season without crowning a national champion.
As the 2020-21 season begins, there will be no more Division I champion and Division II champion. The NAIA has moved to one division with only 16 teams making the final site in Kansas City, Mo. Despite only 16 teams making the final site, an opening round will be played at 16 various locations with four teams at each location.
The last time the Tigers were outside the NAIA Preseason Top-25 was the 2014-15 season when they finished with a record of 32-5 and were the national runner-up. Although it might not be the same path to the postseason as it was in 2014-15, the Tigers know they possess the ability to beat any team on any given night.
"It really feels like there are a lot of questions about the transition to one division that we won't have until we go through a season," head coach Matt Wilber said. "I know we are going to still have to be good in our league and the rest will work out. The GPAC has always had a strong reputation across the NAIA, so I don't see much change going on that front."
It will be difficult to fill the voids of Ty Hoglund from the past four seasons. Being the GPAC Player-of-the-Year, a four-time All-American, four-time GPAC First-Team member and third on the program's all-time scoring list, Wilber knows Hoglund was a special player. Wilber also knows that this team will have to play differently than in years past if they want to continue to be successful.
"We were so fortunate to have Ty here all four of his years, but graduation is always coming in college basketball," Wilber commented. "We won't be asking anyone to fill what Ty did because of the unneeded pressure and burden that would put on someone. But we have a number of guys, like every year, that are excited about more opportunities that graduation of previous year's seniors will open for them. We have been fortunate that our younger guys have stepped in and been very productive and this year will have to be similar if we are going to have a chance to be successful."
One player that will be crucial to have back for his senior season is Nick Harden (Chicago, Ill.). Prior to a season-ending injury midway through the season, Harden was averaging 17.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, while starting every game. In his two years with DWU, Harden has amassed 846 points, 190 assists, 104 steals and is shooting 47.3% from the field.
"I am very excited for Nick. He has put in a lot of work on his own with his rehab due to COVID circumstances, and he deserves to have a great year," Wilber mentioned of his senior guard. "He has developed in all areas over his time with us. He is obviously going to be a leader for us in all areas and I think he is looking forward to that role and challenge as well."
With Harden being lost to injury last season, along with a plethora of other injuries, multiple players were forced to step up. The players included Koln Oppold (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Mason Larson (Langford, S.D.) and Jeffrey Schuch (Dell Rapids, S.D.).
Oppold and Larson each started 15 games down the stretch as they averaged 8.2 and 8.1 points per contest, respectively. Oppold posted a career night against Northwestern College with a 32-point outing. Larson recorded a pair of 23-point games last season for career highs, while also ranking nationally with 34 blocks on the season. Schuch had a delightfully surprising year as he averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. His career-high 19 points at Northwestern helped push DWU onto a crucial victory on the road.
"Those guys were special last year for us in so many ways" Wilber reminisced. "We don't go to the national tournament without them. That group is great to work with, are tremendous players and are great teammates. I have big expectations for those guys and I know they are excited to continue to put their stamp on our program."
As last season proved, new players might have to step up each night. Some returners that might be looked at to step up include Bradley Dean (Pierre, S.D.), Sawyer Schultz (Emery, S.D.), Ace Zorr (Harrisburg, S.D.) and Drew Cole (Brookings, S.D.).
"Sawyer Schultz, Ace Zorr, Bradley Dean and Drew Cole all immediately jump out when looking at impact returners for us," Wilber stated. "All of them will be playing significant minutes. Even though we were not able to have a formal off-season with our guys, it was obvious when we started that they all put in a lot of work in the spring and summer off-season. Again, another great group of young men that are committed to our program and want the right things. It's easy to be hopeful for them."
New faces that Tiger fans might need to know include Teegan Evers (Huron, S.D.), Tait Nelson (St. Anthony, Minn.) and Gary White III (North Platte, Neb.).
Evers made an impression with Huron High School after averaging 16.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He was also named an All-State First Team member and an All-Conference member twice. Nelson recorded 2,109 points in his career at St. Anthony along with averaging 23 points and six assists per game. White transfers to DWU following two years at North Platte Community College.
The Tigers begin the season at the annual Sanford Pentagon NAIA Basketball Classic against Valley City State University on Nov. 7 and Presentation College on Nov. 8 in Sioux Falls, S.D., at the Sanford Pentagon.