WAYNE – As the Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams will be splitting their home and away games this January and February, league officials with the NSIC provided their Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the men.
According to a release from the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota, the Wildcat men were selected to finish eighth in the preseason poll. Junior forward Jordan swas listed as the Wildcat Player to Watch in the NSIC this season.
The Wildcats return three starters and six letter winners from last season’s team that was 10-22 overall and 7-15 in NSIC games.
Augustana edged Sioux Falls as the team to beat in the NSIC South Division this season as the Vikings collected 46 points and four first-place votes followed by the Cougars in second at 41 points and three first-place votes. Winona State was third with 36 points and the final first-place tally. Minnesota State-Mankato (31), Upper Iowa (30), Concordia-St. Paul (15), Southwest Minnesota State (14) and Wayne State College (11) conclude the NSIC South Division poll.
Northern State was the unanimous choice in the North Division with 49 points and seven first-place votes (teams can not vote for themselves) with MSU Moorhead second at 43 points and the remaining first-place ballot. Bemidji State was third at 35 points with Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State tied for fourth with 28 points each. University of Mary (16), Minot State (14) and Minnesota Crookston (11) round out the NSIC North Division poll.
Janssen, a 6-7 junior forward from Lincoln East High School, is Wayne State’s Player to Watch in the NSIC this season. Last year, Janssen earned All-NSIC Second Team honors after averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. He recorded 17 double-doubles last season, the third-most in NCAA Division II, and ranked in the top 10 in seven statistical categories – second in rebounding, sixth in blocked shots (1.3), eighth in field goal percentage (.508) and assists per game (3.8), ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5) and steals per game (1.2) and 10th in scoring.
Wayne State College is scheduled to open the 2020-21 season on Saturday, January 2 hosting #6 Northern State at 3:30 p.m. and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 3.
Big Red Country ‘KTCH’ 104.9 and waynedsailynews.com a part of the Wildcat Sports Network will only be able to carry all home WSC games this season.
Saturday and Sunday, January 2-3: WSC men vs. Northern State at 3:30/1:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, January 8 – 9: WSC women vs. Concordia-St. Paul at 6:30/2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, January 15 – 16: WSC men vs. Minnesota State-Mankato at 6:30/2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, January 22 – 23: WSC men vs. Upper Iowa at 6:30/2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, January 29 – 30: WSC women vs. Winona State at 6:30/2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, February 5 – 6: WSC men vs. Sioux Falls at 6:30/2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, February 12 – 13: WSC women vs. Southwest Minnesota State at 6:30/2:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, February, February 19 – 20: WSC women vs. Augustana at 6:30/2:30 p.m.