THIS WEEK
After a nearly two-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Mary men's basketball team opens their 2020-21 season this weekend. The Marauders visit the University of Sioux Falls for a pair of games over Saturday and Sunday, January 2-3. Tipoff Saturday is set for 4 pm while Sunday's game starts at 2 pm. Both games will be played at USF's Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
 
TICKETS FOR AWAY GAMES
Each campus will be making pandemic-related policies regarding fan attendance. Please check with opposing schools/venues for ticket availability for fans.
 
UNIVERSITY OF MARY HOME GAME ATTENDANCE POLICY
University of Mary home games are currently closed to the general public and no tickets will be sold. A limited number of family passes will be distributed to both the home and away teams.
 
WATCH ALL MARAUDERS GAMES LIVE ONLINE AT GOUMARY.COM
All UMary basketball games – home and away - are streamed live online. Visit www.GoUMary.com/coverage and www.NSICNetwork.com to watch.
 
MARAUDERS HOME BASKETBALL GAMES AIRING LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 710
All home University of Mary men's and women's basketball games will air live on Fox Sports 710 AM. Voice of the Marauders Jesse Rostvedt will call all the action this season from the McDowell Activity Center.
 
NSIC, UMARY BASKETBALL COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGES
In order to compete safely this season during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Mary, the NCAA and the Northern Sun have created several new policies. Here are just a few changes implemented for the 2020-21 men's and women's basketball season….

• The 2020-21 season for Northern Sun members begins on Jan. 2
• NSIC teams will play 16 games, all against conference competition (teams normally play 26 regular season games that includes a 22-game NSIC schedule)
• All teams will play two games against a single conference opponent each weekend (usually play two different teams each weekend)
• All NSIC schools host home games for eight straight weeks as either the men's or women's team will play at home with the other team on the road (no men's and women's doubleheaders)
• The NSIC will only declare North and South Division champions and not an overall champion for 2021
• Eight teams will advance to the NSIC tournament (all teams previously made the tournament with first-round games at home sites)
• Marauders home games are currently closed to the general public
• Only home Marauders basketball games will air on Fox Sports 710 (follow road Marauders basketball games live video streams at www.GoUMary.com/coverage)
• Game programs are only available online and will not be printed
• Winter scholar-athletes will maintain their year of eligibility independent of whether they compete or not

 
HOW TO FOLLOW YOUR MARAUDERS LIVE
Links to live streaming video, game stats and radio streams are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage
 
Live video streamed at www.NSICNetwork.com/goumary
 
Fox Sports 710 AM radio broadcasts available online at https://foxsports710.iheart.com/
 
RECORDS
This is the season opener for both the University of Mary and the University of Sioux Falls… the Marauders finished the 2019-20 season with a record of 12-17 overall and 7-15 in Northern Sun play (11^th overall / tie-6^th in NSIC North)… The Cougars were 22-8 overall and 17-5 in the NSIC (2^nd overall / 1^st NSIC South).
 
OPPO RESEARCH – UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS
Ranked 22^nd in the opening NABC Division II poll of the year and currently receiving the 27^th most votes in the country, the University of Sioux Falls is coming off a 22-win season that included a 2^nd place finish in the Northern Sun and an NSIC South Division title. Ranked as high as 8^th in the NCAA Central Region poll in 2019-20, the Cougars went 22-8 overall and 17-5 in the NSIC. USF head coach Chris Johnson – the 2020 NSIC Coach of the Year – returns all five starters, including NSIC 1^st team guard Chase Grinde (12.6 ppg / 4.9 rpg / 2.7 apg) and NSIC 2^nd team forward Teathloach Pal (10.7 ppg / 9.3 rpg / 1.5 apg).
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. COUGARS
The Cougars lead the series with the Marauders 7-2… USF won the first four games in the series before UMary claimed the next two… The Marauders first win was a 69-65 road win on Dec. 12, 2015… Mary is 1-2 at home and 1-4 at USF… The two former NAIA competitors first met as NCAA and NSIC foes on 2.9.13 with USF gaining a 75-70 home win. The Marauders joined the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season and the Cougars began NSIC play in 2012-13… USF has won the last three games… LAST MEETING UMary narrowly missed knocking off visiting and NSIC-leading Sioux Falls in a defensive battle won by the Cougars 59-53. Matthew Kreklow led the Marauders with 12 points and nine rebounds. Connor Hellebust added 11 and Josh Sipes hit three treys for nine points. Chase Grinde led USF with 19 points and Jack Thompson chipped in 14.
 
ROSTER RUNDOWN
The Marauders return nine of their top 11 scorers from last season, providing the UMary squad both depth and experience entering the season. Here's a quick look at the Marauders position groups.
 
FRONT COURT
All-Northern Sun performer Matthew Kreklow is one of the top players in the conference with his ability to dominate a game on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-9 post UMary's single-season and career blocked shot leader and is climbing the all-time chart in rebounding (8^th) and is 24 points from becoming the 20^th Marauders to score 1,000. The senior averaged 14.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 bocks/game while shooting 56.1 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent at the free throw line in 2019-20… Senior Wyatt Carr moved into the stating rotation fulltime last season and is one of the top outside shooters in the NSIC. The Hazen, ND, native hit on 50.6% (43-of-85) of his trey attempts last year and is a career 43.3% shooter from behind the arc. Carr averaged 8.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg his junior season while shooting 51.6% overall. He has made 76.8% of his career free throw attempts… Junior Kade Amundson made a pair of starts and averaged 4.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg while playing in 24 games… Justin Engg provided energy off the bench as a key reserve across all 29 games, averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.6 rpg while making 10 steals, 5^th on the team… Limited to seven games in each of the last two seasons after playing in all 29 games as a freshman in 2017-18, junior Lucas Mayer returns to health and provides a defensive presence on the front court… Regan Tollefson played in 16 games last season as a freshman, showing his potential while averaging 3.1 ppg in limited action. He knocked down 14 of 15 free throws… Kam Warrens joins the Marauders this season after playing the last two years at Yuba Community College. The junior averaged 7.5 ppg and shot 67.7% to help Yuba win a conference title and advance to the California Community College tournament Sweet 16… Redshirt freshman Logan Nagorski and freshman Cooper Olson – both Minnesota natives – will also be in the mix for time on the court.
 
BACK COURT
The Marauders have a big hole to fill in the backcourt following the graduations of both All-NSIC guard Jaylen White and Connor Hellebust. The duo were multi-year starters for the Marauders. Hellebust graduated early due to a chronic back injury. UMary returns plenty of experience, however… Glenn Jordan started the Marauders final 16 games of last season. The senior averaged 5.3 ppg and was third on the squad in steals with 19… sophomore Josh Sipes proved to be a dangerous outside threat for the Marauders. Sipes, who started 16 games and played all 29 as a redshirt freshman, was second on the team with 42 treys, hitting 38.9% of his 3-point attempts. He averaged 6.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg… Trever Kaiser provided an offensive jolt off the bench for the Marauders, averaging 7.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg. In the last ten games of the regular season he chipped in over 11 ppg… Davids Atelbauers joins the Marauders this season after playing the last two years at NCAA Division I University of North Dakota and earning a handful of starts for the Fighting Hawks. Atelbauers was a member of the 2019 Latvia National U20/21 team at the FIBA European championships… Matthew Johnson and Treyton Mattern, both are coming off redshirt seasons, and incoming freshman Deven Franks will all battle for court time.  
 
ALL HANDS ON DECK
With the NCAA allowing all players to compete this season without losing a year of eligibility, all eligible scholar-athletes are available to play this season with no need to redshirt.
 
SENIOR CITIZEN BRIGADE
The Marauders have a veteran team this season as half the roster are upper classmen with three seniors and five juniors. Additionally, UMary has one player in his fifth season with the Marauders, three in their fourth year and three in their third.
 
BORDER PATROL
The Marauders feature six North Dakotans on the 2020-21 team, including four from Bismarck. Kade Amundson, Lucas Mayer, Treyton Mattern and Josh Sipes are Bismarck Century graduates. Wyatt Carr is a native of Hazen and Justin Engg is from Minot.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
 
976 | Matthew Kreklow ranks 21^st all-time in scoring at UMary and is 24 points from becoming the 20^th Marauder to score 1,000 career points
 
508 | Matthew Kreklow sits 8^th all-time in career rebounds with 508. Next on the list is Dave Hanson, who snared 553 boards in two seasons (1975-77)
 
131 | Matthew Kreklow is the Marauders all-time career blocked shot leader with 131
 
104 | Wyatt Carr is tied with Craig Steffan for 17^th in career 3-pointers at UMary with 104
 
70.7 | UMary allowed just 70.7 points/game last season to rank 4^th in the NSIC and 64^th nationally. The Marauders held opponents to 70.9 ppg in 2018-19, 3^rd best in the NSIC.  
 
9 | the Marauders return nine of their top 11 scorers from last year
 
3.63 | The UMary men's basketball team posted a team GPA of 3.63 for the 2020 fall semester. Last season the Marauders combined for a 3.59 GPA over the course of the Spring 2020 semester and earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award for a second straight year.
 
103 Marauders head coach Joe Kittell earned his 100th career win as a collegiate head coach last season and owns 103 victories. Kittell earned 42 wins at Lake Region State College from 2013-15. He has won 61 games at UMary since taking over the Marauders program in 2015-16. Kittell is fourth all-time in coaching wins at UMary.  Legendary Hall of Famer Al Bortke tops the list with 335, followed by Jim Feeney (144), Rod Jonas (69), Kittell (61) and Juno Pintar (55).
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders have featured a rugged defense the last two seasons. UMary allowed just 70.9 points per game in 2018-19 to rank third in the NSIC in points allowed. Opponents only scored 70.7 ppg against UMary last season, the 4^th best mark in the conference and 64^th in the nation out of 303 teams.
 
HANDS OFF APPROACH
The Marauders committed an average of only 14.4 personal fouls/game last season, the fewest in the NSIC and 15th fewest in NCAA Division II.
 
FREEBIES
Taking advantage of opportunities at the foul line, the Marauders converted 75 percent of their free throw attempts in 2019-20 to rank 5^th in the NSIC and 67^th in the country… Additionally the Marauders went to the line 116 times more than their opponents and made 115 more free throws.
 
SWAT CITY
The Marauders blocked 3.3 shots/game, 7th in the NSIC. Much of the work is being done by All-NSIC performer Matthew Kreklow. The Marauders career and single season leader in blocks averaged 2.0 per game to rank 3^rd in the NSIC and 17^th in the nation.
 
REJECTION LETTERS
2019-20 All-Northern Sun second team selection Matthew Kreklow is the Marauders all-time career leader in blocked shots with 131. He surpassed UMary Hall of Famer and All-American forward Marc Hawley (108 rejections in 1995-97) last season. With 55 blocks last season, Kreklow also owns the school's NCAA era single-season record for blocked shots, surpassing fellow All-NSIC selection Damon Smith's total of 54 (2011-12)… Last season Kreklow led the Marauders in scoring (14.4 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg), blocks (2.0 bpg), and field goal percentage (56.1). He was second in steals (24) and third in free throw percentage (80.6) while pacing the team in makes (100) and takes (124)… The senior from Maple Plain, MN, was 3^rd in the NSIC in blocks, 4^th in field goal percentage, 7^th in rebounding, 10^th in free throw percentage and 17^th in scoring… Kreklow is just the 3rd UMary player to win NSIC Player of the Week multiple times (Eric Erdmann and All-American Anthony Moody were both honored three times). Kreklow first won the honor in January 2019 after leading the Marauders to a weekend sweep of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. He closed 2019 by winning the honor in December after scoring 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting with 12 rebounds and three blocks in a win over the University of Maine, followed by 25 points, ten rebounds and five blocks in an overtime win over Minot State.
 
DOUBLE DOWN
Matthew Kreklow posted seven double doubles last season on his way to All-NSIC honors. For his career Kreklow has ten double doubles. Here's the list:
2/22/20 at MSU Moorhead | 26 points and 10 rebounds
1/24/20 at Minnesota Crookston | 23 points and 12 rebounds
12/21/19 vs. Minot State | 25 points and 10 rebounds
12/17/19 vs. Maine-Fort Kent | 16 points and 12 rebounds
12/14/19 vs. Northern State | 18 points and 13 rebounds
12/13/19 vs. MSU Moorhead | 25 points and 10 rebounds
11/30/19 at Minot State | 12 points and 10 rebounds
1/25/19 vs. Minnesota Crookston | 14 points and 10 rebounds
11/20/18 vs. South Dakota Mines | 14 points and 10 rebounds
11.28.17 vs. Yellowstone Christian | 11 points and 10 rebounds
 
DOWNTOWN
Wyatt Carr was a lethal weapon for the Marauders behind the arc last year. The now-senior forward connected on 51% of his trey attempts, hitting 43-of-85 of his 3-point attempts. An efficient scorer, Carr converted 52% of this field goal attempts during the season and averaged 8.1 ppg… Josh Sipes provided another strong hand behind the arc, making 38.9% of his trey attempts (42-of-108) to finish second behind Carr in 3s made… Trever Kaiser is another consistent outside force for the Marauders. The junior made 39% (30-of-77) of his 3-point attempts last season. An offensive force of the bench, Kaiser averaged over 11 points/game in the final 11 games of last season.
 
THE BORTKE COURT MAC ATTACK
The Marauders once again found success on Bortke Court in the McDowell Activity Center. The playing floor was christened Bortke Court in honor of long-time Mary men's basketball coach and athletic director Al Bortke in July 2009. Here is the Marauders NCAA Division II home record:
2006-07:   5-  7
2007-08:   4-  7
2008-09:   7-  5
2009-10: 11-  2
2010-11: 12-  1
2011-12:   3-10
2012-13:   3-  9
2013-14:   6-  7
2014-15:   4-  8
2015-16:   8-  7
2016-17:   8-  6
2017-18:   2-11
2018-19:   9-  5
2019-20:   8-7
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
HOME
All Marauders home games will start at 6 pm on Fridays and 4 pm on Saturdays. UMary opens its home schedule with a visit from St. Cloud State University on January 8-9 and is scheduled to play a total of eight home games at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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