2017-18 MCAC Men's Basketball Poll & Preview

Anoka-Ramsey Community College 

Coon Rapids, Minnesota  

28-5 Overall, 12-2 MCAC South Champion

MCAC State Champions

NJCAA National Tournament 

Rory Larson, Brady Larson 

The Golden Rams had the best overall season of any MCAC team in 2016-17, winning the MCAC Southern Division, the MCAC State Tournament and earning a bid to the 2017-18 NJCAA Division III National Championships.  Anoka-Ramsey went 1-2 on the NJCAA national stage, losing to Herkimer in the 3rd place game to conclude the season. 

Key Returners: 

Kevin Schramm, Forward, Roseville, MN; Chris Morgan, Forward, Davenport, IA; Ramose Riddley, Forward, Minneapolis, MN; Jefferson Belmont, Guard, Naples, FL  

New Faces: Jarrett Baptiste, Guard; James Lloyd, Guard; Malik El-Amin, Guard; Jackson Sutton, Forward

Central Lakes College 

Brainerd, Minnesota 

New Faces:  AJ-Jureau Ray, Guard, Minneapolis MN; Noah Champion, Forward, Maple Grove MN; Various Wilson, Forward, Indianapolis IN 

Moving On: Nick Wiesmann - Mayville State ND; Lamontrell Fuller - Mayvillie State ND; Darsean Woodson-Mayvillie State ND; Trey Heinsius - MN Morris; Deshawn Patterson - Tabor College KS; Radamus Jones - Tabor College KS; Darrelle Bacon - Concordia University CAN; Ronald Bacon - Concordia University CAN; Trayvon Lackey - Concordia University CAN; N'Gai Dixon - Kansas Weslyan KS;  

Leech Lake Tribal College, Saturday, Nov. 11th

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Cloquet, Mn 

The Thunder finished with a 13-11 overall record in 2016-17 and tied for fourth place in the Northern Division at 9-5.  FDL will be the last MCAC men's team to tip-off the regular season, opening with Western Technical College on December 1st in La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

The 2017-18 FDL roster features nine freshman and six sophomores. 

Hibbing Community College 

Hibbing, MN

 Itasca Community College 

Grand Rapids, Mn

Coach Roberts on Expectations for the Viking program in 2017-18:  "With this years returning players, we have the leadership this program has been missing. Because of this leadership, I expect great things"

Mesabi Range College 

Virginia, Mn

Notable about the Norse: The 2017-18 roster features three athletes from Florida and one from Louisiana.   Mesabi Range will host an Alumni Contest on Saturday, November 11th.  The Norse 2017-18 schedules features only two contests against non-MCAC team; they will play Gogebic Community College two times this year- December 6th and January 9th.  

Coach Ostendorf on the Norse in 2017-18: "We expect to return to the upper echelon of the MCAC Northern Division. We hope to be a high paced, high tempo offense, and a full court pressure defense."  

Key Returner: Kristian Young, Guard, Lecanto, FL  

New Faces: Bryce Hempel, Forward, Plymouth, MN; Dorian Nesmith, Forward, Melbourne, FL; Calvin Green, Guard, Crystal, MN; Calvin Lee, Guard, Monroe, LA 

Moving On: J'neil Gibson - Providence University College, Canada; Delon Samuna - Bacone College (OK); Kristofer Warren - Greenville University (IL)  

M State  

Fergus Falls, Mn

 Key Retuners:  Isaiah Lemke; Chris Tungseth 

 New Faces:  Aaron Solberg; Sam Priem; Austin Miller

 Coach Sorenson on expectations for the Spartan squad in 2017-18:  "We have expectations of great sophomore leadership to help our freshman and team improve each game."

Minnesota West CTC heads into the 2017-18 season with a new head coach, with Aaron Poor Bear taking over the Bluejay program this fall.  Minnesota West will tackle four non-MCAC opponents to prepare for league play; Iowa Lakes, Northeastern, Northeast CC and Dakota County Technical College.

Northland Technical & Community College 

Thief River Falls, MN

Key Returners:  Ju'Wan Evans, G Flint, MI; Chedonio Martin, G, Clearwater, FL; Brandon Murat, G, Poinciana, Fl; Cole Piatko, G, Massillon, OH  

New Faces: Kameron Parker, G, Niceville, FL; Keon Smith, F, Melbourne, FL  

Northland will travel to Lake Region State for a tournament on Nov. 11-12.  The Pioneers also host their own tournament to open up 2018, January 5-6, in Thief River Falls.

According to head coach, Rick Nikunen,  "We are a veteran team."  

Rainy River Community College 

International Falls, MN

Optimism is high for the Rainy River Community College men's basketball squad after a strong run in the MCAC North in 2016-17. Coach Engel notes: "The Voyageurs will need to mature and gel quickly to compete at a high level in the always rugged MCAC."

Key Returners: JP Schiffino, wing, Miami, FL; Davarius Wright, Minneapolis, MN  

New Faces: Isaiah Sims; Jesus Alfonso; Eddy Mercedes; Anthony Mera  

Ridgewater College 

Wilmar, MN

Coach Thooft on Warrior Expectations for 2017-18: "This is a young team that will be defined by playing hard together, toughness, and executing. We are replacing a great group of sophomores that set the bar high, but this group is coming together and will compete every single night."

Key Returner: Xavier Towne, Center, Marshall, MN  

New Faces: Niko Oliver, Guard, Orlando, FL; Thomas Meyers, Forward, Olivia, MN; Daviante Ostrander, Guard, Columbia, MO  

Moving On- Akeem Oglesby, NW Oklahoma State; Jack Turnbull, Mayville State; Taylor DeLaughter, Mayville State  

Riverland Community College 

Austin, MN 

Coach Hahn on Blue Devil Expectations for 2017-18:  "A lot of new faces will be relied upon heavily to contribute on a nightly basis. For this team to be successful we will need to learn to value defense and rebounding."

Key Returners:  Jace Klinkner G, Woodbury, MN; Jeremy Eriste G, Loxahattche, FL; James Landherr G, Rose Creek, MN 

New Faces:  Octavein Johnson 

Rochester Community & Technical College 

Rochester, MN 

Coach LaPlante on Yellowjacket Expectations for 2017-18:  "With only 3 returners we will not be very experienced, but have depth and talent. I expect that we will improve and play hard as we understand how hard it is to win in our league" 

Key Returners:  Jumah'ri Turner, Guard, Bloomington, MN; Michael Cornelius, Forward St. Paul, MN; Tyree Caruthers, Forward, Fridley, MN

New Faces:  Tevin Killeen; Kashif Hayes; Ray Adams; Justin Wofford

Moving On- Akeem Smith-Mayville State; Gorg Alhag Mayville State

St. Cloud Technical & Community College 

St. Cloud, MN

Coach Cone on the 2017-18 SCTCC men's squad:   "This year's Cyclones should be a fun group to watch. We hope to continue building on the success we have had over the past few years. Knowing that our division is tough night in and night out, we will once again look to our returning players for leadership on and off the floor."

Key Returners:  Kyle Williams, Guard, Osseo, MN; Quentin Miller, Guard, Duluth, MN; Shariff Silas, Forward, Sauk Centre, MN

New Faces:  Mitch McDonald, Guard, St. Paul, MN; Kobe Boraas, Guard, Sauk Rapids, MN; Jazz Boker, Forward, Osseo, MN; Izaiah Sanders, Guard, Chicago, IL

Moving On-   Kalu Abosi (Hamline); Cornell Pillow (Graceland); Levi Hunt (Northwestern, St. Paul); Charles Young (Crown); Lance Gardner (Elmhurst IL)

Vermilion Community College 

Ely, MN

Key Returners:  Demetrice Mitchell Forward St. Paul, MN Denario Jackson Guard St. Paul, MN Bradlee Lewis Guard Mpls, MN Marquail Johnson Guard Columbia, MO

New Faces:  Noel Mishiri Forward Orono, MN Del Guerrero Guard Kimball, MN Devontaye Spates Center Mpls, MN Glenn Smith Guard Columbus, OH

Moving On: Sean Knight, Univ. of  British Columbia

Head Coach Paul McDonald won his 500th game during the 2016-17 season and the Ironmen look poised to add several W's to that total in 2017-18.  With a strong recruiting class to combine with some seasoned returners, Vermilion was selected just behind Central Lakes in the Northern Division coaches poll.  McDonald notes that his team "hopes to be in the mix for a Division title" as the season wears on.