Rochester, MN-
As the Fall 2024 non-conference men's basketball season wraps up and coaches begin preparing for Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) divisional play, they took time out of their busy schedules to share thoughts on the upcoming conference season.
Fourteen teams will take the court in January with the goal of winning a division title and qualifying for the NJCAA Region 13 Tournament. Through non-conference play, two teams have remained undefeated, #1 ranked Riverland Community College and RV Minnesota State Community and Technical College. All 14 colleges have won at least one game, and eight programs are .500 or better.
MCAC Men's Basketball has two coaches making their MCAC head coaching debuts this season. Matt Breeden at Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range and Ernest Collins at Minnesota North College - Rainy River will look to make an immediate impact on their programs. Veteran coaches with ten or more years of experience in the MCAC are Rick Nikunen at Northland Community and Technical College (33rd year), Brian LaPlante at Rochester Community and Technical College (29th season), Jim Russell at Central Lakes College (27th year), Andy Cone at St. Cloud Technical & Community College (14th season), Shannon Roberts at Minnesota North College - Itasca (11th season), and Derek Hahn at Riverland Community College (10th year).
Read below for a brief preview of the upcoming MCAC Men's Basketball conference season.
Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAABasketball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college basketball news, rankings, and season information.
For the MCAC Men's Basketball home page, click here or go to: https://mcacsports.org/sports/mbkb/index
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Minnesota College Athletic ConferenceSouth Division Men's Basketball Preview
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Khalid El-Amin, 2nd year as the head coach at ARCC Overall Coaching Record at ARCC: 13-15 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2023-24 Record: 7-7 in the MCAC, 13-15 overall, tied for 3rd in the MCAC South Division Top returning players: No one mentioned. Top incoming/new players: No one mentioned.
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Minnesota State Community and Technical College
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Head Coach: Dave Cresap, 2nd year as head coach at M State Overall Coaching Record at M State: 14-13 Assistant Coaching Staff: Brian Schwantz 2023-24 Record: 6-8 in MCAC, 14-13 overall, tied for 5th in the MCAC South Division Top returning players: Yonis Mohamud, Shakopee, MN, Guard Foday Sheriff, West Fargo, ND, Forward Tyson McArthur, Waubun, MN, Forward Mason Muir, Seattle, WA, Guard Javin Tindall, New Mexico, Guard Top incoming/new players: Leng Akol, Fargo, ND, Forward Braylon Baldwin, Grafton, ND, Guard TJ Caouette, Elk River, MN, Guard Dwayne Bryant, Mankato, MN, Guard Coach Cresap on his team: "We look to be a competitive team by the time March rolls around." Noteworthy Information: The Spartans have a new floor and wall padding, and the weight room also received an upgrade. Coach Cresap is nearing 700 career coaching wins in high school and college.
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Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Dan Tharp, 2nd year as head coach at Minnesota West Overall Coaching Record at MN West: 10-22 Assistant Coaching Staff: William Ames 2023-24 Record: 4-10 in the MCAC, 6-21 overall, 7th in the MCAC South Division Top returning players: Karasharo Ojulo, Kansas City, MO, Guard Jiekgoy Wiel, Nasir, South Sudan, Forward Henry Counsel, Perth, Australia, Forward Bryan Macario-Rios, Windom, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Zack Rygg, San Antonio, TX, Guard Dylan Marshall, White River, SD, Guard Zach Hayenga, Worthington, MN, Guard Calvin Flood, West Des Moines, IA, Guard Coach Tharp on his team: "After a down season last year, we are excited to have a good core of returners back and an exciting group of new guys. We have expectations to compete night in and night out and compete for a spot in the region tournament."
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Ridgewater College
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Head Coach: Nathan Thooft, 8th year as head coach at Ridgewater Overall Coaching Record at Ridgewater: 66-79 Assistant Coaching Staff: Ethan Most 2023-24 Record: 6-8 in the MCAC, 13-13 overall, tied for 5th in the MCAC South Division Top returning players: Aiden Wichmann, Balaton, MN, Guard Keagen Shrider, Cambridge, MN, Guard Zeq Munoz, Lakeland, FL, Wing Top incoming/new players: DeAndre Holloway, Kerkhoven, MN, Forward Tyrese Mayo, Winter Haven, FL, Guard Connor Whittet, St. Clair, MN, Guard Steven Nzimi, Brooklyn Center, MN, Forward Coach Thooft on his team: "We are excited to compete with this group in the MCAC this season! The group has worked really hard to build purpose, discipline, and action into our approach each day."
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Riverland Community College
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Head Coach: Derek Hahn, 10th year as head coach at Riverland Overall Coaching Record at Riverland: 204-66 Assistant Coaching Staff: Paul Anderson 2023-24 Record: 13-1 in the MCAC, 31-5 overall, tied for 1st in the MCAC South Division, 4th place at the NJCAA National Tournament Top returning players: Christian Campbell, Miami, FL, Guard Nazih Chehade, Pompano Beach, FL, Guard Buai Duop, Austin, MN, Forward Jose Yepez, Miami, FL, Forward Damar Jenkins, Maywood, IL, Guard Top incoming/new players: Lubab Kambalo, Sioux Falls, SD, Guard Jency Davis, Minneapolis, MN, Guard Rolph Blanc, Miami, FL, Forward Gabo Fernandez, Miami, FL, Guard Coach Hahn on his team: "Solid mix of key returning pieces and new faces who will be relied upon heavily to contribute. For this team to be successful, we will need to learn to value defense and rebound at a high level on both ends of the floor!"
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Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Brian LaPlante, 29th year as head coach at RCTC Overall Coaching Record at Rochester: 554-240 Assistant Coaching Staff: Sean LaPlante 2023-24 Record: 13-1 in the MCAC, 19-9 overall, MCAC South Division Champs Top returning players: Jamison Lien, Prior Lake, MN Laden Nerison, Wanamingo, MN Sam Jennings, Kenosha, WI Nathan Hanson, Canada Top incoming/new players: Leroy Barnes, Minneapolis, MN Cole Johnson, Chatfield, MN Charlie Morning, Menomonee, WI Carter Christopherson, Zumbrota, MN Coach LaPlante on his team: "Very inexperienced group as a whole - we have some guys who need the non-conference schedule to figure out college basketball."
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St. Cloud Technical and Community College
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Head Coach: Andrew Cone, 14th year as head coach at SCTCC Overall Coaching Record at St. Cloud Tech: 194-117 Assistant Coaching Staff: Elijah Mead 2023-24 Record: 7-7 in the MCAC, 16-10 overall, 4th in the MCAC South Division Top returning players: Xavier Jordan, Louisville, KY, Guard Goanar Tap, St. Cloud, MN, Center Sam Woubishet, St. Paul, MN, Guard R'moni Warner, Apple Valley, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Tyrell Sappington, Hopkins, MN, Guard Jack Boos, Cold Spring, MN, Guard Carter Jackson, Buffalo, MN, Guard Romero Walker, Minneapolis, MN, Center Coach Cone on his team: "Many new faces and new roles for this year's team. We are excited about the potential we have shown this fall and are hoping to build a solid team foundation entering the MCAC South conference season." Noteworthy Information: Coach Cone is one win away from 200 as a coach for the Cyclones program.
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Minnesota College Athletic ConferenceNorth Division Men's Basketball Preview
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Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: James Russell, 27th year as head coach at CLC Overall Coaching Record at Central Lakes: 522-216 Assistant Coaching Staff: George Washington II, Ben Aeilts 2023-24 Record: 10-2 in the MCAC, 20-11 overall, 2nd place in the MCAC North Division Top returning players: Jaiquavious Ackey, Carrollton, GA, Forward DeWayne Givens, St. Paul, MN, Guard Jakobe Jones, LaGrange, GA, Guard Kyan Reichhoff, Portage, WI, Guard Makieth Deng, Coon Rapids, MN, Forward Johnny Tong, Rochester, MN, Guard Top incoming/new players: Josh Rogers, Minneapolis, MN, Guard Lake DeJongh, Stillwater, MN, Forward Wylee Dauenbaugh, Grand Rapids, MN, Guard Devin Rowan, Louisville, KY, Forward Coach Russell on his team: "Do the little things for each other and the faster we will become a team."
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Minnesota North College - Hibbing
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Head Coach: Mackenzie Krowiorz, 3rd year as head coach at Hibbing Overall Coaching Record at Hibbing: 11-44 Assistant Coaching Staff: Kayden Palmi 2023-24 Record: 1-11 in the MCAC, 4-25 overall, 7th in the MCAC North Division Top returning players: John Williams, Atlanta, GA, Guard Top incoming/new players: Trenton Shelton, Watertown, WI, Guard Herb Augustin, Delray Beach, FL, Guard Cayde Eberling, Sheffield, IA, Wing Eriq Caraballo, Kinta, OK, Wing Daniel Bennett, Anchorage, AK, Forward Coach Krowiorz on his team: "We have a very new team this year with 15 new players. I am excited to see our development through non-conference play translate into success during the conference season."
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Minnesota North College - Itasca
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Head Coach: Shannon Roberts, 11th year as head coach at Itasca Overall Coaching Record at Itasca: 82-166 Assistant Coaching Staff: Melissa Roberts 2023-24 Record: 6-6 in the MCAC, 10-18 overall, 4th in the MCAC North Division Top returning players: No one mentioned. Top incoming/new players: No one mentioned.
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Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range
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Head Coach: Matt Breeden, 1st year as the head coach at Mesabi Range Overall Coaching Record at Mesabi Range: 0-0 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2023-24 Record: 8-4 in the MCAC, 11-14 overall, 3rd in the MCAC North Division Top returning players: No one mentioned. Top incoming/new players: No one mentioned.
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Minnesota North College - Rainy River
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Head Coach: Ernest Collins, 1st year as head coach at Rainy River Overall Coaching Record at Rainy River: 0-0 Assistant Coaching Staff: N/A 2023-24 Record: 11-1 in the MCAC, 28-4 overall, MCAC North Division Champions Top returning players: No one mentioned Top incoming/new players: No one mentioned
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Minnesota North College - Vermilion
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Head Coach: Dawson Dickson, 2nd year as head coach at Vermilion Overall Coaching Record at Vermilion: 9-16 Assistant Coaching Staff: Dom Lynch and Ryan Zyla 2023-24 Record: 4-8 in the MCAC, 9-16 overall, 5th in the MCAC North Division Top returning players: Tyson Rogers, Lakeland, FL, Point Guard Roderick Dominique, White Caste, LA, Guard Top incoming/new players: Jaylen Shelly, Vero Beach, FL, Guard Rashad Gatewood, Cedar Rapids, IA, Guard Mudia Gbowa, El Paso, TX, Guard Rashad Parms, Miami, FL, Guard Coach Dawson on his team: "Adversity, if you learn to use it the right way, it'll buy you a ticket to a place you haven't gone there without it." Noteworthy Information: The college installed a Hudl camera in the gym.
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Northland Community and Technical College
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Head Coach: Rick Nikunen, 33rd year as head coach at NCTC Overall Coaching Record at Northland: 424-401 Assistant Coaching Staff: Jon Lund 2023-24 Record: 2-10 in the MCAC, 5-22 overall, 6th in the MCAC North Division Top returning players: No returning athletes. Top incoming/new players: Isaiah Brown, Milwaukee, WI Tre Jones, Milwaukee, WI Coach Nikunen on his team: "We hope to be competitive in the North Division."
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.