Bison Sports Update: November 5th

What a week for NDSU athletics!

Football
This Saturday, NDSU Football traveled to Macomb, Illinois to face of with the Leathernecks of Western Illinois. In what was already predicted to be an NDSU victory of at least 22 points, the Bison blew the door off the stadium in Macomb. 
The Bison scored six rushing touchdowns as well as a pick six in the 3rd quarter. It was a windy day in Illinois and most of the midwest, thus NDSU was not able to throw it much. One of the few times the Bison did elect to throw, was Cam Miller's 2nd interception of the season. NDSU would go on to win, 56-17. 
Now this week, the Bison will continue the road trip when they head to Carbondale to face off with the Southern Illinois Salukis. 

North Dakota State Football is 7-2 overall and 5-1 in MVFC play.

Volleyball
NDSU Volleyball split the week at home and away. They started the week at home against South Dakota State on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the Bison fell to the Jacks in 4 sets. They will face SDSU again in a couple weeks. They moved on to Saturday, with a rematch against the in-state rivals of UND. This time the Bison emerged victorious, winning in a very close match of 5 sets. 
This week, the Bison will return home for the final times of the regular season. They will host Omaha on Thursday at 7 PM, and then playing Denver on Saturday at 1 PM.

North Dakota State Volleyball is 18-8 on the season, and 11-3 in Summit League play.

Men's Basketball
Its that time of year again! NDSU Men's Basketball had their exhibition game against Minnesota-Crookston this past Wednesday, which was a dominant second half performance that led to the win. Wednesday's win was a glimpse into how the Bison might play this season. With eight newcomers to the team this season, the first half went how you might expect. It was a lot of airballs and missed opportunities. However, things heated up in the Scheels Center in the second half. It started with Junior forward Grant Nelson hitting a couple dunks and then sinking multiple threes. Then after that it was true freshman guard Lance Waddles hitting 3 threes in a row to explode a lead, that was at one point single digits, up into 20+. Even Tajavis Miller participated in the fun with a couple nice shots of his own. Not to mention another returning member, sophomore forward Andrew Morgan shooting the lights out. He finished the game with 22. In the second half the Bison played a much more up tempo offense, they didn't even come close to a shot clock violation all night. This is a departure from normal for those that watch the Bison. Typically coach David Richman runs a more laid back and patient offense that uses most of the shot clock. But he noted in his post game press conference that he has adjusted his philosophy around his influx of talented shooters on the team this year. 

While the team was already returning talented players such as F Grant Nelson, F Andrew Morgan, and even G Boden Skunberg; the Bison added players that could be amazing scorers this year in freshman guard Lance Waddles, freshman guard Tajavis Miller, as well as transfer G Jacari White. Fellow true freshman guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas didn't play this week due to his continuing recovery from his serious injury in March, but coach Richman says to expect big things from him. Returning junior guard Dezmond McKinney also didn't play on Wednesday, recovering from a bad knee injury this past January. Both players are expected to return sooner rather then later this season.  One of the fan-favorite highlights on Wednesday night, was the appearance on the floor of walk-on redshirt freshman guard Ryan Sletten. Sletten comes to NDSU from Larimore High School in Larimore, North Dakota.

While NDSU came in at 5th in this year's Summit League preseason coaches poll, I wouldn't expect the Bison to have a bad year per say or even a mediocre year. This team appears to have lots of shooting talent at its disposal, and I wouldn't be surprised the team make some waves this year. They do have a challenging schedule though. They start their non-conference schedule visiting 10th ranked Arkansas and 5th ranked defending national champion Kansas. It then mellows out a little bit with hosting Pacific and Crown College as well as visiting Indiana State before Thanksgiving. Over the holiday weekend the team will play a 3 game faceoff in Albuquerque, New Mexico that includes New Mexico (host), as well as Northern Colorado, and Jacksonville State. The Bison then conclude their non-conference series with Portland on the road, and then Montana and Waldorf at home in December. After that starts the Summit League schedule.

North Dakota State Men's Basketball will start their season on Monday at 7 PM in Fayetteville against 10th ranked Arkansas. They will also play 5th ranked Kansas on Thursday at 7 PM. Both games are on ESPN+. They finish opening week hosting Pacific on Sunday at 1 PM on WDAY Xtra. 

Women's Basketball
NDSU Women's Basketball will also be displaying some new faces this season. Compared to last year, the Bison will play seven new players either via transfer or as true freshman this season. According to head coach Jory Collins, entering his fourth season at NDSU, the team will play "quicker". Given that the team has more talent around the edge this year, expect them to try to play ahead of the curve during games.
NDSU's women's schedule is no slouch either. They will start out the year playing at Montana, and then enjoying a four game home stand that includes Mayville State, Valley City State, Northern Colorado, as well as Big Ten Minnesota. That game against the Gophers will be on statewide ABC and simulcast on ESPN+ on November 17th. Then, over Thanksgiving, the Bison will play Boise State and Nevada in Reno, Nevada for the Nugget Classic. NDSU will finish the non-conference slate with four straight away games at Eastern and Central Michigan, as well as Northern Iowa and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The Bison begin their season on Monday at 7 PM at Montana. Then they continue their opening week at home against Mayville State on Thursday at 5 PM. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ with the home game on Thursday, and all November home games, also on WDAY Xtra.

Lots of fun times ahead for Bison athletics!
​Go Bison!