COACH
Bob Knutson, 2nd year
ASSISTANT COACH
Barry Besonen, Matt Gustafson, Rick Houske
LAST SEASON
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Conference: 0-12
Overall: 3-20
OPENERS
Season: At Mesabi Range, Virginia, Nov. 16-17 (Mesabi, Hibbing).
Home: Nov. 20, Concordia JV 8 p.m.
MCCC South Division: Riverland at Willmar 8 p.m. Jan. 2.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
SOPHOMORES
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Tim Dreier, New London, 5-10 guard
Micah Oates-Jenkins, Miami, Fla., 5-10, guard
Travis Nordling, Maple Lake, 6-2 forward
FRESHMEN
Tom Boike, Willmar, 6-8 post
Jarrett Campbell, Minneapolis, 5-10 guard
Tyrone Colston, Brooklyn Park, 5-10 guard
Derek Eisenschenk, Cold Spring, 6-0 guard
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Cory Hanson, Willmar, 6-3, forward
Dustin Hanuman, Bloomington, 6-0 guard
Ben Moser, Paynesville, 6-8 post
Chad Mulder, Renville, 6-4 forward
Cory Nietfeld, Paynesville, 6-3 forward
Joey Sullivan, Olivia, 5-10 guard
Ralph Viana, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 6-3 forward
OUTLOOK
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The program starts its 45th season and second under former New London-Spicer coach Bob Knutson. After a full year to recruit, the Warriors will put out team with more talent and quickness than a year ago when they didn't win a division game. Scoring will be more balanced when the burden fell to post David Johnson. Only guards Tim Dreier and Micah Oates-Jenkins and forward Travis Nordling return. Leading the crop of newcomers is Cory Nietfeld, a 6-3 forward out of Paynesville. The first-team Tribune All-Area pick became only the fourth player in Minnesota prep history to finish his career with 1,000 points (1,596), 1000 rebounds (1,051) and over 300 steals (315). His Paynesville teammate, 6-8 post Ben Moser, a third-team All-Area pick, averaged 18.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Also, 6-8 Tom Boike of Willmar will provide additional rebounding and scoring. Chad Mulder, a Renville County West transfer from Minnesota State, Moorhead, will also play forward. The team is overloaded at guard and wing so Knutson could run as many as 12 players into the game, at least early in the season. Derek Eisenschenk is a three-point threat at shooting guard from Rocori. Ralph Viana, Nietfeld and Cory Hanson can play on the wing. Dreier returns with experience at point guard, but Jarrett Campbell, Oates-Jenkins and Tyrone Colston are also solid prospects. Hanson transferred from the University of North Dakota, where he had enrolled on a football scholarship, but he won't be eligible until Jan. 2. Colston, a Minneapolis Patrick Henry graduate with good quickness, was a student at Wisconsin-Stout last semester, but didn't transfer enough credits, so won't be available until January. Campbell, a Philadelphia native who graduated from Brooklyn Center, attended Rainy River last year.
- Rand Middleton
