North Dakota State Men’s Basketball Preview: Key Insights and Expectations

Bassyonni

ago 3 hours

North Dakota State Men’s Basketball Preview: Key Insights and Expectations

The North Dakota State men’s basketball team prepares for an exciting matchup against the Drake Bulldogs this Saturday. The game is part of Drake’s final non-conference game of the season and will be held at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Game Details

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT, with coverage available on Mediacom22 and streaming via ESPN+. The Bulldogs aim to enhance their record to 7-4, having faced a tough challenge in their previous game, falling to UAB with a score of 74-69.

Team Performance Overview

Drake enters the game with a record of 6-4 and has a mixed performance in home games, ending with three wins and three losses. The team’s recent loss against UAB was close, with their home defeats averaging a mere nine points apart.

Key Player: Jalen Quinn

Jalen Quinn: Currently leading the Bulldogs with an average of 18.3 points per game.
Quinn has shown exceptional form over the last five games, averaging 21.4 points with a shooting percentage of .554.
He ranks high in various MVC statistics, including first in minutes played.

North Dakota State’s Outlook

The Bison arrive at the Knapp Center with a strong record of 8-3, winning eight of their last nine games. They recently secured a victory on the road against CSU Bakersfield, winning 80-69.

Under the experienced leadership of head coach David Richman, who has been with the team for 12 seasons, NDSU boasts a career record of 219-145. They are 1-0 in matchups against Missouri Valley Conference opponents this season.

Key Players for NDSU

Damari Wheeler-Thomas: Averaging 15.1 points and 2.8 assists per game.
Markhi Strickland: Contributes 14.6 points per game and maintains a .626 shooting percentage.
Trevian Carson: Adds an average of 10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Historical Context

Drake holds an undefeated record of 7-0 against North Dakota State in their all-time series. The two teams last met on December 1, 2018, with Drake emerging victorious, 95-88, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Looking Ahead

Following Saturday’s contest, Drake will begin its Missouri Valley Conference schedule. The Bulldogs are set to face Murray State on December 18 and will travel to Evansville on December 21.