Basketball: North Dakota @ Wichita State (Pre-Game)

The Shockers will take on North Dakota tomorrow to end a 3-game home stand. WSU is coming off a close 58-53 win over the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona. While North Dakota is coming off a 38 point loss to the hands of Wisconsin-Green Bay. This will be the Shox second to last non-conference home game for the season, the other one being the Bracketbuster game in February.

THE HISTORY

• The Shockers and North Dakota have never met in a collegiate basketball game.
• North Dakota is currently classified as D-2 but will join D-1 next year.

The University of North Dakota is a public university located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Schools original mascot colors are green and pink, though they are rarely used. UND's hockey teams both compete in Division 1 for the sport, while all other athletic teams compete as a Division 2 team. North Dakota has a student attendance just over 12,500. It was pretty tough to put up famous alumni because most of UND's famous alumns are hockey stars. Notable alumni; Phil Jackson (lakers coach) and several NHL players.

SCOUTING THE NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING SIOUX

On the season North Dakota is 6-4 with wins over UMKC, Bemidji State, Illinois Institute of Technology, Wisconsin-Parkside, Valley City State, and Dickinson State. They hold losses to UNI, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Montana, and Southwest Minnesota. Overall North Dakota is a solid D-2 team. There top scorer is senior guard Daniel Harkins who is averaging 12.6 points per game. Travis Bledsoe and OJ Harrison also average in double figures. UND holds 12 more blocks and 20 more steals than there opponents on the season. For the season the Sioux are shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc, mainly because Travis Bledsoe is 22 of 41 on the year from three. Though they are shooting a low 63.8 percent from the line. UND sticks to a solid 8-man rotation with 2 other guys that receive some playing time. North Dakota looks like a team that can beat you from the outside if they get hot.

MATCH-UPS

Sorry not enough data to put this together for this game.

BREAK OUT PLAYER - AARON ELLIS

Ellis will have an advantage over a small North Dakota team who's guards will be 6'5 at the tallest. Ellis should be able to will his way down low for some easy buckets. Look for Aaron to rebuild his confidence against a lackluster team. Expect anywhere from 4 to 12 points most of them coming in the paint and somewhere around 5 boards.

SUMMARY

North Dakota is a small team that shoots the three very well. Players like Aaron Ellis and Garrett Stutz should be able to have big games against the Sioux. The only threat would come if UND is absolutely blazing from behind the arc which they can do, Bledsoe is shooting over 50% on the year from back there. Though I think the Shox will have there way with the soon to be D-1 team rather easily. The Sioux will be tired and frustrated not a good recipe for good shooting. To me the Shox win by at least 10 and if they play well could win by let's say 35.

PREDICTION: WSU 80, North Dakota 60.

Thanks for reading
-shockers02