MORRIS, Minn. – This weekend the men's basketball team will open the 2015-16 season with a game against Concordia-Moorhead. Morris will play at Concordia on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. Prior to that the Cougars take on the University of North Dakota in an exhibition game on Friday at 3 p.m.
Friday's game is the regular season opener for North Dakota but will not count as a regular season game for UMM. It is the second time in the last three years the Cougars and North Dakota will meet. North Dakota won 110-69 in 2013.
On Saturday the Cougars open up the regular season against the Cobbers for the fourth straight season. Morris has lost four straight to the Cobbers, last winning 65-63 in Moorhead in 2010.
Concordia was selected to finish sixth in the MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. A trio of seniors will try to push Concordia to the MIAC Playoffs in 2016. Two-time All-MIAC Jordan Bolger is back for his final season, and teammates Tom Fraase and Brady Syverson also return to lead the Cobbers.
Minnesota Morris is young in 2015-16 with just two seniors on the roster.
Joe Roggenbuck and
Kevin Heysee are the senior leaders on a team that features eight underclassmen, and just one other returning upper classmen in
John Haseman.
All-Conference guard
CD Douglas leads a class of four sophomores that will be called upon to play a big role in 2015-16. In addition, a freshmen class of four and a couple transfers will add depth and much needed height this season.
Head Coach
Paul Grove sat down and talked to us about the upcoming season. He explained, "We are young but do have several people on the roster that have made serious impact already in their young careers. With the height and talent we added in the offseason I am excited for this year. We will be a different team than last year but our intent is to challenge for the UMAC Championship."
Minnesota Morris will play four road games before the home season opens up on November 30
th against Presentation. Conference play begins December 5
th against Crown in Morris.
