UMC men's BB underway for 2012-13 season

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston men’s basketball team opened practice at 5:30 a.m. Monday signifying the official beginning of the 2012-13 season.

The Golden Eagles return two starters from last year’s team that went 7-19 (3-19 NSIC). Point guard Almir Krdzalic (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and power forward Broderick Schmidt (Sr., Marion, S.D.) look to lead the UMC squad this year. Krdzalic started all 26 games last year and averaged 5.2 points per game. Schmidt started 21 contests a season ago and averaged 4.2 points per game.

Also returning from last season’s squad are two players that saw significant playing time off the bench in Justin Rake (Sr., G, Petal, Miss.) and Abdou Niang (Sr., F, Dakar, Dakar). Rake averaged 4.4 points and shot 31.0 percent from beyond the arc while Niang averaged 2.2 points off the bench.

The Golden Eagles will also rely on a pair of players that redshirted last season in James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.), a junior college transfer from Miles City Community College and redshirt freshman Derrick Redd, Jr. (G, Menifee, Calif.).

Also battling for playing time will be returnees Tim Lubke (So., G, St. Paul, Minn.) and Tomas Parker (So., F/C, Pequot Lake, Minn.), both who saw the floor sparingly last season, but will be expected to play added roles this season.

In addition, look for junior college transfers Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) and Ashton Harrell (Jr., G, Houston, Texas) will look to play significant roles in their first seasons for the Golden Eagles. Fellow newcomers Joseph Moorer (Fr., G, Los Angeles, Calif.), Dominique Wright (So., G/F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Mike Paulson (Fr., G/F, Hatton, N.D.) could also figure into the rotation in their first seasons.

Coach Jeff Oseth is in his 11th season as the head coach at UMC and his 17th overall in the NSIC as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He is the third-longest tenured coach in the conference behind Kevin Schlagel at St. Cloud State University and Winona State University’s head coach Mike Leaf.

The Golden Eagles will have a scrimmage with Concordia University, Moorhead Oct. 28 before having two exhibitions on the road at Gustavus Adolphus College Nov. 2 and at Valley City State University Nov. 6 before officially starting the regular season Nov. 9 at home against Presentation College. UMC will start NSIC play on the road at Bemidji State University Dec. 1.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).