Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team tips off the 2021-22 season this weekend in the Great White North as it takes part in the American Family Insurance Classic Friday and Saturday.

The University of Minnesota-Duluth is hosting the two-day event that also includes fellow Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf. (NSIC) member Minnesota-Crookston and Great American Conf. (GAC) East Central University of Oklahoma. The Lopers play the UMD Bulldogs Friday at 6 p.m. and the UMC Golden Eagles Saturday at 2 p.m. Fans not attendance can watch via The NSIC Network and live stats.

Head coach Kevin Lofton and his staff welcome back veterans Austin Luger (Alliance), Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah), Matt Brien (New Zealand), Winston Cook (Wahoo) and Parker Badding (Carroll, Ia.) while adding eight newcomers. That large group includes veteran transfers Nick Huston (Idaho State) and David Simental (Colorado State-Pueblo).

Luger is UNK's lone "Super Senior" and is coming off an All-MIAA season in which he averaged 13.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the field. Missing some time due to injury, he also sunk 31 threes and blocked a team-best 12 shots.

Nebeker is in his second year at UNK and finished 2020-21 strong to the tune of almost 17 points a night over the final six games. The Snow (Utah) J.C. product shot a team-best 53% from the field and joined Brien as the only Lopers to appear in all 22 games. Brien, after a redshirt in 2019-20, averaged 7.1 points last season thanks to 33 made 's. Finally, Cook was one of the Lopers to post reserves (17 games) with Badding about to start year four at Kearney.

Simental (Pueblo, Colo.), brother of UNK point guard Haley Simental, was twice named All-RMAC while playing for the hometown ThunderWolves. He began his career at D2 Montana State-Billings and then spent a season at Central Wyoming College. The point guard has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

UNK must replace leading scorer Jake Walker (14.6 points; 41 made 3's in 17 games) who graduated. His former Snow teammate, Huston, is in line to replace in perimeter prowess. Huston, Walker and Nebeker helped Snow go 26-7 in 2018-19, winning the Region 18 title. He averaged 11.5 points per game thanks to 51% three-point shooting. Huston then spent 2019-20 at D1 Idaho State before sitting out last season.

Kiwi freshman Sean Murphy figures to help out in the post with four Denver-area true freshmen expected to provide help off the bench; forward Garret Brown (George Washington H.S.), shooter Tom Connelly (Denver East) and guards Braden Boley (Chapparal & Legend H.S.) and Sean Evans (Legend H.S.).

The Lopers host Chadron State next Wednesday (Nov. 17.). That game was originally schedule for Nov. 16 but moved due to the MIAA Volleyball Tournament.
 

U. Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
2020-21 Record: 6-7 (5-7 NSIC)

2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll Rank: 6th of 16; 3rd in North Division

All-Time Record Vs. UNK: 0-4

Top Returning Players: 6-5 junior guard Drew Blair (#22; 18.8 points & 3.8 rebounds); 6-6 sophomore forward Charlie Katona (#24; 13.6 points & 5.8 rebounds); 6-6 sophomore forward Austin Andrews (#32; 13.5 points & 7.2 rebounds)

Newcomers of Note: 6-6, 225-pound graduate forward Jacob Shields (#4; Concordia-St. Paul); 6-8, 230-pound freshman forward Noah Paulson (#34; Duluth, Minn.)
 

U. Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
2020-21 Record: 2-14 (1-13 NSIC)

2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll Rank: 16th of 16; T-7th in North Division

All-Time Record Vs. UNK: First meeting

Top Returning Players: 6-4 senior guard Brian Sitzmann (#12; 11.5 points & 3.1 assists); 6-2 senior guard Zach Westphal (#2; 3.1 points and 1.5 rebounds)

Newcomers of Note: 6-7, 235-pound junior forward Zen Goodridge (#15; from D-1 Bethune-Cookman, Fla.); 6-9, 225-pound sophomore forward Nathaniel Powell (#13; Williston State College, N.D.)