2017–18 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's basketball team

The 2017–18 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's basketball team represented the University of North Dakota during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Fighting Hawks, led by 12th-year head coach Brian Jones, played their home games at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota as members of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 12–20, 6–12 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for eighth place. They defeated Montana State in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to Montana.

2017–18 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's basketball
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
2017–18 record12–20 (6–12 Big Sky)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBetty Engelstad Sioux Center
2017–18 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Montana †16–2 .889  26–8  .765
Idaho14–4 .778  22–9  .710
Weber State13–5 .722  20–11  .645
Eastern Washington13–5 .722  20–15  .571
Northern Colorado11–7 .611  26–12  .684
Idaho State9–9 .500  14–16  .467
Portland State9–9 .500  20–14  .588
Montana State6–12 .333  13–19  .406
North Dakota6–12 .333  12–20  .375
Southern Utah5–13 .278  13–19  .406
Sacramento State4–14 .222  7–25  .219
Northern Arizona2–16 .111  5–27  .156
† Big Sky Tournament winner

This season was the last for North Dakota as a full Big Sky member. On July 1, 2018, the school will join the Summit League in all sports except for football, in which it will remain a Big Sky member before joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2020.[1]

Previous season

The Fighting Hawks finished the 2016–17 season 22–10, 14–4 in Big Sky play to win the Big Sky regular season championship. In the Big Sky Tournament, they defeated Portland State, Idaho, and Weber State to win the tournament championship.[2] As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and the school's first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.[3] As a No. 15 seed in the West region, they lost to No. 2-seeded and No. 4-ranked Arizona in the First Round.[4][5]

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Corey Baldwin1G6'3"190SeniorBridgeport, CTGraduated
Carson Shanks5C7'0"230RS JuniorPrior Lake, MNGraduate transferred to Loyola–Chicago
Shane Benton10C7'0"230RS SeniorCedar Rapids, IAGraduated
Wheeler Baker13G6'2"175SophomoreBrooklyn Park, MNLeft the team due to personal reasons
Thomas Blake20G6'2"200RS SeniorHagerstown, MDWalk-on; graduated
Quinton Hooker21G6'0"205SeniorBrooklyn Park, MDGraduated
Devon Pekas25G6'4"210SeniorHawley, MNGraduated
Drick Bernstine43F6'8"220RS JuniorAurora, COGraduate transferred to Washington State

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Jaqwan McCauley10G/F6'6"210JuniorGreensboro, NCJunior college transferred from Tyler Junior College.
Dale Jones13F6'7"227SeniorWaterloo, IATransferred from Iowa. Will be eligible to play immediately since Jones graduated from Iowa.

2017 incoming recruits
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Garrett Franken
SF		 Atlantic, IA Atlantic High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jul 10, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Tray Buchanan
PG		 East Moline, IL United Township High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) N/A Sep 25, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Aanen Moody
SG		 Dickinson, ND Dickinson High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2017-09-23.

    Roster
    2017–18 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Geno Crandall 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS JrDeLaSalle Minneapolis, MN
    G 1 Marlon Stewart 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS SoNorth Scott
    Creighton    		 Eldridge, IA
    F 2 Josh Collins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)230 lb (104 kg) JrDeLaSalle Minneapolis, MN
    G 3 Billy Brown 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoSpirit Lake Spirit Lake, IA
    G 5 Aanen Moody 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrDickinson Dickinson, ND
    G 10 Jaqwan McCauley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrNew Hope Academy
    Tyler JC    		 High Point, NC
    G 11 Jafar Kinsley 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg) JrJamesville-DeWitt
    Des Moines Area CC    		 Syracuse, NY
    F 13 Dale Jones 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SrWaterloo West
    Iowa    		 Waterloo, IA
    G 15 Cortez Seales 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrNorth Scott Eldridge, IA
    G 21 Ethan Igbanugo (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrLakeville North Lakeville, MN
    F 22 Carter Brooks (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) SoLakeville North Lakeville, MN
    F 23 Kienan Walter 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoKing's Way Christian Vancouver, WA
    F 24 Garrett Franken 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrAtlantic HS Atlantic, IA
    G 30 Tray Buchanan 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrUnited Township East Moline, IL
    F 32 Conner Avants 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)235 lb (107 kg) JrDeer Creek Edmond, OK
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Regular season
    Nov 10, 2017*
    8:30 pm    		 vs. Troy
    Rainbow Classic    		 W 83–80  1–0
    		 Stan Sheriff Center (5,764)
    Honolulu, HI
    Nov 12, 2017*
    9:00 pm    		 at Hawaii
    Rainbow Classic    		 L 78–81  1–1
    		 Stan Sheriff Center (5,180)
    Honolulu, HI
    Nov 13, 2017*
    8:30 pm    		 vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff
    Rainbow Classic    		 W 80–71  2–1
    		 Stan Sheriff Center (5,078)
    Honolulu, HI
    Nov 19, 2017*
    1:00 pm, BTN    		 at Nebraska L 70–92  2–2
    		 Pinnacle Bank Arena (10,249)
    Lincoln, NE
    Nov 21, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 Northland College W 79–48  3–2
    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,570)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Nov 25, 2017*
    2:00 pm    		 Utah Valley L 75–83 OT 3–3
    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,669)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Nov 28, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 Presentation College W 82–75  4–3
    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,614)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Dec 5, 2017*
    7:00 pm, FS2    		 at Creighton L 68–111  4–4
    		 CenturyLink Center (15,069)
    Omaha, NE
    Dec 9, 2017*
    7:00 pm    		 North Dakota State L 79–88  4–5
    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (3,057)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Dec 12, 2017*
    7:00 pm, MidcoSN    		 at South Dakota State L 63–99  4–6
    		 Frost Arena (1,874)
    Brookings, SD
    Dec 16, 2017*
    7:00 pm, RTNW    		 at No. 12 Gonzaga L 83–89 OT 4–7
    		 McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
    Spokane, WA
    Dec 29, 2017
    7:00 pm, MidcoSN    		 Idaho L 57–74  4–8
    (0–1)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,597)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Dec 31, 2017
    4:00 pm, MidcoSN    		 Eastern Washington L 64–77  4–9
    (0–2)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,548)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Jan 4, 2018
    8:00 pm    		 at Montana L 79–109  4–10
    (0–3)    		 Dahlberg Arena (3,220)
    Missoula, MT
    Jan 6, 2018
    3:00 pm    		 at Montana State L 68–79  4–11
    (0–4)    		 Brick Breeden Fieldhouse (2,883)
    Bozeman, MT
    Jan 11, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 Idaho State W 81–58  5–11
    (1–4)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,707)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Jan 13, 2018
    2:00 pm, MidcoSN    		 Weber State W 89–79  6–11
    (2–4)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (2,188)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Jan 16, 2018*
    7:00 pm, MidcoSN    		 North Dakota State W 86–77  7–11
    		 Scheels Arena (4,105)
    Fargo, ND
    Jan 20, 2018
    8:00 pm    		 at Northern Colorado L 91–94 OT 7–12
    (2–5)    		 Bank of Colorado Arena (2,059)
    Greeley, CO
    Jan 25, 2018
    8:00 pm    		 at Eastern Washington L 71–95  7–13
    (2–6)    		 Reese Court (1,679)
    Cheney, WA
    Jan 27, 2018
    9:00 pm    		 at Idaho L 71–96  7–14
    (2–7)    		 Cowan Spectrum (1,818)
    Moscow, ID
    Feb 1, 2018
    7:00 pm    		 Montana State W 75–74  8–14
    (3–7)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,885)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Feb 3, 2018
    4:00 pm, ELVN    		 Montana L 67–72  8–15
    (3–8)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (2,089)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Feb 8, 2018
    8:00 pm    		 at Weber State L 76–84  8–16
    (3–9)    		 Dee Events Center (6,275)
    Ogden, UT
    Feb 10, 2018
    8:00 pm    		 at Idaho State L 67–82  8–17
    (3–10)    		 Holt Arena (1,708)
    Pocatello, ID
    Feb 15, 2018
    7:00 pm, MidcoSN    		 Southern Utah W 61–57  9–17
    (4–10)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,456)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Feb 17, 2018
    4:00 pm    		 Northern Arizona W 86–81 OT 10–17
    (5–10)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,970)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Feb 24, 2018
    3:00 pm    		 Northern Colorado L 66–79  10–18
    (5–11)    		 Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (1,895)
    Grand Forks, ND
    Mar 1, 2018
    9:00 pm    		 at Sacramento State W 90–73  11–18
    (6–11)    		 Hornets Nest (501)
    Sacramento, CA
    Mar 3, 2018
    3:00 pm    		 at Portland State L 90–97 OT 11–19
    (6–12)    		 Pamplin Sports Center (715)
    Portland, OR
    Big Sky Tournament
    Mar 6, 2018
    12:00 pm, Pluto TV    		 (8) vs. (9) Montana State
    First round    		 W 76–74  12–19
    		 Reno Events Center (986)
    Reno, NV
    Mar 8, 2018
    12:00 pm, ELVN    		 (8) vs. (1) Montana
    Quarterfinals    		 L 76–84  12–20
    		 Reno Events Center (1,110)
    Reno, NV

    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time

    Source[6][7].

    References
    1. "UND officially makes the move to the Summit League, Missouri..." Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
    2. "North Dakota wins Big Sky tournament for first NCAA Tournament berth". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
    3. "North Dakota defeats Weber State to clinch automatic berth for NCAA tournament". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
    4. "North Dakota vs. Arizona - Game Recap - March 16, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
    5. Pascoe, Bruce. "Arizona Wildcats beat North Dakota 100-82 in NCAA Tournament first round game". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
    6. "M Basketball - Schedule - UNDsports.com: Official Web Site of University of North Dakota Athletics". undsports.com.
    7. http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/155,/
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