The NEW Official Thread of the Augustana Vikings

[Augieholic]

Great to see Tyler win another one. He would probably be the betting favorite for POY right if such a thing existed. If it does exist someone please guide me in proper direction. HOWEVAH, I would have liked to see Fink get POW this week. He got robbed earlier this season when he went nuclear on SMSU. Last weekend he punched UMD in the face on Friday and unlike Tyler he had actually faced legit opposition on Saturday.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

Fifteen games into the season, and I've been pleasantly surprised by two things:

1. Productivity off the bench. At the beginning of the season, Augie was getting nothing from the bench. But Akoi Akoi and Bennett Otto, especially, have hit their stride. Had serious doubts that Otto was an NSIC-caliber player after his first two years. Glad to say he's proven me wrong.

2. Bona fide point guard. Quality point guard play looked far from certain entering the season. Jameson Bryan was a solid contributor his first four years, biding his time as a spot starter and bench player. His loyalty was rewarded with the starting job this season, and I think he's been superb, especially lately. Billeter is a big assist-to-turnover guy, and Bryan ranks third in all of Division II at 4.29. Seen him interviewed on TV. Seems like a good kid. Happy to see he's playing well his final year.

[MrAugustana]

Fifteen games into the season, and I've been pleasantly surprised by two things:

1. Productivity off the bench. At the beginning of the season, Augie was getting nothing from the bench. But Akoi Akoi and Bennett Otto, especially, have hit their stride. Had serious doubts that Otto was an NSIC-caliber player after his first two years. Glad to say he's proven me wrong.

2. Bona fide point guard. Quality point guard play looked far from certain entering the season. Jameson Bryan was a solid contributor his first four years, biding his time as a spot starter and bench player. His loyalty was rewarded with the starting job this season, and I think he's been superb, especially lately. Billeter is a big assist-to-turnover guy, and Bryan ranks third in all of Division II at 4.29. Seen him interviewed on TV. Seems like a good kid. Happy to see he's playing well his final year.

Everything I've seen and heard about Bryan is just that--great kid who has come in with the mindset that he was going to work his butt off whether he was playing 3 minutes a game or 35 minutes a game. Honestly, his development is a good example of how some kids shouldn't just jump into the transfer portal after year one if they aren't getting 25 minutes a game as freshmen. It would've been easy for Bryan to see himself on the bench behind a guy like Plitzuweit (or even a transfer like Matt Todd who was supposed to come in and be a scoring threat immediately) and decide to transfer somewhere to get 20+ minutes per game starting his sophomore year. Instead, he worked hard, waited his time, and is now getting to make a much-needed impact in a season that has likely surprised just about everyone. Happy for him and I hope his season continues the way it's gone so far.

As far as the bench goes, I completely agree. If Otto and Akoi can maintain--or even better, improve--the level they're at right now, we could be in a much healthier spot potential-wise as the postseason draws near. And this past weekend Eric Tiedmann put in some great minutes grabbing rebounds and making baskets too. Still lots of basketball to be played, but if you had told me after our early-season NAIA games that we'd be potentially contending for a top 2-3 spot in the Regional at this point in the season, I would've been surprised, to say the least. It's been fun to see this team develop.

That's the other part of it too, how much fun everybody is having. Riemersma mentioned it on the post-game radio show after St. Cloud, saying that everybody on this team genuinely likes each other and everyone wants to see everyone else succeed. Nobody is complaining about minutes, nobody is mad or jealous when another guy gets extra shots because he's in a groove...it's just a bunch of guys who enjoy each other and are having fun while they play. Whether they end up making a long postseason run or not, I'm glad these guys like Dykman, Riermersma, LeBrun, and Bryan who have been consistent these past few years are finally (so far) getting to see some of the fruits of their labor.

Here's to hoping it continues with some more wins these last few weeks of the regular season.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

Everything I've seen and heard about Bryan is just that--great kid who has come in with the mindset that he was going to work his butt off whether he was playing 3 minutes a game or 35 minutes a game. Honestly, his development is a good example of how some kids shouldn't just jump into the transfer portal after year one if they aren't getting 25 minutes a game as freshmen. It would've been easy for Bryan to see himself on the bench behind a guy like Plitzuweit (or even a transfer like Matt Todd who was supposed to come in and be a scoring threat immediately) and decide to transfer somewhere to get 20+ minutes per game starting his sophomore year. Instead, he worked hard, waited his time, and is now getting to make a much-needed impact in a season that has likely surprised just about everyone. Happy for him and I hope his season continues the way it's gone so far.

As far as the bench goes, I completely agree. If Otto and Akoi can maintain--or even better, improve--the level they're at right now, we could be in a much healthier spot potential-wise as the postseason draws near. And this past weekend Eric Tiedmann put in some great minutes grabbing rebounds and making baskets too. Still lots of basketball to be played, but if you had told me after our early-season NAIA games that we'd be potentially contending for a top 2-3 spot in the Regional at this point in the season, I would've been surprised, to say the least. It's been fun to see this team develop.

That's the other part of it too, how much fun everybody is having. Riemersma mentioned it on the post-game radio show after St. Cloud, saying that everybody on this team genuinely likes each other and everyone wants to see everyone else succeed. Nobody is complaining about minutes, nobody is mad or jealous when another guy gets extra shots because he's in a groove...it's just a bunch of guys who enjoy each other and are having fun while they play. Whether they end up making a long postseason run or not, I'm glad these guys like Dykman, Riermersma, LeBrun, and Bryan who have been consistent these past few years are finally (so far) getting to see some of the fruits of their labor.

Here's to hoping it continues with some more wins these last few weeks of the regular season.

Forgot to mention Bryan is more than respectable from three-point range at 41.7 percent. Otto is at 46.4 percent, and Steph Cur .... I mean, Isaac Fink is at 49.4 percent.

Agree on Eric Teidman. He's the kind of kid who's very easy to root for. Keeps his head down. Knows his role. Plays hard and smart. Good to see him contributing.

[MrAugustana]

Tough game last night. Glad the Vikes pulled it out. Isaac Fink continues to be a big-time player and Dykman stepped up big (starting with the opening basket of the game):

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Also fun to see Tyler Riemersma getting dunks in back-to-back games. I wasn't even sure he could dunk.

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Finally, congrats to Adam Dykman on reaching Augie's 1,000 point club.

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[MrAugustana]

Always happy to get two wins on the road, even if they were closer than Vikings fans were probably hoping for or expecting.

After the first Wayne game this year, I thought our best hope was sneaking into the Regional. I was hoping we'd finish top 5 in the conference. If someone had told me we'd be 17-2 at this point, I would have never believed it.

Obviously there are still 6 regular season games to go and anything can happen, but it's been awesome to see this squad, especially these seniors, playing so well and looking like they're having so much fun together. If we manage to keep winning (or only drop 1 or 2 of the next 6), it will be one of our best regular seasons in program history. Personally, I can't say I saw that coming.

Lots of tough games ahead. Winona is playing better, UIU has obviously played well all season, USF is obviously going to play us hard, SMSU will be hungry for revenge after what we did at their place, Concordia is a perfect trap game, and Mankato is the type of team that can beat anyone if they play well together. (Yes, the Apostle of Apprehension is still going strong.) Regardless, to even be contending to host the Regional (not just make the regional) at this point in the season is fantastic as an Augie fan. Really happy to see this group of seniors playing so well and seeing a reward for their commitment to the program over the past several years.

Here's to hoping the Vikes keep playing well and toughing out the close games with wins like they did this weekend.

[MrAugustana]

Also just came across this. Congrats to Coach Billeter on win #350 at Augie. It's been a pretty good run.

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[MrAugustana]

Excited to see Caden Hinker on the floor for the Vikings next season.

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[Blue Ridge Viking]

Anyone know what's going on with Eric Teidman? He hasn't played in the last three games. Looked like he was in street clothes for all three.

[vikingfaithful]

Anyone know what's going on with Eric Teidman? He hasn't played in the last three games. Looked like he was in street clothes for all three.

He has a hip pointer and should be back this weekend.

[Thunder]

Excited to see Caden Hinker on the floor for the Vikings next season.

I feel like this guy is going to be a problem for the next few years...

[vikingfaithful]

Tyler Riemersma could be made a case for POW. Two game total 30 RB 37 points. The guy does it week after week, he is an awesome asset for Augustana.

[MrAugustana]

Congrats to incoming Viking Sam Rensch on becoming Hutchinson's all-time leading scorer:

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[MrAugustana]

Another fun one for Hinker. Had six 3's tonight and 30 points.

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[UncleRico]

Not sure if anyone has picked up on this yet, but Angelo Winkel did not come back for his second semester of school. Will be enrolling elsewhere in the fall.