The NEW Official Thread of the Augustana Vikings

[Augieholic]

If I interpret Coach Schilling's cryptic post on X from this past weekend correctly it seems like they have 4 commits from the 2026 class. I have heard George Ziebell, Sam DeGroot and Sam Ericsson. Had anyone heard who the fourth is?

I know this offer was made public in August but I dont believe Emre Gedik has publicly announced a commitment....yet

https://x.com/_emregedik/status/1958...m5XVCceEw&s=19

Update:

We got him.

https://x.com/AugieMBB/status/198865...sqhFd99PA&s=19

[AU Vikings]

I was talking to people who know things at the Augie football game yesterday and there are rumblings that Tam Ferguson's jump shot has been found. Big, if true.

What can we expect from Don Don this year? I had big expectations coming into last year but injuries seemed to derail that.

[Augieholic]

What can we expect from Don Don this year? I had big expectations coming into last year but injuries seemed to derail that.

I would not expect much, any contributions from him this season should be treated the same as finding a $20 in the ATM from the last person to use it.

[Augieholic]

I want to get some thoughts on the record for Cody's gang this season.

This team makes a lot of sense on paper. A starting lineup of Ferguson-TeSlaa-Rensch-Fried-Hinker has experience, size, and athleticism.

The return of Hinker is enormous for many reasons but the two that will have the biggest impact will be on Augie's rebounding (-3.6 margin in NSIC games last year) and pushing Bennett Fried back to his more natural position at the 4.

The other critical factor to their success will be the continued development of man who will have the ball in his hands more than any one else, Tameron Ferguson. His raw talents percolated numerous times last season on both ends of the floor but there were obvious bumps throughout the season that would make you wish for the days he fully realized his skills. I don't expect him to become a shooter on the level of Tanner TeSlaa this season but a healthy step towards average beyond the arc and at the FT line opens up so many options for an offense that has a lot of potential.

I expect Markus Talley, Brady Helgren, and Amari Westmoreland to be the first three off the bench and this is obviously an area to watch throughout the season. Last year's bench production was not great, and being able to hold the line while Cody staggers starters in and out will be a key item to watch as the season progresses.

I think the baseline expectation for this team should be a top 6 NSIC finish, but if the shooting outside of Tanner and Sam improves there is a pathway to a top 4 NSIC finish that contends for a Regional berth.

[Mark Emmert's Burner]

I want to get some thoughts on the record for Cody's gang this season.

This team makes a lot of sense on paper. A starting lineup of Ferguson-TeSlaa-Rensch-Fried-Hinker has experience, size, and athleticism.

The return of Hinker is enormous for many reasons but the two that will have the biggest impact will be on Augie's rebounding (-3.6 margin in NSIC games last year) and pushing Bennett Fried back to his more natural position at the 4.

The other critical factor to their success will be the continued development of man who will have the ball in his hands more than any one else, Tameron Ferguson. His raw talents percolated numerous times last season on both ends of the floor but there were obvious bumps throughout the season that would make you wish for the days he fully realized his skills. I don't expect him to become a shooter on the level of Tanner TeSlaa this season but a healthy step towards average beyond the arc and at the FT line opens up so many options for an offense that has a lot of potential.

I expect Markus Talley, Brady Helgren, and Amari Westmoreland to be the first three off the bench and this is obviously an area to watch throughout the season. Last year's bench production was not great, and being able to hold the line while Cody staggers starters in and out will be a key item to watch as the season progresses.

I think the baseline expectation for this team should be a top 6 NSIC finish, but if the shooting outside of Tanner and Sam improves there is a pathway to a top 4 NSIC finish that contends for a Regional berth.

Good points all around, but an especially good one about Hinker's return allowing Fried to move to the 4. Fried was thrust into a starting center spot that he probably wasn't anticipating as a true freshman. And while I thought he did mostly OK, it did feel he was a little small for that role. So I'll believe in your estimation that the 4 is more of his spot.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

I'm a big Jack Hastreiter fan, but I'm a sucker for shooters, and Hastreiter at least has shown moments of hot shooting. Hope he gets decent minutes to prove (or disprove) my belief in him.

[AU Vikings]

Obviously just 2 games into the season but my high hopes have been dashed. Yesterday was a tough loss by 1 but today we got beat bad by a team picked to finish #14 in the MIAA by the coaches. Just a few observations:

1. TeSlaa can't buy a basket.
2. Defense and free throw shooting have been bad
3. I don't understand the substitutions taking out 4 starters at once and bringing in 4 bench players. No bench players have shown anything yet. (Edit: Brady Helgren showed some signs of life in the second half tonight.)
4. Tameron Ferguson has been good so far and his shooting seems improved.

[Thunder]

Obviously just 2 games into the season but my high hopes have been dashed. Yesterday was a tough loss by 1 but today we got beat bad by a team picked to finish #14 in the MIAA by the coaches. Just a few observations:

1. TeSlaa can't buy a basket.
2. Defense and free throw shooting have been bad
3. I don't understand the substitutions taking out 4 starters at once and bringing in 4 bench players. No bench players have shown anything yet. (Edit: Brady Helgren showed some signs of life in the second half tonight.)
4. Tameron Ferguson has been good so far and his shooting seems improved.

I didn’t see any of the games, but in just looking at results is it safe to assume NWMSU is better than people expected?

[Alfred33]

I didn’t see any of the games, but in just looking at results is it safe to assume NWMSU is better than people expected?

That's my question... Is Augie down, just a bad game, or is there some hope for NW this year? I don't know the answer, but my expectations sure weren't very high.

[AU Vikings]

That's my question... Is Augie down, just a bad game, or is there some hope for NW this year? I don't know the answer, but my expectations sure weren't very high.

NW seems to have almost all new players compared to last year. I think they will be better than expected.

[Augieholic]

Obviously just 2 games into the season but my high hopes have been dashed. Yesterday was a tough loss by 1 but today we got beat bad by a team picked to finish #14 in the MIAA by the coaches. Just a few observations:

1. TeSlaa can't buy a basket.
2. Defense and free throw shooting have been bad
3. I don't understand the substitutions taking out 4 starters at once and bringing in 4 bench players. No bench players have shown anything yet. (Edit: Brady Helgren showed some signs of life in the second half tonight.)
4. Tameron Ferguson has been good so far and his shooting seems improved.

I agree with all of your points. I think that is obviously TeSlaa's worst two game stretch in an Augie uniform and most of the shots yesterday were open looks.

I didnt watch the Mo West game but watched most of yesterday's affair and I'll say NWMo was much better than I expected them to be compared to their preseason rankings in the MIAA polls.

[Augieholic]

Another underwhelming weekend for the Vikings as they split in Moorhead after beating SD Mines and falling to BHSU.

First the positives: this is the version of Tameron Ferguson that we all prayed for after the teases we got last season. Hes averaging 21-3-3 on 60% FG- 54% 3pt-77% FT. Hes absolutely lethal in transition offensively and hes got amazing perimeter defensive instincts. Right now hes a first team All NSIC performer with a shot at POY if the team is successful.

On the less enjoyable end is Tanner Te Slaa. Right now hes 5-29 FG and 4-24 from 3. There wasn't a single stretch like this last season which gives me hope this is just a slow start to the season that will aggress to the mean throughout the season. Hes getting mostly open looks similar to last season but the its been ugly after the ball leaves his hand.

One person Ive enjoyed and want more of is Amari Westmoreland-Vendiola. Hes extremely active on defense and rebounds well for a guard. However hes been largely unimpactful on offense which I'm hopeful is coming as he gets more comfortable within the system.

[Augieholic]

Is Tanner Te Slaa back?!? I love it when an aggression to the historical statistical mean comes together.

Last night was one of the best offensive performances of the Schilling era with the exception of the FT shooting. The offensive pace was noticeably faster than previous games and the ball rarely got stuck. Defensively they did their jobs most of the night by making Noll and Ferrin work for their shots. Kerkhoff's explosion in the last five minutes made it a little more dramatic than necessary.

Tam and Caden will get the spotlight and they continue to play at a 1st team All NSIC level but the bench came in and did their jobs. Markus and Amari played hard defensively and kept the Wayne defenders off balance on offense. I will admit I rolled my eyes and groaned at every Connor Kraft three point attempt, and you have time to do both because his shot isnt exactly fast, but they all went in so look who's laughing now.

That was a great way to set the tone for two home games vs inferior opponents after Thanksgiving before two bar fights vs SMSU and USF next week.

[cat fan]

Is Tanner Te Slaa back?!? I love it when an aggression to the historical statistical mean comes together.

Last night was one of the best offensive performances of the Schilling era with the exception of the FT shooting. The offensive pace was noticeably faster than previous games and the ball rarely got stuck. Defensively they did their jobs most of the night by making Noll and Ferrin work for their shots. Kerkhoff's explosion in the last five minutes made it a little more dramatic than necessary.

Tam and Caden will get the spotlight and they continue to play at a 1st team All NSIC level but the bench came in and did their jobs. Markus and Amari played hard defensively and kept the Wayne defenders off balance on offense. I will admit I rolled my eyes and groaned at every Connor Kraft three point attempt, and you have time to do both because his shot isnt exactly fast, but they all went in so look who's laughing now.

That was a great way to set the tone for two home games vs inferior opponents after Thanksgiving before two bar fights vs SMSU and USF next week.

Te Slaa was good, but Ferguson...oh my, he was outstanding. He simply controlled the game. He absolutely dissected WSC's pressure defense, finding some shots for himself but mostly setting up others. Augie shot something like 60% from 3 in the first half, and while you have to credit the shooters a lot of the open shots were due to Ferguson's ability to penetrate and collapse the Wildcat defense. 20 points, 11 assists, and only 1 turnover. If that doesn't net him NSIC player of the week I'm not sure what would.

[Augieholic]

Te Slaa was good, but Ferguson...oh my, he was outstanding. He simply controlled the game. He absolutely dissected WSC's pressure defense, finding some shots for himself but mostly setting up others. Augie shot something like 60% from 3 in the first half, and while you have to credit the shooters a lot of the open shots were due to Ferguson's ability to penetrate and collapse the Wildcat defense. 20 points, 11 assists, and only 1 turnover. If that doesn't net him NSIC player of the week I'm not sure what would.

Tam has taken an incredible leap this season, when he gets the ball in transition it is highly enjoyable