1. Adam Anhold, Western Illinois: 8 games into Anhold’s Western Illinois career he had scored 0 points and had logged 5 minutes on the court. Then yesterday happened. Anhold had an impressive 16 points and 9 rebounds in 22 minutes against South Dakota State yesterday. Anhold is likely to see more and more opportunities as a big alongside Tamell Pearson.
2. Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State: Summit League fans; he’s baaaaaack! After a 4 game absence dealing with a foot injury, the preseason Summit Player of the Year returned to the court last night and put in 22 points in 25 minutes. The most important thing is that according to accounts of those who watched the action (sorry not paying $6.95 to watch it) Wilson showed the same explosion and quickness as he did before the injury. Wilson came off the bench last night, but I think it is fair to assume that Wilson will return to the starting lineup as soon as tonight’s game against Western Illinois.
3. Seybian Sims North Dakota: Sims scored 10 points and gathered 5 rebounds while giving the Fighting Hawks great perimeter defense last night. However, the reason he made this list was because of his 1 steal. 1 steal seems like an insignificant number to make this list but it was how and when the steal happened that lands Sims here. The steal came in a tie ballgame defending potential all Summit guard Max Abmas. Abmas was attempting to set up a last possession shot in a tie ball game when Sims made an incredible steal, causing Abmas to foul Sims instead of Sims completing a game-winning steal and dunk. Sims sank 1 of two free throws which ended up being the difference in a 72-71 Fighting Hawks road victory.
4. Sam Griesel North Dakota State: Multiple times during the podcast the topic of does North Dakota State have a go-to guy has come up. Let me introduce you to Sam “go-to guy” Greisel. After NDSU’s game against Omaha had gone from a comfortable 10 point lead to holy crap we’re tied in a minute and a half, NDSU knew they had one play left to avoid overtime. The play was to get the ball to Griesel and let him go to work. Griesel took the ball down to the right block and hit a turnaround jumper as time expired over a smaller defender lifting NDSU to the victory and allowing them to remain undefeated in Summit League play. Will Griesel always be the guy at the end of games? Maybe not, it will likely be matchup dependent, but last night was his night.
5. Filip Rebraca, North Dakota: When facing one of the Summit’s best offenses in Oral Roberts it helps to be able to put some pressure on their interior defense. Well, the pressure put on them by Rebraca caused them to break. Rebraca scored 24 points and added 9 rebounds in guiding UND to an impressive victory. There was a scary moment early in the game where Rebraca got his face split open by friendly fire and needed to leave the game but Rebraca returned and put on a show. Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised, I mean if you just played a two-game series against Kansas City the week before your face being split open feels like a paper cut. Also to seal UND’s victory Rebraca blocked a 3 point attempt by Oral Roberts Max Abmas at the buzzer.
6. Tasos Kamateros and Xavier Fuller, South Dakota: Wait why are a guy who scored 6 points and another who scored 9 on your list? It’s because of when it happened. Kamateros scored all 6 of his points early in the game and really set the tone for the game, and every time it seemed Kansas City was going to make a run at the Yotes Fuller was there to hit a big 3, scoring all 9 points in the first half on big 3 point baskets. Add in the fact that both played great energy defense all game and they deserve a mention.
7. Wanyang Tut, Omaha: Tut has this ability to absolutely shine in some games. Last night’s game was one of those times. 31 points in Omaha’s narrow defeat by the hands of North Dakota State. Tut was unstoppable scoring inside, off the drive, and from the free-throw line. The thing is way may need to find an adequate name for these Tut performances because while spectacular and worth the price of admission they tend to be a rare sighting, I can’t come up with anything better than Tutclipse, so it’s on all of you. Tut’s point totals in his last 5 games were 27, 2, 4, 14, and 31.
8. Marvin Nesbitt, Kansas City: South Dakota through size at Kansas City and that is something the Roos don’t have a lot of with Hidde Roessink’s injury. Coach Donlon used, rarely used Freshmen Caden Boser in an attempt to help down low but most of this fell on the 6’4 180 lb Nesbitt. The senior guard just battled and battled against the bigger bodies of South Dakota and didn’t make anything easy for the South Dakota bigs. Nesbitt finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds and the respect of the South Dakota big men.
9. Stanley Umude, South Dakota: In the same line of thinking as Nesbitt, it isn’t necessarily on this list because of his stat line. Kansas City makes nothing easy on the opponent and especially the opponent’s best player. Umude was rubbed, pushed, elbowed, and just overall harassed all night. Yet to Umude it was just another night at the office. Umude was unflappable and the Yotes captain showed the rest of the troops how to handle the Roos intense defense.
10. Kevin Obanor, Oral Roberts: Obanor had a double-double at halftime and ended the game with 18 rebounds. Oh and 21 points. It wasn’t Obanor’s usual efficient game however, Obanor makes this list because he continues to show he has grown as a player. No night’s off for this year’s version of Kevin Obanor.