St. Cloud State Men’s Basketball Picked Second in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Burnsville, Minn. – St. Cloud State Men's Basketball was projected to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the league office on Thursday. Sophomore guard Luke Winkel was named the player to watch for the Huskies.

Head Coach Quincy Henderson enters his fourth season at the helm ahead of the 2025-26 season. Henderson and the Huskies took a leap forward a season ago as they finished with a 20-12 record and a 15-7 mark in conference play to place third in the NSIC. A 68-60 win over Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament would be the first postseason win for the Huskies during the Henderson era. SCSU would be defeated 78-72 against Minnesota State in the quarterfinals, ending their season.

"I am fortunate to coach a quality group of guys that have shown up consistently to compete regardless of the time of day or day of the week," said Henderson. "They have held each other accountable through the preseason which has allowed us to cover a lot in a short period of time. This will be the most tenured group we have had in my time here, and we look forward to building on the progress we made a season ago. The NSIC will be as competitive and well coached as it always has been which should make for some quality basketball across the league. We are excited to get underway in November."

Entering his sophomore season, guard Luke Winkel was named the player to watch for the Huskies after earning First Team All-NSIC in his freshman campaign. Winkel played in 31 games and paced St. Cloud State with team-highs of 13.3 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. He also shot 40.3% from the field, 38.1% from three, and 80.4% from the free throw line while starting the final 16 games. The Ankeny, Iowa native produced nine games with 17+ points, seven games with 6+ assists, and 12 games with 5+ field goals made.

"Luke had a very solid freshman year with the program," said Henderson. "He was asked to do a lot early on and gradually grew into that role playing his best basketball through the second half of the season. He has a great work ethic and wherever he has been, he has made the players around him better which led to a First Team All-Conference selection this past season. I know he has had a great offseason in preparation for the upcoming year, and I expect him to pick up where he left off; playing at a high level."

St. Cloud State will return four of their five starters from a year ago including Winkel's backcourt teammate in Second Team All-NSIC honoree Nate Dahl, Australian sharpshooter Kynan Philippe, and the nightly double-double threat in big man Wyatt Hawks. Dahl made 28 starts last season and finished second on the team in scoring with 11.9 points per game. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals while finishing fourth in the conference in free throw attempts per game with 4.1. Philippe enters his second season with the Huskies after averaging 8.5 points and leading the team in three-pointers made with 56. He totaled 11 games where he made 3+ threes a year ago. Hawks begins his junior campaign after starting in all 32 games last year while averaging 10.3 points and a team-highs of 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.8 stocks. Hawks recorded two double-doubles a season ago with seven games where he grabbed 10+ rebounds.

Other notable returners will be junior Anish Ramlall, redshirt sophomores Nathan Bunkosky and Izaac Neal, and sophomore Lee Marks III. Ramlall started 16 games last season while Bunkosky, Neal, and Marks III played important roles off the bench for SCSU.

Rounding out the roster is junior Vance Peiffer, sophomore transfer Bob Griechen, sophomore Landon Riebel, redshirt freshmen Tre Blisset and Will Brands, and freshmen KJ Morris and Azayah Washington. Griechen transferred from West Texas A&M where he started 19 games and earned Lone Star Conference All-Freshman Team.

Preseason Coaches' Poll
Returning to the NSIC will be the North and South Division. With the insertion of Jamestown to the NSIC, divisions will be back in play for the first time since the 2022-23 season now that there is an even number of teams. The top 12 overall teams will make the NSIC Tournament.

Poll Results (Division Ranking)

Southwest Minnesota State (No. 1 South)
St. Cloud State (No. 2 South)
Minnesota State (T-No. 3 South)
Concordia-St. Paul (No. 5 South)
Augustana (T-No. 3 South)

Minnesota Duluth (No. 1 North)

MSU Moorhead (No. 2 North)
Sioux Falls (No. 6 South)
Winona State (No. 7 South)
Wayne State (No. 8 South)
Minot State (No. 3 North)
Bemidji State (No. 4 North)
Northern State (No. 5 North)
Jamestown (No. 6 North)
Minnesota Crookston (No. 7 North)
UMary (No. 8 North)

St. Cloud State will open their season on Friday, November 14 as they take on Northwest Missouri State in the Hillyard Tipoff Classic.

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Basketball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.