64934 wk pdf 51.qxp - University of North Dakota Athletics

Sioux have four transfers and a redshirt
freshman, which will add depth and talent.
Travis Bledsoe is one person who Sioux
fans may be most familiar. Bledsoe is in
his second year after redshirting last season.
He had a lot of success in high school,
which the coaching staff is hoping will
translate well in college.
Wes
Porter
With so much talent, Jones expects to
have a number of different combinations
on the court.
“I expect to be able to put a wide range
of lineups on the floor and give our opposition
a lot of different looks,” Jones said.
“Our versatility at these positions will
allow us to play an aggressive style of basketball.”
POST PLAYERS
Jones said he expects the forwards and
centers to play a key role for the Sioux this
season.
“We will rely heavily on (our forwards
and centers) to anchor our defense and we
must develop a consistent low post scoring
threat to keep our opponents honest,”
Jones said.
The lone returning forward is junior
Mike Gutter, whose role is expected to be
expanded. Gutter is a bruising power forward
who appeared in all 28 games and
started 12. He averaged 6.8 points and 2.7
rebounds, and led the Sioux with a 53.5
percent field goal percentage.
2006-07 OUTLOOK
Wisconsin-Green Bay transfer, is expected
to make that impact.
Freshman Ben Lehnertz also returns
after a spending the 2005-06 season as a
redshirt. His continued growth and development
will be an asset to the team in the
future.
Transfer Thomas Dryburgh is also
expected to play a major role for the Sioux
this season. Dryburgh spent the past two
seasons at North Dakota State College of
Science, where he played one season with
Kruse. Last year, Dryburgh was named to
the Mon-Dak All-Conference First Team
and averaged 12.9 points and 8.3 rebounds
per game.
New to the Sioux are transfers Harry
Boyce, Mark Kruse, Emmanuel Little
and Ervin Youmans. Boyce played at
Williston State College the last two seasons,
averaging 15 points per game.
Kruse is a versatile player and UND’s
only senior. He comes to the Sioux after a
season with Illinois State, where he
appeared in 11 games. Prior to his stint
with the Redbirds, he spent two seasons at
North Dakota State College of Science in
Wahpeton.
Little is a transfer from Kaskaskia
Community College in Illinois. Last season
he averaged 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds
and 3.5 assists per game.
Youmans is a transfer from Eastern
Arizona College. He was named to the
National Junior College Athletic
Association All-America honorable mention
team, averaging 18.3 points per game,
a 50 percent field goal percentage, a 45.5
percent 3-point shooting percentage, 2.4
steals and 4.0 assists.
Mark
Kruse
Tyler Koenig returns after taking a
medical hardship last season. Koenig was
expected to play a key role for the Sioux
last season, but he never fully recovered
from an injury. This season, Koenig, a
Fargo, N.D., native and University of
Mike
Gutter
In the future, the Sioux are also expecting
big things from freshman Derek
Benter, who will redshirt this season.
“The post position will be key to our
growth as a basketball team,” Jones said.
“Due to the number of new faces at this
position, we must have some guys step up
and establish themselves for us to do what
we want to do in February.”
Coming together as a team will also be a
major goal for this team with so many new
faces, Jones said.
“Obviously learning a new system and
identifying roles will be a challenge from
the start,” Jones said. “As a coaching staff,
we have to provide them resources that
produce a continuous productive learning
environment.”
23