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M State Men's Basketball (Season Preview)

By Craig Olson, 11/23/22, 4:45PM CST

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The coaching duo of Ted Critchley and Alend Alemadi take over in the M State Men’s Basketball program this winter after being named to the positions of head coach and assistant just prior to the school year getting underway.  Critchley has extensive high school coaching experience and Alemadi is a former player for the Spartans.

“We are hoping to compete for a bid in the Region 13 Tournament in February,” said Coach Critchley.  “The expectation is that the Spartans will play extremely hard and well-together in trying to achieve their individual and collective goals.  We will need to learn how to defend consistently at the college level, while also understanding that the game of basketball is a game of runs.  The shot clock, along with the momentum of college basketball being much more volatile will be a challenge faced by this young M State team.”

The Spartans will need to replace Nic Pearson, Langston Davis (All-MCAC), Renell Edwards, Mert Taylor and Larrie Bell in their lineup.

Brett Englemeyer returns to the Spartan lineup as a three-point specialist and solid defender with a high basketball IQ and Krosby Aasness is a 6-foot guard who returns from last year’s team while serving as this year’s team captain.  “Aasness will bring a level of experience, maturity and leadership to this year’s young Spartan team,” noted Critchley.

The Spartans have a strong incoming class of athletes, including Akok Aguer, a transfer from Dakota College at Bottineau.  “Aguer possesses great athleticism with his ability to rise up and dunk the basketball,” commented Coach Critchley.  “He is also a skilled three-point shooter and passer as well.”

Foday Sheriff is a 6’4” forward from West Fargo who “provides an innate ability to score inside and outside,” according to Critchley.  “He has a soft three point shot, but has the ability to forcefully create space in the paint to finish.”

Belind Alemadi is a 5’8” point guard from Moorhead.  “Alemadi is an outstanding defender who uses his size and physicality to control the defensive end for the Spartans.  He has a nice touch form the outside, but also has the ability to finish strong in the paint and is quite adept at drawing fouls.”

Mikele Kambolo is a 5-8” point guard from Sioux Falls, SD “who is a pure point guard who guides the Spartan offense while also having the ability to take over by scoring from his position when needed and necessary. Kambalo will be a high on the positive side in regard to assist-to-turnover ratio.”

Yonis Mohamud is a 6’4” defender from Shakopee, MN.  “Mohamud’s length, speed, and three-point ability will help the Spartans on the offensive end as well,”

Noel Kabanga (6-4”) is front Dallas, Texas, and Critchley says, “Kabanga is a difficult matchup with his size, strength, speed, and inside-out scoring ability.  The Spartans expect him to be a consistent double-double category player in both points and rebounds.”

Matt Gooselaw is a 6’5” forward form West Fargo who can stretch the floor with his accurate three-point shooting, and Alex Dawson is a 6’5” power forward who will provide an interior presence for the Spartans this season.”

“We have a wide range of players with complimentary skills and abilities,” added Coach Critchley.  “The team plays well off one another, which should lead to good ball movement and great shot selection.  I believe this team will be extremely efficient on the offensive side of the ball.”

The Spartans compete in the Southern Division of the MCAC with Anoka-Ramsey, Riverland, Rochester and St. Cloud traditionally the top teams.  “Ridgewater is a program consistently in the mix as well,” said Critchley.  “I believe that these teams are the strongest in the conference as well as Central Lakes, Rainy River, Minnesota North-Itasca, Mesabi Range, and Northland.  I believe all of these teams have the ability to do well in their division of the conference, as well as the Region 13 Tournament.”