North Dakota Preview: Carrington
The Carrington Cardinals went into last year as one of the top teams in Class B and while they struggled with inconsistency at times, they finished the season with 16 wins and an extended run in the Region 3 tournament.…
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Continue ReadingThe Carrington Cardinals went into last year as one of the top teams in Class B and while they struggled with inconsistency at times, they finished the season with 16 wins and an extended run in the Region 3 tournament. The team dealt with a number of injuries plus a significant amount of roster turnover, but proved capable of beating quality teams throughout the year. Now, with even more roster turnover, the Cardinals will rely heavily on returning all-stater Seth Nelson as they head into 2019-20.
KEY RETURNERS: Seth Nelson
Nelson’s a returning all-state guy after a monster junior season in which the 6-foot-4 forward had his share of eye-popping performances. He’s big, strong and athletic. Nelson’s got the ability to not only dominate on the glass and around the rim, but he’s an emerging perimeter shooter and has shown he’s more than capable of handling the ball, orchestrating an offense and making plays for guys. He’ll have to carry a heavy load this winter, but he’s capable of putting up 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds per game.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Hunter Mittleider, Nathan Unruh, Lucas Hendrickson, Jacob Seaburg, Drew Schroeder
After Nelson, the Cardinals are facing mass turnover heading into this year. With a senior-heavy group a year ago, a lot of the guys who figure to gobble up minutes at the other four positions on the floor didn’t play many meaningful minutes last winter.
Mittleider is a senior who should fill in minutes on the wing.
Unruh saw sparing minutes last year in his sophomore season and likely steps into a starting job on the wing. He’s got the size and athleticism to excel in a complementary role.
Schroeder, Hendrickson and Seaburg were on the team a year ago as freshmen and will have opportunities to earn starter/key rotation minutes this winter.
QUESTION: Who is going to step up behind Nelson?
Nelson is going to be relied upon heavily and he’s good enough to put up silly numbers this year. Expect the senior forward to handle the ball and make more plays this year than he has the last two years. He’s got a lot on his plate. But he’ll need some help if the Cardinals are going to win consistently. How quickly can those young guys get broken in at the varsity level? Can they become impact players who contribute to driving winning?
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Cardinals are consistently one of the solid Class B programs in North Dakota and while the team figures to be one of the most inexperienced in the state, there’s little reason to assume they’ll drop off this winter. Nelson gives them an all-state forward who commands attention from the opposition and can dominate a game like few others. He gives them the floor of a competitive group. How much those young guys come along will determine the team’s ceiling.