Minnesota Crookston vs North Dakota State prediction: Andy Stefonowicz leads a rebuilt North Dakota State into opening night
The Summit League's preseason favorite opens against non-Division I Minnesota Crookston with one returning starter and 13 new faces to sort out.
- North Dakota State should control a home opener against a non-Division I visitor. The real interest is how its new rotation fits together.
- Stefonowicz will run the offense, after averaging 4.8 assists last season, while 13 newcomers learn where to be.
- No spread or total is posted yet. NDSU beat Crookston 67-60 in a November 2024 exhibition, a closer score than the gap in level suggests.
A favorite built from scratch
North Dakota State was voted the Summit League's preseason favorite on Oct. 6. That is a vote of faith in David Richman's program more than in any lineup fans have seen. The Bison added 13 newcomers: seven transfers, five freshmen and one international player. Andy Stefonowicz is the only returning starter.
Stefonowicz, a preseason All-Summit first-team pick, is the steadying hand. Last season he started 33 games and hit 37.7% of his threes. He also made 90.3% of his free throws. The departures hurt. Trevian Carson left for Cincinnati after starting 34 games, and forward Noah Feddersen went to Colorado. Among the July additions is Karl Poom, a 6-foot-8 forward who played last season at Northern Arizona.
What last season's identity says
Last season's 27-8 team won with defense and the glass. It ranked 41st of 365 in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions). It grabbed 75.0% of opponents' misses, 11th nationally. It also forced turnovers on 19.8% of possessions, 48th. With this much roster change, those numbers describe a habit Richman coaches rather than a group that is back. Rebounding and pressure tend to travel with the system, and they are the traits to look for against a smaller-program opponent.
What to watch Monday
Crookston has given NDSU a game before: the Bison won a November 2024 exhibition 67-60. The Golden Eagles' top two returning scorers are Spencer Swenson and Donez Lindsey. NDSU also gets a tune-up first, hosting MSU Moorhead in an exhibition on Oct. 22.
- Rotation clues: who starts beside Stefonowicz, and how many freshmen play real minutes.
- Tay Smith's role: last season's bench shooter hit 39.1% from three.
- Poom's minutes in the frontcourt that Feddersen left behind.
Key players
- Andy Stefonowicz (North Dakota State): Last season he averaged 4.8 assists in 32.5 minutes and made 90.3% of his free throws.
- Tay Smith (North Dakota State): Last season he hit 75 threes at a 39.1% clip, mostly off the bench.
- Karl Poom (North Dakota State): The 6-foot-8 forward joins a frontcourt that lost Noah Feddersen to Colorado.
Numbers that matter
| Newcomers | 13 | Seven transfers, five freshmen and one international player join a roster with one returning starter. |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive rebound % (last season) | 75.0% | That ranked 11th of 365 and was the backbone of last season's 27-8 team. |
| Forced turnover rate (last season) | 19.8% | That ranked 48th nationally, a pressure habit to watch against a non-Division I opponent. |
| 2024 exhibition result | 67-60 | NDSU's last game against Crookston was decided by single digits. |
Minnesota Crookston vs North Dakota State: quick answers
When is Minnesota Crookston vs North Dakota State?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.