Mayville, N.D – Mayville State Men's Basketball is looking forward to building off what was a successful and thrilling year in 2022-2023.

The Comets were picked to win the 2023-2024 North Star Athletic Association Conference Title this year and enter the season receiving votes within the 2023-2024 NAIA Men's Basketball National Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.

Last year the Comets swept both the NSAA regular-season and the postseason tournament titles, finishing with an overall record of 25-6 and 12-2 record in conference play.

Head Coach Brandon McGruder commented, "Being picked to win the league and receiving votes to start the season is extremely humbling. It's great to see the NSAA get some recognition because I think this league is extremely competitive and does not get the credit it deserves sometimes. However, banners are not hung for preseason recognition. Our goal is to build on the success of last year and we have to attack each day with that intent." 

Coach McGruder enters his second season at the helm of the Comets team alongside Will Osborn and Brayden Waterman. Mayville state returns three key players.

Thomas Gieske, a senior guard from Sartell, Minn., who was named NSAA Most Valuable Player, NSAA 1^st Team All-Conference and NAIA Men's Basketball All-American 3^rd Team. Gieske average 16.3 ppg, had a 61.2 FG % and notched 7.3 rpg.

Jamison Kramer, a senior guard from Marion, N.D., returns to the Comets after being named NSAA Honorable Mention last year. Kramer averaged 11.1 ppg, shot 53.2% FG, and tallied 4.8 rpg.

JC Canahuate, another senior guard from Santigo, Dominican Republic, returns for the Comets. Canahuate averaged 7.2 ppg, 53.1% FG, 3.7 apg and had 2.0 rpg.

McGruder said, "All three are 5^th year seniors and I expect them to bring us outstanding leadership and maturity on the court. Tom brings his hard hat to work every day and does all the small things to keep us competitive every night. Jamison's size and perimeter shooting causes matchup problems for teams. JC's passing has improved tremendously over the summer, and I expect him to be a catalyst for our offense."

"We play a tough non-conference schedule including 3 GPAC schools in the first few weeks of November and some tough Frontier Conference members in early December," said McGruder.

"A home and home with arguably the best NAIA in the state of ND for the past few years in Jamestown will give us a great feel for conference play in the sense we will get to play and scout them twice," added McGruder.

"I talked to our guys last night after practice and told them our next game is the biggest game of their careers. After that game the next game is the biggest and so on. We have to play like were competing for championships on the biggest stage every day in practice and every game night. College basketball is truly amazing because anyone can be beat on any given night. You have to respect the process and it starts in practice." 

The Comets open their season this weekend against Providence at home. Tip off is slated for 8:30pm.

Watch Coach McGruder, JC Canahuate and Thomas Gieske talk about their upcoming season and their 2023-2024 squad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PohgepM3Rc
 
Full schedule visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Full NSAA coaches poll press release visit: https://playnorthstar.com/news/2023/10/23/2023-24-nsaa-mens-basketball-preseason-poll-released.aspx

Full NAIA coaches poll press release visit: https://www.naia.org/sports/mbkb/2023-24/releases/MBB_PreseasonPoll_10_25_23