DU Men’s Basketball (15-17, 8-8) faced #3 seed University of North Dakota Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was a dismal first 20 minutes for the Pioneers as they were outshot 46% to the Fighting Hawks 53% from the field. Denver went 2 of 10 from distance while UND nailed 7 of 12 (58%) from downtown. Denver committed an uncharacteristic 9 turnovers. UND delivered 14 points in the paint (38 for the game) in what felt like a bad dream. UND redshirt freshman Greyson Uelmen scored 19 points in the first half, leading the rout. When the smoke cleared, DU trailed 42-29. The game was all but over.
The second half was a coronation for the Fighting Hawks. A pair of Julius Rollins free throws cut the lead to 14 points, three minutes into the second half. UND responded and their advantage ballooned to as many as 23 points, 60-37, with thirteen minutes left as UND poured it on. The outcome was never in doubt as the Fighting Hawks coasted to a final score of 83-67.
It was a disappointing end to a surprising season where newcomer Carson Johnson was named the Summit League Player of the Year. UND’s Greyson Uelmen looked like the better player on the night with 41 points and 3 steals. Johnson led DU with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in the loss. Denver ended up with four players in double figures but it was a poor first half that led to the end-of-the-season loss in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Denver staff will have little time to reflect on the loss as they need to restock their roster as they move up to the West Coast Conferences. As for fans, they will have to wait another season for any hope of an NCAA tournament berth.
Never playing basking in the dakotas again!
Denver was the one sucking it, my dude
A rough end to a once-promising season, indeed.
Looking back on it, in the last two games DU played, the Pios were routed badly by ORU and UND. That’s not the way to go out, and it should leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, so that it can be improved upon for next year.
Clearly as DU heads to the WCC next year, the DU coaches know that they need to either find players who are capable of defending at the D-1 level or change the way they are teaching defense (or both!), because DU’s defense was a total horror show all season long.
Giving-up over 82 PPG is a recipe for mediocrity at best, and that’s where DU is right now.
Anonymous 902 am. Bad taste yes. However IMO only three of those players will return. Johnson, Oldham, Malang. This is Dunker.
This rout is on Bergy. Sideline reporter said she interviewed Bergy at halftime and he said he prepared the team for anything UND could throw at DU. Really? Went on to say DU deviated from its game plan. Call a freekin time out. Guess his game prep wasn’t so good. I predict Ullman goes in portal. 41 points. He’s a rich kid from Minneapolis suburb who went to Minnetonka HS. Athletes and non athletes from that school love DU. Don’t get me wrong, I like Coach Bergy.