All posts by 5BWest

Denver Men Can Use Season End as Wake-up Call

The Denver men’s basketball season (15-17, 8-8 Summit League), their last in the Summit, ended with a first-round conference tournament thud, an 83-67 drubbing by North Dakota. UND, by no means a basketball power, advanced to the finals against North Dakota State. The Fighting Hawks were dispatched, 64-51, in the conference final. It was a bitter end to an unexpectedly competitive season, which was preceded by changes on and off the court. Let’s not get carried away – Denver won more games just two seasons ago and advanced to the Summit League final. It is not yet fair to say Denver basketball’s on-court product is clearly on an upward trajectory. There is still plenty of work to be done. Continue reading Denver Men Can Use Season End as Wake-up Call →

North Dakota Dispatches DU at Final Summit League Tournament Championship, 83-67

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. Continue reading North Dakota Dispatches DU at Final Summit League Tournament Championship, 83-67 →

Tim Bergstraser Discusses DU Men’s Basketball Prospects in Pios’ Final Summit League Tournament

In a LetsGoDU interview earlier this week, DU men’s basketball head coach Tim Bergstraser discussed the Summit League Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  While the program’s future lies to the West and the West Coast Conference next season, Bergstraser has his attention firmly directed north to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and his team’s tournament prospects. Continue reading Tim Bergstraser Discusses DU Men’s Basketball Prospects in Pios’ Final Summit League Tournament →

Never Made the Tournament: 2025-26 Edition

It’s that time of year again – our annual ‘Never Made The Tournament’ article. Denver started playing hoops in 1904,  and surviving a 20-year exile to NAIA and NCAA D-II between 1980 and 1999 (after which DU returned to D-I), the Pios have never made the NCAA D-I Tournament. Every year, we make the case for a DU bid to the “Big Dance,” and every season to this point, they have been denied. Is this year going to be any different, before they join the West Coast Conference gauntlet next season? Everything for Denver hinges on this weekend’s Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, SD (the WCC Tournament is in Las Vegas, for those who were curious or worried about long-range travel planning). Continue reading Never Made the Tournament: 2025-26 Edition →

Malawsky Fuels Second Half Surge Over Michigan, 15-9

Michigan lacrosse traveled to play DU Saturday in sky blue, sun-drenched Denver in front of a packed Peter Barton Stadium crowd. Denver men’s lacrosse (4-1) was looking to rebound from a home loss to Cornell the prior weekend.  Denver looked to clean up faceoffs (-5/season), create turnovers (-9/season) and improve on the man-up advantage (2-10/season) in order to slip by the Wolverines. DU excelled in all three areas. Denver unraveled the halftime tie and pulled away for a convincing 15-9 victory. Continue reading Malawsky Fuels Second Half Surge Over Michigan, 15-9 →

ORU Crushes DU in Regular Season Finale, 102-78

Denver men’s basketball (15-16, 8-8) completed their regular season Thursday night against ORU in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was an opportunity to finish the regular season with a winning record and finish +2 in Summit League play and a 7-1 record in their final 8 games to conclude the regular season. Instead, Denver had one of their poorest outings of the season, falling behind by 21 points in the first half and never threatened the Golden Eagles in the humiliating loss. Continue reading ORU Crushes DU in Regular Season Finale, 102-78 →

Denver Stuns St. Thomas 82-80

Denver men’s basketball (15-15, 8-7) closed-out the regular season schedule at Hamilton Gym in their last Summit League home game. It was Senior Day, too, with Jeremiah Burke, Logan Kinsey, Zane Nelson, Julius Rollins, Devin Carney, and Josh Lee taking their final bows. St Thomas, sitting in second place in conference was the perfect foil to gauge DU’s readiness for the Sioux Falls conference tournament in several weeks. Respond? Denver certainly did in the 82-80 win. Continue reading Denver Stuns St. Thomas 82-80 →

Denver Dodges Coyotes and Fouls in 90-70 Win Over South Dakota

It is hard to believe but Denver men’s basketball (14-15, 7-7) season entered its final two home conference games, starting Thursday night with South Dakota. In a game loaded with fouls, Denver needed to shoot lights out – and they did. Denver shot 47% from the field, 9 of 17 from downtown, and 23 of 25 from the charity stripe to drop the Coyotes. Carson Johnson was lethal down the stretch, finishing with 32 points and 3 assists. Continue reading Denver Dodges Coyotes and Fouls in 90-70 Win Over South Dakota →

First Half Defense Derails DU vs Omaha, 83-76

Denver men’s basketball (13-15, 6-7) traveled to the Big O (that’s what they call it) Sunday to face the Omaha Mavs. Denver, riding a three game winning streak, had a chance to make it four and jump South Dakota and Omaha in the standings, both sitting at 6-6. Unfortunately, shaky defense and hot Omaha shooting sunk the Pioneers. 83-76. Continue reading First Half Defense Derails DU vs Omaha, 83-76 →

Denver Crushes SDSU in Decisive Win, 79-61

On the heels of a two-game victorious road sweep in North Dakota, DU men’s basketball (13-14, 6-6) returned to Hamilton Gym to face the North Dakota State Jackrabbits. The winnning formula for Denver this season is simple – hold opponents in the 70’s and win. The Jackrabbits have been scoring at a 75.9 per-game clip so if DU held SDSU to their season average, the Pioneers had a good chance at victory. They did even better, besting the Jackrabbits 79-61 in a runaway victory. Continue reading Denver Crushes SDSU in Decisive Win, 79-61 →