2022-23 Men's Basketball Season Preview

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – A new season is on the horizon as the Red Raider men's basketball team gets set to tip-off their season in less than two weeks. Northwestern brings in a balance of returning players and incoming contributors to make a run at their fourth-straight National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament berth.

The Raiders ended the 2021-22 season with a record of 21-11 and a third-place finish in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular season standings. In addition to their team successes, the Raiders saw plenty of individual accolades achieved as Trent Hilbrands (Remsen, Iowa) and returning forward Alex Van Kalsbeek (Orange City, Iowa) both earned NAIA All-American honors. Head coach Kris Korver also picked up his 500^th career win on February 12 against Mount Marty.

Northwestern brings back an experienced roster for 2022-23 that includes four starters from a year ago. Additionally, the Raiders return forward Craig Sterk (Jr., McBain, Mich.), a three-time All-GPAC performer who last played in the 2020-21 season. Those returning to the team will look to bring Northwestern back to the NAIA national tournament while welcoming a group of talented newcomers into the fold. Six freshmen will join the varsity roster while two transfers, Dillon Carlson (Sr., Ankeny, Iowa) and Zach LaFave (Jr., Elkhorn, Neb.), come to Northwestern after playing at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II schools Drury (Mo.) and Wayne State (Neb.), respectively.

The non-conference schedule opens on the road with two opponents out of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) in Valley City State (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.). After a week away, the Raiders will host the Pizza Ranch Classic, welcoming Indiana University East and Viterbo (Wis.) to the Bultman Center the weekend of November 11. Northwestern will later play at the Dordt Thanksgiving Classic against Governors State (Ill.) and Oak Hills Christian (Minn.) and at the Bellevue Classic against NSAA schools Dakota State (S.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.)

Northwestern's 20-game conference slate is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 19, as the Raiders travel to Crete, Nebraska for a matchup with Doane. The GPAC is set for another competitive season after five of its 11 teams qualified for the NAIA tournament last year. Jamestown was slated as the top team in the GPAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after making a run to the Round of 16, while defending regular season champion Briar Cliff will look to follow up their 15-5 conference record. Along with Northwestern, GPAC postseason champion Concordia (Neb.) and Sioux County rival Dordt are among the teams coming off of NAIA tournament appearances.

Schedule dates and times are subject to change. For up-to-date information, follow along with the men's basketball page on nwcraiders.com. Linked above, the men's basketball media center features game note previews, box scores, and featured stories.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

#4 Trent Hilbrands: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#42 Alex Van Kalsbeek: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#13 Dillon Carlson: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#24 Craig Sterk: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#30 Zach LaFave: F; 6' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Trent Hilbrands
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#42 Alex Van Kalsbeek
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#13 Dillon Carlson
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#24 Craig Sterk
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#30 Zach LaFave
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F