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2012 Final Standings
Looking back: Minnesota State-Mankato (13-1 overall in 2012) advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs, where they were upset at home by eventual national champion Valdosta State. Two other NSIC teams, Minnesota-Duluth and Winona State, both won 10 games a piece last season. The Bulldogs lost to Missouri Western State, 57-55, in a triple-overtime thriller, while Winona State downed Lindenwood, 41-21, to win the Mineral Water Bowl. A fourth team, Sioux Falls, finished 9-2 but didn't advance to postseason play of any kind.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State-Mankato, Sioux Falls, and Winona State are all challenging for the NSIC championship in 2013.
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)
1. Minnesota State-Mankato (13-1): Mavericks look to make another deep playoff run after their stunning loss in the national semifinals. But in order to do just that, they have to do so under interim head coach Aaron Keen. Who knows, depending on the outcome of the upcoming season, that "interim" tag could be removed, permanently.
2. Minnesota-Duluth (10-2): The Bulldogs enter the 2013 season with a new head coach as well, as Curt Wiese replaces Bob Nielson, who left UMD to become the head coach at FCS Western Illinois. Wiese will have his work cut out for him, as he tries to build on the Bulldogs winning tradition.
3. Winona State (10-2): Instead of trying to defend the Mineral Water Bowl title they won in 2012, the Warriors hope to challenge for a playoff berth in 2013.
4. Sioux Falls (9-2): While the Cougars avoid having to face Minnesota State-Mankato, they must hit the road to open the 2013 season against Minnesota-Duluth, on September 7.
5. St. Cloud State (7-4): Huskies have the tough task of playing every regular season game in the ultra-competitive NSIC. Oh, and they play three of their first five games on the road to open 2013.
6. Bemidji State (7-4): The Beavers have compiled an overall record of 113-71 since 1996, under head coach Jeff Tesch. However, only two of these years were nine-win seasons. That's something that Tesch in 2013.
7. Wayne State (Neb.)--(6-5): The Wildcats and their faithful hope that a stretch in which they play three of their last four games at home will result in another winning season.
8. Northern State (6-5): The Wolves will try to build on their best season under head coach Tim Dosch this year.
9. Augustana (S.D.)--(5-6): New head coach Jerry Olszewski will try to make the Vikings very competitive in a very rugged conference.
10. Southwest Minnesota State (4-7): The Mustangs will try to get their first winning season since 2008, when they finished 6-5 overall (6-4 in the NSIC).
11. U Mary (4-7): The Marauders will face seven teams that posted winning records in 2012. And that's all conference games. Ouch!
12. Minot State (3-8): The Beavers will face another uphill battle in 2013.
13. Upper Iowa (2-9): Peacocks have a lot to prove after a miserable 2012 season.
14. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)--(2-9): After finishing 6-5 just two years ago, the Golden Bears will try to move forward after a rough 2012 campaign.
15. Minnesota-Crookston (2-9): As if having a rough 2012 campaign wasn't bad enough, the Golden Eagles learned that they must play the 2013 season with an interim head coach in Mike Fritze. He'll fill in for Paul Miller, who recently took of leave of absence for health reasons.
16. Minnesota State-Moorhead (1-10): The Dragons will face a long, hard climb out of the NSIC cellar.
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4 years ago
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