Coming off its worst year in program history, the Northern State men’s basketball team is planning to restore the rich culture that has been synonymous with the Wolves for decades.
The squad will be led by Matt Wilber, a former Dakota Wesleyan University coach, who is no stranger to hardwood success. He understands the NSU culture and has a strong desire to get back to those days.
“When I got the job, there wasn’t one part of me that was like we need to clean house,” Wilber said. “I knew what the record was, but I did not want to clean house.”
He wanted to make sure there was some continuity with the program.
“I wanted to have somebody or a group of guys in here that had worn the Wolves jersey,” Wilber said, “had been through the NSIC, knew what they were getting into beforehand.”
So it should come as no surprise that two leaders from last year’s squad will be counted on the help lead the way this season.
“The first thing we did right away was name James Glenn and Toby Obiora captains right out of the gates,” Wilber said. “They both have been here.”
Northern returns about half of its roster from last year and Wilber expects the older players on the team to play the most minutes.
“We will play an upperclassmen-driven rotation,” Wilber said. “Out of our top eight right now, they’re all fourth or fifth-year kids in college basketball.”
The Wolves added seven transfers to the program and will soon name seven high school recruits.
Wilber said there was a connection to each of the players that the Wolves brought in from other schools.
“With our transfers, we beat a lot of Division II schools across the country on some of these kids,” Wilber said. “That was encouraging that we were able to land a lot of the kids that we had targeted initially.”
Wilber knows all about the instability of the transfer portal. He also understands what has worked at NSU in the past and how the portal relates to that.
“I know the landscape has changed, but there are still college programs that are like, hey we’re going to build from the ground up and build with four-year kids,” Wilber said. “I’m not going to be scared of the portal that we’d lose them, and I’m not going to recruit against it.”
And Wilber said that no two teams are alike and that past success doesn’t ensure future success.
“Every year is different. It’s a start over every year,” Wilber said. “Even if you have returners, you add one piece, that’s going to change the dynamic.”
Wilber said he has two main goals as he heads into his first season with the Wolves, who open their season this weekend with two games in Oklahoma.
“I’ve got two major goals. Win as many games as we can. I don’t have any expectations on that and never will,” Wilber said. “We need to establish what Wolves basketball looks like and does that reflect what it’s been in the history? We’re going to honor that. That’s a big deal. Do we represent us the way we need to? Guys have bought into that.”
Wilber, whose dad played for legendary Northern coach Bob Wachs, understands the legacy of the individuals who came before him.
“As far as coaching goes, I think it’s best served in the chair that I sit, number one, do what I need to do with our roster,” Wilber said, “and try to pull the most out of them is the best way to honor this program is to first jump into the roster.”
Second, Wilber understands the relationship between NSU basketball and the surrounding community. It’s a role he also experienced during his days at DWU and its loyal fanbase.
“I’m at a place where this is a community basketball program. This isn’t just hey I’m in my office and I’ll just coach basketball, people can see me out on game nights,” Wilber said. “My office is located where hey, everybody comes through the Barnett Center and I’m sitting here. I love talking to people about our basketball program. I always have. I knew that when I was in Mitchell, that was part of the job and it’s a huge part of this job, too, is to represent this program and be accessible to the community.”
While the Wolves will be putting players on the floor who will be new to the program this year, Wilber likes what he has seen so far in practice and is excited about the upcoming season.
“We have been really fortunate that we have a great group of young men here. And I can say that this is one of my best groups, and I’ve had some great groups, that I’ve been a part of as a player or as a coach,” Wilber said. “And this one, as far as quality of character, is way up there. So, I hope success follows them, because they deserve it for how they’ve been for us so far.”
