Busting Brackets
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Marquette Basketball: Reviewing 2019-20 non-conference schedule

By Brian Foley

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Theo John #4 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Theo John #4 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: Vinnie Shahid #0 of the North Dakota State Bison reacts against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: Vinnie Shahid #0 of the North Dakota State Bison reacts against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Dec. 20 vs. North Dakota State

Last Year: 19-16 (9-6 Summit)
NCAA Tournament: 16 seed, Round of 64
2019-20 Projection: 141st

NDSU got off to a sluggish 9-12 start last season, but hit the jets late on 10-3 run to move through the Summit League tournament, past NC Central in the First Four game, and into the big dance, where the Bison actually hung tough with Duke for a half.

North Dakota State returns nearly every key contributor from a year ago – the Bison are seventh in the nation in returning minutes – and is the likely preseason favorite in the Summit. NDSU doesn’t quite hit the level of Marquette’s past top mid-major opponents – Belmont in 2015-16, Fresno State in 2016-17, Vermont in 2017-18, and Buffalo in 2018-19 – but NDSU is still a legitimate test and a worthy tune-up ahead of Big East play.

Senior guard Vinnie Shahid will once again lead the way for the burgeoning Bison. Shahid led NDSU in points (13.1 ppg) and assists (2.6 apg) last season, and is an efficient shooter from across the floor (he finished 19th in true shooting percentage among the 224 players listed 6-foot or shorter). The Western Nebraska Community College transfer hit his stride just as NDSU started piling up wins in 2018-19, as he averaged 16.9 ppg over the team’s final 14 games, including 20 in the loss against Duke.

But for an experienced unit, NDSU provided the collective defensive effort of a wet tissue last season. The Bison finished 292nd in adjusted defensive efficiency and 300th in defensive effective field goal percentage. This could be a stat-padding game for some Golden Eagles, particularly down low, where NDSU only fields one player taller than 6-foot-6.

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