Simmons Named to Preseason All-Summit First Team
Oct 16, 2013 | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha men's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2013-14 Summit League Preseason Poll, and senior guard Justin Simmons was named first-team preseason All-Summit, the conference office announced Wednesday. The poll was tallied in a vote of the league's head coaches, communications personnel and media.
Omaha collected 130 points to come in fifth in the poll. North Dakota State was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 25 first-place votes for 305 points. League newcomer Denver, which earned a share of the WAC regular-season title in 2012-13, was second and received three first-place votes for 260 points. Two-time defending Summit League Tournament champion South Dakota State placed third with 233 points, followed by last season's regular-season co-champion Western Illinois in fourth with 161 points. Omaha, Fort Wayne (120), South Dakota (102) and IUPUI (81) rounded out the poll.
Simmons was among six players named to the Preseason All-Summit First Team. The league's top returning scorer this season, he ranked fourth among conference players in 2012-13 after averaging 16.7 points per game, as well as 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per contest. The Milwaukee, Wis., native had 11 20-plus point performances, and he scored in double figures in all but five games as a junior. Simmons finished his first year as a Maverick by earning second-team All-Summit honors, becoming the first UNO men's basketball player to earn all-conference accolades since moving to Division I.
Omaha opens the 2013-14 season on Friday, Nov. 8, visiting Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. in DeKalb, Ill.
2013-14 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. North Dakota State (25) – 305 points
2. Denver (3) – 260 points
3. South Dakota State – 233 points
4. Western Illinois – 161 points
5. Omaha – 130 points
6. Fort Wayne – 120 points
7. South Dakota – 102 points
8. IUPUI – 81 points
2013-14 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Lawrence Alexander (North Dakota State) – G, 6-3, Jr.
Marshall Bjorklund (North Dakota State) – F, 6-8, Sr.
Taylor Braun (North Dakota State) – G, 6-7, Sr.
Jordan Dykstra (South Dakota State) – F, 6-8, Sr.
Justin Simmons (Omaha) – G, 6-3, Sr.
Chris Udofia (Denver) – F, 6-6, Sr.
Second Team
Trevor Gruis (South Dakota) – C, 6-10, Sr.
Luis Jacobo (Fort Wayne) – F, 6-5, Sr.
Adam Link (Western Illinois) -- F, 6-6, Sr.
Brett Olson (Denver) – G, 6-5, Jr.
Mitch Patton (IUPUI) – C, 6-9, Sr.
Omaha collected 130 points to come in fifth in the poll. North Dakota State was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 25 first-place votes for 305 points. League newcomer Denver, which earned a share of the WAC regular-season title in 2012-13, was second and received three first-place votes for 260 points. Two-time defending Summit League Tournament champion South Dakota State placed third with 233 points, followed by last season's regular-season co-champion Western Illinois in fourth with 161 points. Omaha, Fort Wayne (120), South Dakota (102) and IUPUI (81) rounded out the poll.
Simmons was among six players named to the Preseason All-Summit First Team. The league's top returning scorer this season, he ranked fourth among conference players in 2012-13 after averaging 16.7 points per game, as well as 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per contest. The Milwaukee, Wis., native had 11 20-plus point performances, and he scored in double figures in all but five games as a junior. Simmons finished his first year as a Maverick by earning second-team All-Summit honors, becoming the first UNO men's basketball player to earn all-conference accolades since moving to Division I.
Omaha opens the 2013-14 season on Friday, Nov. 8, visiting Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. in DeKalb, Ill.
2013-14 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. North Dakota State (25) – 305 points
2. Denver (3) – 260 points
3. South Dakota State – 233 points
4. Western Illinois – 161 points
5. Omaha – 130 points
6. Fort Wayne – 120 points
7. South Dakota – 102 points
8. IUPUI – 81 points
2013-14 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Lawrence Alexander (North Dakota State) – G, 6-3, Jr.
Marshall Bjorklund (North Dakota State) – F, 6-8, Sr.
Taylor Braun (North Dakota State) – G, 6-7, Sr.
Jordan Dykstra (South Dakota State) – F, 6-8, Sr.
Justin Simmons (Omaha) – G, 6-3, Sr.
Chris Udofia (Denver) – F, 6-6, Sr.
Second Team
Trevor Gruis (South Dakota) – C, 6-10, Sr.
Luis Jacobo (Fort Wayne) – F, 6-5, Sr.
Adam Link (Western Illinois) -- F, 6-6, Sr.
Brett Olson (Denver) – G, 6-5, Jr.
Mitch Patton (IUPUI) – C, 6-9, Sr.
Players Mentioned
G
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