USF Basketball Prepares for Augie
By Jackson Wright
Sioux Falls is a city divided when it comes to the two colleges that run this town. Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls share the town of Sioux Falls and are only separated by two city blocks. This means that the basketball games that will take place this Friday, February 21, will be very hotly contested. The best part for USF supporters is the game takes place at the Stewart Center on the USF campus. These crosstown rivals have met once already this year on January 4 with USF sweeping both games. The USF women won 76-72 and the men won 65-59, in two highly contested games at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Redshirt sophomore Chase Grinde knows that this game will be a great game between two good teams. “They’re a very good team with a lot of weapons. Despite their current record, anyone in the NSIC is no slump. Having it be a rivalry game, we know that they’ll be ready to play and give no ground in any way. They’ve always had a solid program and it’s going to be a tough challenge for us.” The Vikings of Augustana are coming into this showdown having won two games over the weekend beating Minnesota State Mankato and Concordia St. Paul. The Cougar men are coming off an even weekend having beaten Winona State and lost to the Peacocks of Upper Iowa. USF needs to have a good week of preparation to be able to beat the Vikings. “We’re just taking it a day at a time. We come to practice every day with a good focus on what we need to accomplish. We learn the game plan and repeat it, that way it becomes habit come gameday,” said Grinde. Chase also said,” Having a great week of practice will give us the best chance to be successful Friday night.”
The USF men, who are currently co-leaders in the NSIC, will have their hands full with an Augie team that is looking to pull off the upset. Grinde and the other players on the men’s basketball team are looking forward to the challenge and playing in front of a packed Stewart Center. “Friday night will be a very competitive, physical, and fast paced basketball game. Every rivalry game each team feels like they have something to prove. It’s going to be a fun environment with a lot of people, and we are excited for the opportunity ahead of us. It’s going to be close until the final buzzer,” said Grinde. The teams will be ready, and the fans will be ready for a fun and exciting night in the Stewart Center on the campus of the University of Sioux Falls. Come out and support these great teams as the women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m. followed by Chase Grinde and the USF men’s team at 7:30 p.m.
Photos Courtesy of USF Athletics Communications
