Next Game: at Miami
The University of North Dakota men's basketball team will open up the 2020-21 season at Miami University on Wednesday in Oxford, Ohio at noon. Fans can watch all the action on either ESPN3 or ESPN+ as well as tuning into Paul Ralston's call on the Home of Economy Radio Network.

Series History vs. Miami
This will be the first meeting between the Fighting Hawks and RedHawks in program history. UND has had some success against programs from the MAC, however, sitting with a 3-4 mark against the conference. 

Starting Strong
UND has made a habit in its history of getting off to strong starts to open the year, as the Fighting Hawks are looking to win their sixth straight opener and second under Paul Sather. In its previous 115 years of history, UND is 84-31 in season openers. 

De'Sean-ing Star
Sophomore De'Sean Allen-Eikens is one of two starters returning to the Fighting Hawks in 2020-21 after a strong rookie season. The Williston, N.D., native made 30 starts in 33 games and finished third on the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per contest. 

He tallied double figures in 29 of his 33 tilts and sat second among all freshman in the Summit League in points per game. His 454 points passed Troy Huff's UND record (2010-11) for the most by a freshman in a single season with the program. 

Fil Fills The Stats
Filip Rebraca entered North Dakota with no other Division I scholarship offers, but the junior forward is no longer a secret entering 2020-21. The Sombor, Serbia native was named to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team in October after earning an honorable mention spot following last season. 

Rebraca started all 32 games a year ago, leading the team and the league with 13 double-doubles. He reached double figures in 27 of the 32 games he appeared in, sitting second on the squad with 14.3 points per game and leading UND with 8.9 rebounds per contest. 

The 13 double-doubles were the most by a UND player in a single season during the program's Division I era (2008-present) and his 15 career double-doubles place him second for the most since 2008. 

#MACtion
While this is the first showdown against Miami, UND has not been a stranger to taking on opponents from the MAC. Wednesday's contest marks the eighth game vs. the league, where the Hawks are 3-4 all-time, with a pair of victories over Bowling Green and a win vs. Eastern Michigan.

Check The Odometer
North Dakota is planning to put a lot of miles on its odometer to start the season, with zero home games currently scheduled for non-conference action. The Fighting Hawks will play their first seven games away from Grand Forks, including a three-game tournament in Sioux Falls, to mark the longest stretch without a home game to open the season since 1932-33 when the Sioux played eight straight away from home to start the year. 

Better Late Than Never
With the COVID-19 pandemic pushing the start of the season back, it will feel similar to the Division II days for UND in terms of starting its season. The Hawks will open on Nov. 25, the latest they have started a season since Nov. 30, 1979 vs. Portland State. 

Meet The Newbies
UND will welcome six newcomers to the team in 2020-21, a trio of transfers (Caleb Nero - Weber State, Seybian Sims - Kirkwood Community College and Mitchell Sueker - South Dakota School of Mines) and three freshman (Andrew Bergan - Aberdeen, S.D., Tyree Ihenacho - Prior Lake, Minn. and Nate Shockey - Elmhurst, Ill.). 

FULL GAME NOTES CAN BE FOUND HERE