Full NSIC Release
The Northern Sun Conference announced its Men’s Basketball All-Conference selections on Wednesday afternoon and
Tucker Wentzien was tabbed a All-NSIC First Team performer. Wentzien earned his spot on the list after his most impressive statistical season as a Peacock in which he led his team in scoring and rebounding throughout the regular season and the postseason.
“I’m proud of Tucker – it’s a great honor and he deserves it,” Head Coach Brian Dolan said. “But like I said when he won player of the week, ‘he’ll be the first to tell you he couldn’t have done it without his teammates.’ It’s more of a team award, but Tucker deserves it – he’s had a great year and hopefully he continues his run he’s had here as of late.”
Wentzien – who was selected to the All-NSIC Second Team last year – has started 95 out of 107 career games for the Peacocks over the past four years, including all 30 games this season. The Solon, Iowa native has been a fundamental part in helping lead UIU to the Semifinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men’s Basketball Tournament this year.
At 6-foot-8, Wentzien dominated the paint and the glass at times. He shot an eye-popping 52 percent from the floor en route to a 14.6 points per game average – his highest total as a Peacock, while also connecting on 34 percent of his three-point attempts this past season. Wentzien led UIU in rebounding with 6.1 boards per game, while also contributing 22 blocks, 15 assists and 17 steals.
The Solon High School product scored a career-high 31 points at Augustana on Feb. 22, while coming up one short of his career-high in rebounds with 13 in the same game. Wentzien scored in double figures 24 times in his senior year, including a span of nine games straight with ten or more points. The big man in the middle also topped the 20-point plateau six times and registered four double-doubles, two of which came in the postseason.
In 22 NSIC games, Wentzien averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.72 blocks per game while leading Upper Iowa to a 14-8 record in conference matchups – the Peacocks’ best record in the conference play since moving up to the Division II level. Wentzien currently sits in 11th place in the NSIC in scoring, 11th in rebounding and 12th in field-goal percentage in the conference and 76th in the nation.
Also during the 2012-13 season, Wentzien became one of just 22 members to reach 1,000 points in their respective careers. On Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 Wentzien scored 11 points against the Warriors of Winona State to surpass 1,000 career points. Roughly two months later, Wentzien has moved up eleven spots on the list and currently sits in 12th all-time with 1,243 points over his four years in the Peacock blue. He also has 650 rebounds, 67 assists, 87 blocks and 51 steals in his career.
Wentzien solidified his All-NSIC First Team selection with an outstanding final regular-season weekend away from home. Against Augustana and Wayne State, he averaged a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds. First, Wentzien registered a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds against Augustana. Then he had a 21-point outing a night later against the Wildcats. Overall, he shot 71.4% (20-28) from the floor in the two games, including 12-of-16 from the free-throw line. Wentzien also added two blocks and two steals to go along with his 20 rebounds en route to his second NSIC Player of the Week honor in his career.
His All-NSIC First Team selection comes just two days before the Peacocks face the Bemidji State Beavers (17-11, 13-9 NSIC) in the Semifinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men’s Basketball Tournament in Rochester, Minnesota. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. inside Taylor Arena at the Mayo Civic Center.
