SEWARD, Neb. – The 20th annual Cattle Classic is set to tip off on Friday afternoon inside Walz Arena. The basketball classic features a total of four men’s games and four women’s games over the course of the two-day extravaganza. The event, co-sponsored by Concordia and Cattle Bank & Trust, raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action's Food Pantry. Pac N Save of Seward will match all canned food donations.
Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods in exchange for admission. Ten canned items will get an adult a weekend pass. Complete admission information for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE.
Live webcasts/stats: Concordia Sports Network
Dakstats tournament page
2019 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 1
- Women: Doane University vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 1 p.m.
- Men: Benedictine College (Kan.) vs. Hastings College 3 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Simpson University (Calif.), 6 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Dickinson State University (N.D.), 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2
- Women: Doane University vs. Simpson University (Calif.), 10 a.m.
- Men: Dickinson State University (N.D.) vs. Hastings College, 12 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 3 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Benedictine College (Kan.), 5 p.m.
The Men’s Field
Concordia University
Head coach: Ben Limback, 7th season
2019-20 Record: 2-0
2018-19 Record: 15-16
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top Player: Based on career achievement, Tanner Shuck is the most high profile performer. He enters the Cattle Classic ranked 23rd on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,147 points. Concordia boasts plenty of additional firepower on the perimeter. Senior point guard Brevin Sloup poured in 41 combined points over last week’s neutral court wins over Dakota State University (N.D.) and Friends University (Kan.). The Bulldogs also have high expectations for sophomore Carter Kent, last season’s GPAC Freshman of the Year.
Overview: Concordia was picked to finish eighth in the GPAC, but has potential to rise higher with a much more experienced roster than it had this time a year ago. All five starters return along with many of the team’s 2018-19 key reserves. The real proving ground will come within conference play, but a good showing this weekend would be a step in the right direction.
Benedictine College
Head coach: Ryan Moody, 9th season
2019-20 Record: 0-0
2018-19 Record: 31-4
Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference
Location: Atchison, Kansas
Top Player: Benedictine graduated its top two scorers from last season in Thomas O’Connor and Adam Kutney, but returns sophomore Eric Krus. He enjoyed a fine freshman campaign that saw him average 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range.
Overview: The Ravens are ranked ninth in NAIA Division I following a special 2018-19 season. Last season’s squad went 31-4 overall and won the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season title with a perfect 24-0 league mark. In the 2019-20 HAAC preseason poll, Benedictine was picked as the runner up behind William Penn University (Iowa).
Dickinson State University
Head coach: Josh Vaughan, 3rd season
2019-20 Record: 0-0
2018-19 Record: 14-13
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: Dickinson State, N.D.
Top Player: Senior guard Kenny Jackson collected first team all-conference accolades last season when he led the Bluehawks with a scoring average of 15.0 points per game. Jackson was also named the league’s newcomer of the year after transferring from Gillette Community College.
Overview: Dickinson State is coming off a 14-13 overall mark in 2018-19. The Bluehawks were pegged second behind only Bellevue University in the North Star Athletic Association preseason poll. They have yet to open the 2019-20 season. Last year’s squad ranked 29th nationally in scoring defense (73.4). In recent years, Dickinson State’s best record was a 22-11 mark in 2016-17.
Hastings College
Head coach: Bill Gavers, 7th season
2019-20 Record: 2-0
2018-19 Record: 19-12
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Hastings, Nebraska
Top Player: 6-foot-6 senior forward Bart Hiscock is already off to a big start with 30 points in last week’s win over Friends and 31 points in the victory over Dakota State. Hiscock averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season and has totaled 1,363 points in his career as a Bronco.
Overview: Hastings was picked just in front of Concordia at seventh in the GPAC preseason poll. Like the Bulldogs, the Broncos are still trying to put an end to an extended national tournament drought. Hastings also competed in last season’s Cattle Classic and picked up wins over Barclay College (Kan.) and St. Thomas University (Fla.). This is a fairly experienced Bronco team with seven seniors on the roster.