On Friday the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s basketball team officially tips-off their 2024-2025 season. The Bulldogs first host Southeast Oklahoma State University, then Oklahoma Baptist University, in the American Family Insurance Classic this weekend.

After months of practice, and two exhibition matches against the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin-Superior, UMD is settling in to their identity.

“All the guys in the starting five are great defenders, physical guys. I think it’ll be a team that can run in transition, very athletic team. We can run up and down the court. Going back to that defensive thing, I think our identity will kind of be beating teams up on the defense end and then getting offense off that,” Caleb Siwek said, a redshirt sophomore guard.

“I’ve been really happy with the way we’ve scored the ball in our three scrimmages and exhibitions. We have a lot of weapons, we have a lot of talented players, just their roles are going to change. I think that’s naturally part of what college sports is all about,” head coach Justin Wieck added.

The Bulldogs tip-off Friday at 5 p.m. against Southeast Oklahoma State, then Saturday at 3 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist, at Romano Gym.