University of North Dakota Athletics

Head coach Rich Glas was in his second season in 1989-90 and was coming off an 8-20 record and last-place conference finish. UND was looking for a big turnaround and the Sioux got just that, finishing 28-7 overall and 14-4 enroute to the North Central Conference title, which was the school's 16th at that time. UND was undefeated (16-0) at home, the first of two consecutive undefeated home seasons for the Sioux. UND advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and finished the year third in the nation. Returnees from the 1988-89 season included junior center Dave Vonesh, senior guard Mike Boschee, senior forwards Solomon Ayinla and Jim Kerr, sophomore guard Matt Wilkie and several outstanding newcomers--two North Dakota Mr.  Basketball Award winners--guard Ben Jacobson and center Chris Gardner, forward Dave Robertson and Steve McAndrew and junior college transfer guard Terry (Rico) Burkett. Also waiting in the wings was Scott Guldseth, North Dakota's 1988 Mr. Basketball, who had transferred to UND in January 1989 from Louisiana State. After finishing third in the NCC postseason tournament, UND was named to host the NCAA North Central Region tournament on March 16-17. UND beat Alaska Anchorage 78-71 in the regional semifinals and then downed Metro State 85-80 in the region final. That put the Sioux in the Division II Elite Eight tournament in Springfield, Mass. UND opened play there with an 89-67 win over Jacksonville (Ala.) State, but lost 101-92 to eventual national champion Kentucky Wesleyan in the semifinals. In the third-place game, the Sioux dispatched Morehouse (Ga.) College 98-77 to finish third in the nation. Vonesh led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 22.5 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, and was named a third team NABC All-American. He also was named All-NCC and was the NCC's most valuable player. Boschee averaged 15.5 points per game, Guldseth 13.9 ppg and Ayinla 11.4 ppg. The Sioux averaged 4,282 fans in 16 home games.