Frontier Notebook: Tonight's game between MSU-N men and Providence is canceled; Skylights and Argos still on

Argos rising despite late start to hoops

Because of COVID-19, the University of Providence men's and women's basketball teams were basically the last programs in the Frontier Conference to pick up a basketball and get ready for the new season.

Because UP was in full remote learning for the first semester, the Argo men and women couldn't practice until January.

Still, when January came, the Argos were ready. And yet, now, UP has been affected by COVID. The Argos men had positive cases this week, which means tonight's game at MSU-Northern has been canceled. UP"s games at Montana Western this weekend are also off.

Still, the setback will only be temporary for head coach Steve Keller's Providence men, who saw some great talent leave last spring but bring a No. 12 ranking and a perfect 6-0 record through the first three weeks of 2021.

Of course, that perfect start is certainly aided by the return of Frontier Player of the Year Zach Darko-Kelly and All-Conference power forward Jaxen Hashley. But it's more than that. The Argos are extremely talented, and extremely deep, as they have five players in double figures, and they are scoring almost 86 points per night. So it's no wonder they're unbeaten even after the long delay to the start of their season.

"They are a very explosive team with many weapons, and are also disruptive with their defense," MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said of the Argos. "We need to be sharp on defense to get our stops. And we will have to be ready to capitalize on short window opportunities on offense."

The Lights, led by the combined 36 points per game of Mascio McCadney and David Harris, will need to be sharp, and so too will the Northern women.

The Skylights, who won their first game of the Frontier season Sunday, will play the Argos tonight, and like the men, the UP women are really, really good. The Argos have the league leader in scoring in senior Parker Esary, who averages 19 points and nine rebounds per game, while point guard Emilee Maldonado averages 18 points, while leading the Frontier in steals and assists. The combo has helped UP get off to a 2-2 start, and the Argos will be fresh tonight, after their games with Rocky Mountain College last weekend were canceled because of COVID within the RMC program.

"We have a short turnaround, and then we have to get ready for Providence, which is one of the most talented teams in the country in my opinion," Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. "They are really good offensively, they can hurt you in so many different ways, and they are really big on the boards. So we know we'll have our hands full with them."

Indeed, the Skylights will have their hands full tonight, with the women's game at 5 in the Armory Gymnasium. And they'll have their hands full because, even without a full fall to get ready, Providence Argos' women are as good as it gets in the Frontier right now.

New Rankings

The Providence men are the only Frontier team ranked in the new NAIA Men's Coaches Poll. No other league teams are currently receiving votes, while former Frontier stalwart Lewis-Clark State moved up to No. 4 in the new poll.

Meanwhile, on the women's side, Carroll College dropped just one spot, to No. 7 in the new NAIA Women's Coaches Poll. The Fighting Saints are the only women's team ranked from the Frontier, while Providence and Montana Western are receiving votes. Former Frontier power Lewis-Clark State is also receiving votes, ranked No. 26.

Frontier Honors

Former Havre Blue Pony and Carroll College senior Dani Wagner has been named Frontier Women's Player of the Week for a third time this season. Wagner is a 5-foot-9 senior guard from Havre. No. 7 Carroll swept their home series against (RV) Montana Western winning 81-75 and 50-47.

Wagner averaged 18 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals. She was 10 of 27 from the field including 9 of 21 3-point field goals and 7 of 7 from the free throw line.

Jovan Sljivancanin, a 6-foot-5 junior guard from Belgrade, Serbia, and a senior at Carroll, was named Frontier Men's Player of the Week. Carroll went 2-0 for the week beating Montana Western 81-73 and 78-61. For the week, Sljivancanin averaged 28.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was 24 of 52 from the field including 5 of 9 3-point field goals, and 4 of 9 from free throw line. He recorded double-doubles in points and rebounds in both wins over Montana Western.

MSU-Northern's Tiara Gilham and Jomel Boyd were also nominated for the award this week.