Worthington, Minnesota - The Minnesota West Community & Technical College Bluejays begin a new era of basketball as they open their season this week on the road at Sisseston-Wahpeton College in Agency Village, South Dakota. After posting a 5-21 record a year ago, the Bluejays enter the season under new leadership in head coach Dan Tharp.
2022-23 IN REVIEW
Minnesota West completed a disappointing season in 2022-23, finishing with an overall record of 5-21 and going 0-12 in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Southern Division. Star guard Elijah Williams was named to the All-MCAC Southern Division Team.
THE ROSTER
The Bluejays bring in an entire new roster for the 2023-24 season, seeing 16 new faces wear the blue and gray. Following Coach Tharp from Minnesota North – Vermilion to Minnesota West include guards Jordan Samuelsson (So., Stockholm, Sweden) and Jordan Sinclair (So., Auburn, AL). Transfers Kenneth Logan Jr. (So., Chicago, IL) and Jeremiah Guevarra (So., Milwaukee, WI.) also are expected to contribute to Bluejay success. The roster is also populated with a talented freshman class, including Rashawn Williams (Fr., Rochester, NY.), Bryan Macario Rios (Fr., Windom, MN.), Solomon Mitchell (Fr., Aurora, CO.), London Bonner (Fr., Buda, TX), Tyrell Robinson (Fr., Palm Springs, CA.), Henry Counsel (Fr., Perth, Australia), Jiekgoy Wiel (Fr, Nasir, South Sudan), and Teddy Collins Jr. (Fr, Rochester, MN).
THE SCHEDULE
The non-conference schedule opens for Minnesota West with a pair of games at Sisseton-Wahpeton College for the Norther Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. These will be the first meetings with Mustangs. The Bluejays then will host the Sanford Classic, seeing the men take on both the Northwestern College and Dordt College Junior Varsity teams on November 10th and 11th respectively. In November, Minnesota West also hosts Mount Marty University JV and Bethany Lutheran College JV, while returning the trip to Mankato face BLC for a second time.
In December, the Bluejays participate in the MCAC crossover event, hosting Central Lakes College and Gogebic Community College on December 1st and 2nd and traveling to Minnesota North College – Vermilion and Minnesota North College – Mesabi Range the following weekend. After a short winter break, Minnesota West returns home to host Southwestern Community College and Iowa Central Community College to close out 2023.
In January, MCAC Southern Division play enters the schedule, with the Bluejays having both home and away dates with Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Riverland Community College, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, Rochester Community and Technical College, Western Technical College and Ridgewater College. Minnesota West will also have a game at Peru State College on January 28th.
THE COACHING FILES
Coach Dan Tharp enters his first season as the head coach of the Bluejays, and second overall. Last season, Tharp led the Ironhawks of Minnesota North College – Vermilion, taking a team that finished with zero wins the previous year and lifting them to an overall record of 12-13. Tharp went 3-2 against the MCAC south in his lone season in Ely, including wins at Minnesota State and St. Cloud Tech and a home win over then ranked number five Rochester Tech. Tharp has an expansive coaching history, including five years at the NJCAA ranks and six years at the NCAA Division I, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Tharp is also no stranger to the area, having coached two years at the University of South Dakota and four years in the Great Plains Athletic Conference at Mount Marty University, where he helped lead the Lancers to their first ever conference championship game.
FOLLOW THE BLUEJAYS
All home game inside the Minnesota West Health & Wellness Center will be live streamed and free to watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@MinnesotaWestCollege . Select games will also be on radio FM 104.3 "The Party". You can also follow the Bluejays on social media platform X @MNWestMBB.