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Feb. 13—GRAND FORKS — Greyson Uelmen believes the last time he played against Andy Stefonowicz was in fifth grade.
The duo eventually became teammates at Minnetonka, where they won the 2024 Minnesota Class 4A championship as seniors.
This Saturday marks Uelmen and Stefonowicz's first collegiate meeting. Third-place UND will take on first-place North Dakota State in a pivotal Summit League clash at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
They'll be on opposing teams for the first time since playing AAU.
"It's very crazy to think about, to be honest," Uelmen said. "It hasn't really hit me. I think during the game when I'm either guarding him or when I see him on the court and we're on the court together, both playing a lot, I think it'll (hit me)."
Uelmen, a redshirt freshman guard, leads the Fighting Hawks in points per game.
Stefonowicz, a sophomore guard with the Bison, leads the conference with 122 assists.
"It should be really fun," Uelmen said. "It'll be fun to compete against him."
The former teammates took different paths to their roles as key starters for two of the conference's best teams.
Stefonowicz played in 32 games for NDSU as a freshman last year and worked his way into the starting lineup as the season came to a close. He started in three of the Bison's last four contests.
Stefonowicz's growth has carried into this year. He's started in every game since Nov. 11, averaging 8.9 points and a team-high 4.7 assists per game.
"I grew up a lot, for sure," Stefonowicz said. "A lot of the seniors and upperclassmen that I got to play with last year helped me and guided me throughout the course of the season, how it's a long season, there's a lot of ups and downs, but you have to stay the course and find your role and find your place on the team, and add value in whatever you do."
Uelmen, on the other hand, redshirted in his first year in college.
His breakout season for the Hawks
has come as no surprise to Stefonowicz.
"I know how hard of a worker he is," Stefonowicz said. "I knew when he got his opportunity, he would make the most of it. It's really cool to see him blossom this year. ... I always knew how good of a player he was, so it's not a surprise to me, but he can finally showcase his talent."
Bryce Tesdahl, the duo's head coach at Minnetonka, saw the potential of both in high school.
"Andy and Greyson were kind of the catalyst to keep things going on both ends of the floor," Tesdahl said. "They did a nice job of playing off of each other. Those guys are doing the same thing in the Summit League right now, they're just making their teams better.
"There's a reason why both of those teams are top three in the Summit right now, it's because those kids are leaders. They do it the right way. They have the right approach to things. Good things happen to good work, and those guys put a ton of work into not only themselves but the teams that they're playing on."
Uelmen and Stefonowicz have remained close through college. They keep an eye on each other's performances and text often.
"I text him pretty much after every game, and kind of talk about each team," Stefonowicz said. "We're super close off the court as well."
That won't change this Saturday. However, once tip-off arrives, it'll be all business.
"We're both very competitive," Stefonowicz said. "I don't know how much crap talk there will be, but on the court, it'll for sure be competitive."
Continue reading...
The duo eventually became teammates at Minnetonka, where they won the 2024 Minnesota Class 4A championship as seniors.
This Saturday marks Uelmen and Stefonowicz's first collegiate meeting. Third-place UND will take on first-place North Dakota State in a pivotal Summit League clash at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
They'll be on opposing teams for the first time since playing AAU.
"It's very crazy to think about, to be honest," Uelmen said. "It hasn't really hit me. I think during the game when I'm either guarding him or when I see him on the court and we're on the court together, both playing a lot, I think it'll (hit me)."
Uelmen, a redshirt freshman guard, leads the Fighting Hawks in points per game.
Stefonowicz, a sophomore guard with the Bison, leads the conference with 122 assists.
"It should be really fun," Uelmen said. "It'll be fun to compete against him."
The former teammates took different paths to their roles as key starters for two of the conference's best teams.
Stefonowicz played in 32 games for NDSU as a freshman last year and worked his way into the starting lineup as the season came to a close. He started in three of the Bison's last four contests.
Stefonowicz's growth has carried into this year. He's started in every game since Nov. 11, averaging 8.9 points and a team-high 4.7 assists per game.
"I grew up a lot, for sure," Stefonowicz said. "A lot of the seniors and upperclassmen that I got to play with last year helped me and guided me throughout the course of the season, how it's a long season, there's a lot of ups and downs, but you have to stay the course and find your role and find your place on the team, and add value in whatever you do."
Uelmen, on the other hand, redshirted in his first year in college.
His breakout season for the Hawks
has come as no surprise to Stefonowicz.
"I know how hard of a worker he is," Stefonowicz said. "I knew when he got his opportunity, he would make the most of it. It's really cool to see him blossom this year. ... I always knew how good of a player he was, so it's not a surprise to me, but he can finally showcase his talent."
Bryce Tesdahl, the duo's head coach at Minnetonka, saw the potential of both in high school.
"Andy and Greyson were kind of the catalyst to keep things going on both ends of the floor," Tesdahl said. "They did a nice job of playing off of each other. Those guys are doing the same thing in the Summit League right now, they're just making their teams better.
"There's a reason why both of those teams are top three in the Summit right now, it's because those kids are leaders. They do it the right way. They have the right approach to things. Good things happen to good work, and those guys put a ton of work into not only themselves but the teams that they're playing on."
Uelmen and Stefonowicz have remained close through college. They keep an eye on each other's performances and text often.
"I text him pretty much after every game, and kind of talk about each team," Stefonowicz said. "We're super close off the court as well."
That won't change this Saturday. However, once tip-off arrives, it'll be all business.
"We're both very competitive," Stefonowicz said. "I don't know how much crap talk there will be, but on the court, it'll for sure be competitive."
Continue reading...
