GRAND FORKS — Entering Treysen Eaglestaff’s first season at UND in 2022, the Fighting Hawks played two ranked teams within 20 days: No. 9 Creighton and No. 23 Iowa State.

He thought back on those games — particularly the match in Ames, Iowa — before UND plays No. 6 Alabama at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

“I definitely could have played harder,” he said. “That makes me angry because this is a great opportunity to play against such a good team. When I come out of the game tomorrow, my body… I shouldn’t be able to walk normally after the game tomorrow. I should be limping, I should be in pain because that means I know I gave it my all.

“Just do your best. I told the other guys if I went back and watched the film and I could have done more, obviously that would eat me up forever.”

Wednesday’s game will be the third time Eaglestaff and Alabama forward Grant Nelson, two former North Dakota Mr. Basketball winners, have faced off.

Eaglestaff won the award in 2022 after a standout career at Bismarck High, while Nelson took home the award in 2020 after a standout career at Devils Lake. (A third Mr. Basketball winner, AND wide receiver Deng Deng, will be in attendance at Wednesday’s game.)

Eaglestaff and Nelson did not play against each other in high school, but played twice when Nelson was at North Dakota State. The Bison won both games by at least 16 points.

Eaglestaff played against Leif Nelson, one of Grant’s nine siblings, who was a thrower on USC’s track and field team.

“Their family is just a bunch of crazy jocks,” Eaglestaff said.

Five North Dakota players will be on the court for the match – Eaglestaff, Nelson, Grand Forks native Zach Kraft and Bismarck products Ryan Erikson and Anthony Doppler.

No matter the outcome, Eaglestaff said the game will be significant for the in-state kids.

“It can inspire a lot of North Dakota kids,” he said. “In basketball, sometimes you don’t get the recognition you deserve. It’s really hard to get out of North Dakota, and Grant is a prime example of how you can do it. I think that’s super cool.

“Every kid that goes to the game and watches the game can say, ‘I want to be here one day,’ and you can if you work hard. Growing up, I never went to an NBA game or a DI game, but I saw the University of Mary game and thought, “Okay, I want to be here one day.” That inspired me, so I guess That just this atmosphere, this big audience and all the fans… it will be a super cool experience for everyone there.”