The Sicatoka

Trying to stay factual (and not political): Why is the price of oil going down? Because the Saudis opened the spigot. Why? Because they know Iran needs oil at about $100/bbl to pay their bills. And if Iran has no money Iran doesn't have money to spend on building a nuclear weapon. That's good in the minds of the Saudis. But wait, there's more: The Russians have been helping Iran with the technology for the Iranian nuclear program. Oil under $50/bbl hurts the Russians because the eastern Russian shale oil fields aren't viable with prices under about $70/bbl. Thus the Saudis get a double-bonus out of opening the spigot, flooding the market, and causing the price to fall: hurt Iran, hurt Iran's collaborator Russia. But wait, there's even more! The Saudis view handling Iran (keeping nukes out of Tehran's hands) as an American problem. The Americans haven't been doing that. Thus, although the Saudis know low oil prices hurt the US shale plays, and probably doesn't make American lawmakers that depend on that tax revenue happy, they can live with it because the Saudis really aren't happy with having to deal with what they consider America's problem to deal with (Iran's nuclear ambitions), themselves. You see gas floating between $1.80 and $2.40 a gallon. I see Saudi Arabia afraid of a nuclear Iran and using their lone weapon of (economic) warfare to head it off. (Closing: Note I made no mention of particular politicians or parties, or political views.)

Logo: or

If they stay at seven, that's 24 conference games. If they stay at seven, that's one team looking for non-conference games (or running a bye week) in Jan, Feb, and Mar.

I had to look that Minnesota conference tournament stat up: 2009: Lost to UMD at Final Five 2010: Failed to advance beyond first round (UND) 2011: Failed to advance beyond first round (UAA) 2012: Lost to UND at Final Five 2013: Lost to CC at Final Five 2014: Lost to OSU in Big Ten semifinals

C'mon ... really? Does that include opening round series (in the old WCHA)? <-- EDIT: Gophs have won first/opening round games; but otherwise ... ouch.

I get that; but, I also fear the NCAA will someday either choose to*, or be forced by litigation**, enforce their "policy" as written. Nicknames relating to "race, ethnicity, or national origin" are supposed to be forbidden per the policy. That says Norse, Irish, Vandals, and a host of others should go. *In their quest for everyone to be a color ... "Go Chartreuse!" **By spited, revengeful, folks who feel slighted because the NCAA doesn't "protect" Caucasians.

Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Cyclones Ames High School Cyclones

Can't work. Cortez was a Euro-male who fought good and kind indigenous people (who were infamous for human sacrifice). < shrug >

Teddy coined the phrase "Roosevelt's Rough Riders."

Teddy was a colonel, not a general. And Teddy was probably this State's greatest advocate ever. People who follow his lead and love for North Dakota would probably take on the name he gave to his followers.

Not sayin', jus' sayin' ... http://www.inforum.com/sports/dragons/3700549-no-4-ranked-dragons-advance-central-region-mens-basketball-title-game

In that theory, shouldn't we make the nickname "NDSU" so the NDSU fans can chant ...

Remember my 3:1 rule. If the price per barrel moves up a dollar in a week, the pump price will go up correspondingly over a week. If the price per barrel moves down a dollar in a week, the pump price will go down correspondingly over three weeks. Actually, I see that performance/behavior in a lot of commodities prices.

That conversation goes on over here: http://forum.siouxsports.com/topic/14045-committed-sioux-recruits/page-179

... and the boards, the glass, the ice, the pipes, the puck ... and anything else that can hit DU and Miami.

Pro-Cinderella? So where's your love to Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin? Wait ... I said "love" and mentioned a B1G team in the same sentence. Nevermind.

We'll have a note put into your chart so the ward nurse at the home wakes you in time.

An SCSU win on Saturday afternoon gets SCSU in the NCAAs also.

Schlossman (et al) putting out there that UND in the early game gives them more rest for Saturday and that historically teams playing early Friday do better on Saturday. Brad E. Schlossman @SchlossmanGF UND, as the tourney's top seed, probably requested early game for more rest Saturday. Teams with more rest have better record historically.

It's stunning to me that UND could* lay an egg on the weekend and still have a better than 60% chance to be #1 overall. More interesting? If Mankato loses to Ferris, UND effectively locks #1 overall. Anyone else remember that Motte fellow behind the Ferris mask? *Attention UND team: 'Could' is a statistical word, but is in reality < Goon phrase here >

Great ... a highly motivated SCSU team on Friday.

As I see it, the BTHC will get probably get one team. If Minnesota wins the BTHC, obviously they're in and no other B1G gets in. If Minnesota lays an egg against the PSU/OSU winner the PWR15 slot will more than likely go to an auto-bid from the B1G (PWR16 is already slotted to an auto-bid, most likely from the AHA). If Minnesota gets to the final but loses and is hanging at PWR14, they'd better be praying for no upsets in HEA or WCHA because PWR16 and PWR15 will be gone to AHA and BIG auto-bid teams. Even with one win on the weekend, Minnesota only makes it in 35.7% of the scenarios. That's where my opening statement (probably one BTHC team) comes from.

The "a win sure wouldn't hurt" category: SCSU - no wins means a 20% chance; a single win (who do they play again? ouch) jacks them to "near-lock" (99.8%). BGSU - very similar to SCSU's situation (zero win: 46.5%; one win: 97.4%)

The very safe crew: Quinnipiac - Even with a zero win weekend they make it 2/3 of the time. Providence - Doesn't play this weekend but makes it in almost 3/4 of the scenarios.

The locks (8): North Dakota, MSU-Mankato, Denver, Boston U, Michigan Tech, Minnesota-Duluth, Miami, Nebraska-Omaha The near-locks(1): Boston College (99.2%)