AJS

8 last year hit the portal, so far this year there have been 4. I'm crossing my fingers that the max we see this year is 6. I'm really interested to see what happens in the Secondary. We have not heard definite answers regarding Siegel / Buckner / Kauppinen as if they will be using their Covid year. My thought would be for each who returns, you'll see one in the same position group enter the portal. That's built into my max hope #. Another really important factor is 5 members of the Junior class Thorsness / Keech / Kimball / Neustel / Zavalney are graduating and won't be playing football further. That alone opens up Scholarship $ for 5th year / Incoming class.

Not only this new portal era, but everything is heightened by the extra covid year. It's very important when players enter the portal to look at quality along with quantity. Last year, 6 of the 8 players that entered were either starters or guys that were on the 2-Deep (or in Urwiler's case a young up and comer). I went back and looked to see if there's any kind of pattern with this year. Before season ended: 1 First week after season ended: 3 Second week: 3 Later: 1

To answer the question of what happened defensively from '21 to '22. In hindsight, I think the answer was they lost a lot. It's that simple. Not only key starters, but so many key depth guys. I think it kind of snowballed too. 5th Year (Out of Eligibility) Holm / Canady / Galvin / Turner / Shannon Seniors Larson / Seguin (Portal) Juniors Pierre / Lickfeldt Other Transfers Nelson / Robertson That would be 8 Starters and another 2 off the 2-Deep. Another important "depth" guy in Lickfeldt. Why I say I think it snowballed too. We know Pierre decided late to move on to Law School and retire. Was Lickfeldt on the Spring roster? I'm wondering if they wanted to bring Seguin back for his extra year, or they thought they were fine moving on. What happened this year has taught me not to downplay any loss of a key guy. I remember thinking when Seguin entered the portal that it was no big deal. At the time he was the only guy off the D-Line 2-Deep that was not returning. Then Pierre doesn't return and all of a sudden that's 2 guys off the two deep. Lickfeldt makes 3 of your Top 9.

Based on their IG posts, Thorsness (DL) & Neustel (OL) will not be returning next year. Both would have been Seniors. Both retiring, non-portal moves.

Both played in the ISU-Blue game.

Ventrelli confirmed via an IG post that he will be returning next year. Huge!

Can UND’s schedule be easier, but harder at the same time? The SOS will not be as tough next year, no doubt about that. Two non-conference home games, they’ll play what I’m guessing is the bottom 3 pre-season conference teams. I think they’ll be more “sure wins”. That being said, I don’t like the conference home/away schedule as much. More 50/50 road games (UNI/USD). What it’ll come down to every year, is eventually, this team will have to steal a win against the FBS/SDSU/NDSU portion of the schedule. Going 0-3 virtually every year is putting them in such a tough spot.

Too many unknown variables right now to make any type of prediction. We’ll know much more a month from now. Waiting to see a definite list of which Seniors are staying and using their Covid year. What Portal losses there are. An individual staying / leaving can make a huge impact on the roster.

What are we hoping to see this off-season? I’m genuinely curious on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively: No surprises in the Portal. Lose the 5th year guys / Seniors. They’ll be in great shape. Defensively: Where do you start? This is the worst it’s been as the defense wasn’t exactly young. Inexperienced (OLB for example), but not young. The last two games shined such a spotlight on the unit that something will be done. I’ll simply ask, do you want large chunks of this defense back next year? Would you be excited if KK / Buckner / Siegel return and the secondary doesn’t lose anyone? Or yes to those guys returning, but hope for guys below them to hit the portal?

I haven’t read anything since my very negative post before half time. I want to be consistent. Final score matters. It would be fake if I was overly upset having the ball with 2 minutes remaining with a chance to tie. Losing by 7 on the road. You can build off this. That being said there are absolute issues on defense that need to be addressed.

It’s INSANE how predictable UND Football is. Pure Garbage.

Mac Swanson w/ 5 points in his last two games since committing. Now tied for 5th in the USHL in points w/ Perron.

Couple things that stick out on Wiebe and Livanavage. Weibe is leading his team in scoring by four points. As a defenseman that is really impressive. Tied for the team lead in goals. Captain. Drafted last year by Vegas. Big as well at 6'3", 200lbs. For Livanavage, I like that he's invited to every international (Non-NTDP) tournament. Will be playing (w/ Strathmann) at the upcoming Junior A Challenge.

Boisvert / McInnis are in that group elite group. Very intrigued by Wiebe & Livanavage as well. I will agree, thin at forward next year though big time.

Defense (Next Year) Wiebe (03) - Chilliwack: 6-14-20 (16GP) -- Leads team in scoring by 4 pts. Just outside BCHL Top 20 scorers. Vegas draft pick Strathmann (05) - Youngstown: 1-12-13 (13GP) -- Playing in World Junior A Challenge Livanavage (04) - Chicago: 3-9-12 (16GP) -- Playing in World Junior A Challenge Benoit (02) - Omaha: 1-6-7 (15GP) -- Minnesota draft pick (Future) Jubenvill - (03): Dubuque: 0-6-6 (13GP) McInnis - (06): Waterloo: 1-1-2 (4GP) Ausmus - (04): Madison:

Let's take an updated look. I want to break this into a few categories. Forwards (On track) Perron (05) - Chicago: 8-13-21 (17GP) -- Tied 4th overall in USHL in points Swanson (06) - Fargo: 6-11-17 (15GP) -- Tied 12th overall in USHL in points Croal (03) - Muskegon: 3-8-11 (15GP) Boisvert (06) - Muskegon: 5-4-9 (11GP) Forwards (Need another year, potential) Slipec (05) - Chicago: 0-5-5 (17GP) Klee (05) - Waterloo: 1-1-2 (13GP) Forwards (Concerned) Panzer (04) - 2-1-3 (16GP) Singleton (04) - 0-0-0 (16GP) / Playing for Vernon in BCHL Looking strictly at next year, the issue becomes only Perron is a lock (as far as is eligible and ready). I'd prefer Croal plays another year, but he might be ready. Still need at least one or two Forwards for next year's class. The following years forward class could be special.

Totally. Two goals in his first game and then virtually nothing to note after. At this time of the year Cakebread had 4 goals and 2 assists. Totally normal, not weird comparison.

He’s not 16 playing high school hockey, you realize that right? He’s a PPG at 16 in the USHL. That is rare.

Oliphant would in my mind be the ideal candidate for the transfer portal. He’s not currently part of the 2-Deep, only has one year left. If nobody leaves early, they’ll need to replace only two Seniors on the 2-Deep. One starter. I’m guessing he wants to play.

Wow! Great get by Berry!

Also, I want to be clear. I don't blame Larson for advocating for his school #1 before the rest of the conference. I would think that would only be natural. I assume everyone in that position would do the same. That being said, having someone on the committee whose team is also in the playoff seems like a gigantic issue. Why aren't the commissioners of the league the reps?

Really? You don't see what the issue is?

So, you are telling me that having an AD on the committee isn't a benefit? Doesn't carry any weight? Are all committee members locked in their hotel rooms, no contact before they meet for the selection? At the very least bad optics? Or let me guess, none of the above?

My issue with that is UND is so bad at kickoff return in general, but also deviating away from the norm. If they pooch every kick I'm guessing Weber starts at the 40 every time. Honestly, given the elevation, I'm having UND try to kick it out of the end zone every time. Let's circle back though to elevation. Is there any reason UND couldn't drive the ball into the end zone every time? I'd take my chances over trying to get cute and giving them the ball with excellent field position every time.

Given everything that came out yesterday, I completely agree with this. If you are Youngstown / UND, you want answers from Larson. Given the projections, nobody had NDSU higher than a #4 seed. Then Weber hosts while bidding less $. Youngstown is left out.