ND-fan

It’s not just marketing yourself to players but to your fans to get them come to games and be donors for your program. Then it comes to media television you have to have viewing audience if level basketball is not good enough people will not watch. Baseball has gone through this and you see what it has done for small markets teams. I also think the big market teams may soon want to jettison number small mid-major conferences we are in new era and restructuring college sports or should I say professional sports.

The small mid-major conferences are going to die with this kind of movement each year how do market your program when you only have players for one or two years at best expect to compete have any chance in NCAA tournament of winning. I look at the Summit will not even be as good as NSIC conference in division II. The sales point for going Division I was to get to next level and to see better quality of basketball but fact is we’re not getting that top of division I won’t come to small Mid-major and now when we do get quality athlete he will begone in year. If they want Mid-major programs to survive they are going to have change college basketball rules I believe where players have 5 years of eligibility and in first year they have right to transfer but after that they make commitment for 2 years without transferring and then remaining years they can transfer like they do now. This still gives players right to move but gives schools some return on expense developing players that are ready to play full time at top level. If this is going to be professional basketball there should be contract that can be done to protect both parties. Even smaller mid-majors would have NIL money to compensate for years 2 and 3 for players would be similar to rookie contracts that are signed by professional teams now.

If they add Utah schools as is being reported I think the tournament gets moved to one of bigger cities for the tournament travel would just be easier flying like into Minneapolis, Denver, St. Louis or Omaha and close teams can still bus. The place I believe that could fill number of seats would be Minneapolis and with St. Thomas there would be good following by there fan base. I also think Fargo and us would travel well plus large alumni base living in the cities. SDSU should travel well to the cities. KC , ORU, Denver, and Utah schools will travel there as well as they do Sioux Falls maybe better because of Mall of America more affordable to fly there. It would be nice to have tournament on neutral floor and not give the two South Dakota schools such recruiting advantage in the Summit tournament. I also would help in long term retaining ORU, KC, Denver, and future conference members.

I look at teams in the Summit tournament the two top teams are made up players that play good team basketball and probably don’t have as high talent stars as other schools had for top players. St Thomas is probably the most team oriented and hustle team that is deep in players . I look at NDSU they loose Moni and maybe white , and miller three significant pieces for next year. SDSU looses Cluff for next year with talented group young players but they will need to find front court help for next year something not easy to find. USD has several seniors and group of players with offensive skills but very little defense. ORU has talented young players with offensive but McBride moves on and of course if coach remains in place. KC had poor year hard to know what they will have for next year. Denver could make move next year but they will need to retain and keep their talent healthy. UND will need to find some front line help and it appears there young high school players have been bust. The other big question what players they might loose. The bottom line the Summit will be made up number of very young players next year with nobody being dominant with exception of St Thomas with their model for division I. I don’t see any teams having that dominance that SDSU, NDSU, and ORU had in the past 10 years with talent and probably will not see this in age NIL and transfer portal. The schools with best facilities and NIL will probably have most success here again St. Thomas is positioning it self with new facilities and basis for NIL money. UND is going need to do something with facilities that will generate more revenue for basketball programs.

I totally disagree with you on this one women’s basketball has not been affected by NIL money as has men’s basketball and transfer portal. In Mallory tenure we have had only one transfer that was affected by moving on to better division I schools that was Olivia Lane who went on to Grand Canyon. Other transfers in women’s program were players transferring down to division II. The men’s side is has had multiple players that have transferred each year and NilL money has been significant. Coaching on men’s side were dealing with constant movement of talented players so each year developing new roster and trying to find personal to fill your system. Mallory has had turnover but her recruiting classes have number busts on high level recruits and hasn’t developed talent until this year with hiring of Hutter. I wonder last year firing of all her assistants was not suggested by AD and she was given suggestions to improve the coaching. The question now comes did she show enough improvement to continue or are they to point of making change. I have to believe because we have young talented group now would be good time to make change because with right coaching we could become contender in the Summit conference. I also disagree coaching change is about money Mallory’s salary little over 250 thousand if we can swallow Bubba buyout we can make change on women’s basketball. This is about treating coach that has deep ties to UND and has support in the UND community and alumni with respect if she is replaced. This is not to say that Sather has long leash but probably has another year grace with the program. I don’t think they want to make another coaching change in major sports this year but if they do I think it would be on Women’s side.

I wouldn’t be surprised if extension is done and I have put my position on need to change coaches. I don’t believe the program can progress to another level with Mallory as head coach. I also think that we have assistant head coach has abilities to coach this team to higher level performance but I don’t even know for sure he has all skills to coach at this level. I just want this program to return to where we were one best women’s basketball programs in upper Midwest. Chaves has difficult job now does he still believe his hire in Mallory is right decision but difference now he has his career online here because her past performance is not what he believes she can be if he renews her contract. She is one of his hires not inherited like Bubba and so far other hires he has made he has terminated there tenures but now it’s higher valued sport of basketball where is more scrutinized. This is big decision coming forth for the university and also for Chaves.

Schiller is showing effects of back to back games her shooting is off.

Interesting even Midco announcing recognized impact that Hutter has had UND program.

We need another post player to match up with Rabbits they just keep switching us creating problems for us.

I am probably older than you can remember when Herald gave coverage to various sports at UnD when programs were having problems coverage was then pointed to why program were not having success. This created following and things changed to improve these teams but what we have now is basically little coverage and no medium to start change there is no pressure from public to make changes. In return no interest in the programs this what media is there for to inform and build consensus on improving things within the community and we have gone backwards to where we are less informed than we were 50 years ago even though we have all this new technology we need people covering informing us and following up on things locally not just information from all over the nation. Media has failed in this because it’s easier and cheaper to fill space with content on national or regional basis than creating most of your content yourself. Probably has been more profitable in short run but in long run has killed large percentage media off to where local media is now just dying because it’s no different than national source of not interest to large number of the public. Probably why we are seeing growth of podcasters and YouTubers.

I also have follow up to the above comment on Herald and Forum Communication I went to Brookings Register site from smaller city than Grand Forks looked at their sports coverage its unbelievable how well they cover sports their to what we get. They cover the universities sports not just one but most and they also cover the high school sports this is what we used to have for coverage people need to express this to Forum communications and also advertisers to make change or find somebody that will compete with them. We need to have government step in breakup company like this when they dominate area news coverage in all aspects media you can’t have monopoly on this.

I was just looking at the Herald lead sport story is Hockey team winning at home last night to get fourth place in the conference. Both basketball programs reach semifinals in the premiere midmajor basketball tournament with story way down list. This is big story for our basketball programs but even our hometown doesn’t treat it like it was. Treyson scoring 51 points was big it was national story but Herald or even forum just didn’t give it much recognition. I would like to see how they justify this coverage yes they have reporter covering the teams but when coverage is buried in digital paper it shows lack of integrity in their reporting. This some of the reason we have hard time developing these sports players that come to play like to be recognized for their performances. It would also help us getting our fans to game tonight support this team. I hate to have anything negative about last nights performance but it’s time for some accountability by Forum communications on their coverage UND sports.

I just looked I think you miss counted there are six home games this fall. We play Portland State, Valpriaiso, Youngstown State, Indiana state, NDSU, and SDSU at home. The last two being better of the home games because of rivalries.

The reason we have seen improvement in this group is Hutters coming from Mayville he has coached for number years and even when he coached against us he had teams that competed against us with less talent. Second is his former player Gayner from watching games is active as new assistant coach looking at her background and what she has accomplished with herself even since she played basketball I believe she has fire in belly become head coach someday. The other assistant coaches I believe are learning and developing but I think it has all stated with Hutter he has made coaching better as season gone along even with Mallory at the top.

I have thought we have number of pieces not just these three we have several other players especially in freshmen class I just think they need more playing time and working on there games. Plus our other staters are becoming good players filling roles on this team. This team has potential if they get right coaching and adding few more pieces we could start to be contender in this conference.

I wish I could was more excited about the Summit Tournament for our chances but I just feel with both basketball programs we just don’t have much of chance even winning opening round game. Our success this year has been very limited and it has occurred on home court. Then add men’s team is going to be playing rabbits on their home court away from home I just feel we’re going to be out matched for the game. The women’s game is similar we don’t play well on the road and we’re young and inexperienced and they are better coached team. This is not how I should feel but my thought process is there from watching these teams play all season. If I am missing something show me because I would like to be more optimistic.

We get 5 th seed but way we’re not playing great going into the tournament. I think of teams other than SDSU we’re probably getting team that is playing best down the stretch. St Thomas is good team and I think they have one of better coaches in the Summit they are getting better every year in Summit. I think there one quality post player and they will need another good point guard for next year. We have enough talent compete but go look at our box score and we don’t have much offense set for inside game. We could use another post player for next year. I am afraid with us getting 5th seed Chaves is not going to make change and especially if we do win Friday in Sioux Falls but it will be big mistake.

My opinion is Bernhard should go first and I can live another year of Sather in my mind he is still more capable of putting winner together than Bernhard. If they wouldn't have hired Hutter and one of his player/coach we would have been like first year Bernhard couple win season. To me it’s matter priorities women’s basketball is in far worse shape than men’s side if UND hadn’t had Denver, Omaha, St Thomas, (earlier from D3), you could count number of wins in the conference on your hand in last 5 years. I don’t think they are going change coaches for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and soccer in one year. I believe they could make one more change. UND fb football yes we have settled for not winning but I always have thought we have been behind in basketball programs and even compared to football. Basketballl on national level attracts more attention even football especially FCS football or even Hockey and I think it also quickest of sports to rebuild because it only takes couple star athletes to propel you up the ranks. If we had winning program Betty would be full all time plus we would be getting some nationally televised games. Just look at exposure we got from the Alabama game. I grew up where UND basketball was recognized even at the division 2 level. We had some amazing coaches here of Bill Fitch, Dave Gunther, and Rich Glass go look at their records here we were down right dominating basically playing same. Universities we are now playing. This was major sport here durning that time of more than 30 years of basketball. Same thing when we Gene Roebuck on women’s side of basketball. We need to get back to that level of program. It was time where we won 2/3 of our games over decades and we can do it again if administration demands excellence.

I think you are probably right on the above statement and Sather is still liked by general fan. I also don’t think administration is interested changing all of our coaches in one year. I still think Mallory has to be on the hot seat and if she is not Sather is in safe position because he had better conference record and winning against SU than Mallory has had. Mallory program you can see where we’re getting out coached and doesn’t have personality that public appeal that Sather has.

All Omaha has to due is win out at ORU and the y win the conference. UND can determine who they play with St. Thomas if they win they probably get them in first round or if they loose we get SDSU probably for the first round. Either is not what could say high percentage game of winning. The way conference is ending NDSU is coming out they have great chance to get to championship game. They will have probably Omaha and South Dakota to beat on that side of the bracket. A interesting fact is if St Thomas gets to championship game and wins Omaha could go tournament no matter how they do in the tournament. I also was looking if we loose out then we could possibly fall to 8 th putting us on other side of bracket but most likely we end up with the first two. Either way looking at long hard way to championship.

Playing in Denver we have Horne played every minute and 3 others will have 30 minutes playing at high altitude what effort from players but what is thinking game shouldn’t be close .

Beal and Hurst not meeting expectations has had effect on where the team is. But we do have several freshmen on the team I believe if Mallory had worked with them earlier this season could be playing bigger roles on this team. Piekny, Volmer, and Mathern have shown flashes this year they could provide minutes and roles on this team but true to form Mallory has lost patience with these players and then would sit for number of games or only see a minute or two a game. I can say Beal was also in this group too and I can see where Beal as Junior now didn’t see any role for her play regular minutes. I know I don’t know what happens internally with these players but coach has to figure out roles with these players and then you carry through developing role for these players but you can’t just yo yo these players where don’t use them for number of games and then expect them to play exactly what you want in this role you have to coach them to what you want and is in there ability to do that. I look at Piekny she was getting fair amount of minutes earlier this season until she was sitting on bench. Mathern same thing played number of games then was not even in games and now she playing again no consistency to develop these players. Volmer was hurt early and after that hardly seen the floor. I believe she could have provided some minutes of rest for Schiller. I think Schiller would have even better numbers if she would have had few less minutes because she would have been better at the end of the game. I look at SDSU coach Johnson has developed younger players quicker by playing them giving minutes fill in certain roles and coaching them correcting their mistakes as they go. This is why there teams are really deep and he is able recruit the talent he does because they know get some playing time. This is one of the reasons we need better coaching here Mallory hasn’t been able to learn but just believes what she does is right and when your loosing you need to self evaluate and figure out how to win. She has had 5 years we’re still only winning 30% of our games and had only one winning season with one done in the Summit tournament.

I thought this was likely coming players leaving with younger players moving ahead of older players. Beal looking at her potential when she came here has been disappointment for us and for her too! She is so athletic and has size and quickness but her offensive skills never developed to where she could get playing time. Her defense was above average but for 2 guard you need that ability to score from outside as well as on the inside. I don’t know if was our not being able to help her develop or it was on her for not getting to next level. What ever it is I wish her well going into the future. Don’t be surprised if we see more changes coming especially after the season.

yes it has been obvious for last few years and I thought Mallory would learn but she hasn’t improved other than this has been her best set of assistant coaches. We had another night of 23 turnovers and some miscues from our players but look at their minutes they were tired most had played nearly entire game. If you look when we control our turnovers we usually win the game. If you go to box score we out rebounded them, made 3 more free throws and shot same percentage. The difference is they put up 9 more shots and we gave up 11 more points off turnovers.

I was looking at our schedule we only have three games left we are probably locked into our 6 or 7 position but one win would probably lock in 6 place finish. A bigger factor would be if we would be able pull off upset against St. Thomas would probably change who we would play in opening round game of tournament. My guess we would end up playing Omaha a loss probably sets up against SDSU or St. Thomas. My feeling I would prefer to be on opposite of bracket of SDSU. If that would happen I think NDSU and USD would. Have greater chance of beating SDSU then we would again. Also I think we could beat Omaha we match up them best top 3 teams. Second I think KC could pull off upset of St. Thomas because they have talent to beat anyone on neutral court. Also both Denver and ORU could be difficult in opening round these young teams are much better than at beginning of the season. SDSU is probably favorite especially basically at home in front of their crowd.