ND-fan

It would be be helpful if some of transfers would reconsider coming back if could get Schiller, Horne, and Ibrahim back all these player fit in they have been good players and they are playing close to home where they are playing in front of family. Hutter emphasized creating family here and style of basketball he wants to play here these players would thrive here as players because of this style. This is not to mention Pemberton but she is long way from home. All these players would see significant playing time and I believe with few additions to this team we could become successful where they would be playing on winning team. If this doesn’t happen life will go on and I think he knows how to construct team that can compete but may take year or two get personal around to compete to reach contention in the conference. This change in coaching had to happen but sad part is AD could have managed this better we probably not looking at number of players to be replaced.. I also believe number of these players if you ask them in couple years may regret leaving but they had to do something because of situation here and wanting change but once done it always hard to reverse a decision and now your hearing from so many different sources. I agreed with Iramurphy of stepping up to support the program and look to future go forward from here.

Optics will be bad for both Schiller and UND will be bad if she leaves for NDSU. She and her family will be looked differently on especially if she goes to Fargo after playing here for year. This has not been case where she get to play or prove herself but just opposite played huge minutes proved herself and coach is now changed. I can’t believe the money is that much bigger and I have to believe it would come from Grand Forks as well. I don’t know why Jory would want to stir the pot in this way because this will have ramifications on his team as welll with their young star guard and some of their top recruit players of playing time. It might look good from Fargo faithful but it may have more legs than anyone expects for all the parties. I think if this happens there will be a lot of regrets by all the parties involved and if she wants to move on I would make it clean break where she can just work on achieving her goals and come back home without any of this drama.

Sicatoka I believe you about NIL it’s factor now. My question is I know you have more knowledge about the system and NIL but right now it seems to me men’s basketball players are at much higher level with money and numbers for NIL. Women’s basketball so far is more confined to top players receiving big money and lesser extent money being offered to above average player. I would appreciate for you put examples of money being offered now for type of player like Schiller. Would it far exceed what she would receive in Allston payments and amount she received by local Nil doing some local promotions here for businesses. This may surprise me but I think it is more about commitment from school to put together winning program right now for women’s basketball.

I see Nevaeh Horne dad posted this all happened before Mallory resigned. I sure hope she reconsiders and recommits to the team. she has been steady player for us things she does on floor most people don’t see and value her play but believe me I have seen it and the assistant coaches could tell you this also. Her shooting or shot is unusual but was getting better as season went along. I think majority of players in the portal just wanted better coaching and chance to win but problem now once they opened door it always hard to come back and if somebody else is giving them new possibilities when your young it becomes probability. These girls or I should say women are quality people have represented themselves and university well with their time here.

I know everyone thinks Schiller is top talent being lost in this group but if I was to rate who will get best opportunities it will be Pemberton at 6’1”, Ibrahim at 6’3” and developing fast, and Horne at 6’2” who does a lot of good things on floor doesn’t show up in box score. Schiller had good first year but at 5’ 6” but not exceptionally quick or has vertical jumping ability to play for power schools is probably limited. These players were leaving because of Mallory still here and I don’t know relationship they had with Hutter but if they move on to other programs they are going to be in for big shock performance will be demanded and if you don’t perform you will see bench time and support promised will dry up quickly. These top colleges it professional basketball, the coaches there are on same kind of leash win or your gone shortly that is why get big money there is very little loyalty. The small midmajor there is still some what college basketball was but it dying quickly money is corrupting the game of original premise of what college sports was about and it also has effected below this in high school levels and now AAu sports and kids having agents even that low, how it has changed. All success it has may just lead to downfall in the future when people grow tired of just elite few colleges dominating the sport but I am old and maybe this what young will like. I look sport is dying from top down in interest and if that is what I believe happens all the big time money will start drying up.

I don’t think there is as much money in the women’s basketball as there is on men’s side. Yes some big time school have money for stars but it’s not as much money as some think. The numbers that have been floated for Ellie Evan’s last year from SU wasn’t as high as some people think it’s just more moving to big time universities reason leaving. How many of midmajors are paying money in Nil for women’s basketball. I don’t see Schiller moving to major university still not proven player that can make that jump and she is undersized will never get playing time she received here. I think this more about where UND program was under Mallory.

I wonder about if she goes SU doesn’t fit with Jory has been recruiting he wants long athletic players and I thought he had filled his openings with recruits already. If I would guess more likely to end up in St. Thomas and they are in need of point guard. Who knows could end up anywhere but I thought she wanted to play in front of family. I t will be interesting if we see some change of minds before this all done. If you look transferring is not always been great move for some players very few have bettered themselves.

I was afraid this was going to happen and this one is Chaves we needed change at minimum at the end of the Summit tournament and probably should have happened before Christmas but now we get blow up. I hate to see Schiller leaving but I don’t think this is only player we needed to retain we have several others as valuable as she is to this team. I think some people that will leave probably can be replaced but several of people were nice players if we can retain them with view more quality players this could have become of above 500 team and been looking at post season play in WBIT or WNIT. Mallory had to be forced by her team to finally quit but what shame on her she had to know what was happening after season ended and she let it go until she blew up the program she supposedly cared about. The bigger question is the question if Chaves knew had problem and they hired Hutter as insurance why has he sat on his hands or was somebody else involved with this plan and has he resisted to make change and waited until it all blew up. Like it looks athletic department is getting all blown up in 2025 are we in for some more big changes before this all ends.

I suspect that his Nil money maybe going to get cut or even he doesn’t fit into next years plan having no playing time. The college game is turning into professional minor league sports not the college sports of the past. The game has changed so much it like free agent baseball when your signed to one year contract.

Chaves or Armacost is making change at hockey program for missing the playoffs for second straight year and still have winning program. Women’s basketball goes 10 years and has one season above 500 in last 7 or 8 seasons and this coach has record of 37% in five years survives without being let go how does this work. On top of this coach is final year of contract are we going let every other school in conference use this recruit against us for next two years. I would like for administration try to explain this management of the program how this is going to improve program or how university is looked at especially when it comes to women’s sports and that basketball is top women’s sport at UND. I think that 2025 should be year where UND makes statement that they will not accept loosing and made change in all their major sports at the university.

Pemberton has been good player and her statistics has some flaws but remember she got these numbers in her freshman and sophomore years on not very good teams until end of this season. This was on very young teams as well but numbers have gotten better each year which will probably continue to improve in her junior and senior seasons. She is offensive minded but look at her last two games her defensive skills are improving and she always has had knack to rebound. The bottom line she is player we thought she could become. The reason for transfer we don’t know yet but I have to believe she wants to play on team that has chance to reach dance. This looking at us seriously we’re not yet close to reaching that goal in next two years especially AD just missed chance to make change or commitment that we wanted this program to achieve performance he expects and commit to have winning program. If I were player like Pemberton I would want program that was committed to achieving high expectations and right program you feel that can reach your goals. This why I think she chose us in beginning she needed chance at division I level and our past history we had been program expected to have winning program. Mallory sold this I bet on this when recruiting her but she being in the program she could see this is not possible as program is now being managed or demanded to become winner. There are expectations of players to develop into top players which she has shown she is on pace to do this. Chaves needed to step up after the season put forth what expectations and how we’re going to get to winning program in the very near future not just keep hoping things might improve because we’re no closer to winning in this conference than we first joined and realistically we’re even farther from that goal now. We need administration to step forward demand same level performance the school has done academics and growth of UND.

I was hoping for change in coaching we need to find a coach where we at least get to winning percentage to turn this program around. Chaves again is just letting things ride but if we’re going to keep high end talent we have to start winning because these players want to play in programs that can compete and have chance to play in the big dance. This is why SDSU has been keeping their players besides how Summit tournament location works for them to basically giving them home court advantage huge recruiting benefit for their recruits have family in short driving distance to watch these players. Chaves and other athletic directors need fight on leveling playing field even if it costs money otherwise conference means nothing if advantages benefit one or two teams. The basketball programs need to be successful in their own right in athletic department it one most popular and financial benefiting in college sports and we have had history of being basketball power in past and people supported it when we were competitive.

Chaves has made no comments on basketball programs on direction they plan to go on coaches. The longer it goes more likely we’re staying status quo. If your going to make change sooner you would want to make change to get new coach in with portal opening up in few days I see there have been some changes in Summit on coaching and more rumors of coaching movements. The biggest one out there is Aaron Johnston could be candidate for Wisconsin job but will he ever leave Brookings. A Big 10 job might entice him move on with money they could pay him where he could receive life changing money and have resources to go all way for championship and this would still close to his roots. Mussic at ORU is also rumored to be having opportunities to move on. Maybe nothing happens on these fronts but if something does change could be time for opportunity to move this program forward and become factor in upper Midwest.

It’s not impossible for Canadian players to transfer but it does require obtaining needed paperwork and correct visa to transfer. Second to get NIL money most Canadian players visas don’t allow them to receive money when in the US but can with proper visas but that would take time getting proper visas which most don’t have. Pemberton and Ibrahim are both Canadian players. Like I said only player that has transferred to another DI university was Olivia Lane and I think there may have been some NIL money involved there. Some players I think that could have transferred to other D I schools that played here during Mallory’s tenure are Julia Fleecs, Clair Orth, Melissa Leet, Danniger, and Kacie Borowicz.

Omaha is at best 16 seed and I am not sure where we could have play in game. They have no wins over any rated division I opponents other than in conference. I looked back 10 years highest summit conference seatings were 12 and 13 by ORU and SDSU 30 win teams even then they got first round games like Ohio State and Providence still traditional powers. If they add more teams I will bet number small midmajor will be in the play in games. I may be old but I have been fan of UND basketball and my experience of getting fan interest yes winning is important but also people get involved with teams that they know the team players and this happens when players have played for school couple years. This turnover of players every year doesn’t create this interest look if this was case as juco players what kind of crowds they play in front of or media coverage they get. I am sorry that some of you don’t get it but it’s just more than numbers it’s about players and fans investing in these players it just doesn’t happen in few games. We had this in past if you look we had better crowds watching basketball going back over 50 years than we do now. Do the research and this when grand Forks were much smaller than now and school was much smaller this was case both for men’s and women’s basketball. Just my point of view but I will still be fan going forward.

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.