ND-fan

I was at the game UND played very good game until the last 2 minutes of the game. They lost the game at the free throw line if they would have even hit 50% at the free throw line in last minute and half they would have won the game. I kind of think you can expect this with this team very young team with exception of Avants and Seales . Also can tell that Stewart is behind in play because not being able to play first semester. I get tired of criticism of Jones as coach of this team they have improved as the season gone along they play good defense with few exceptions and some that is because they young players and play good team basketball. I expected games like this with this young team and growing pains but I think they are going to be pretty good team at the end of the season. Are they going to win whole thing for the conference I don't think so but they will be better team and will be stronger team next year if these players return and with few additions could be a very good team next year. After the game group of us were discussing the game only thing I could have faulted on coaching decisions were that maybe he should have pulled Moody for short period of time because they were shutting him down. But also he may have keep them honest defense to let Avants and Seales drive and work in the middle. The way these refs called the game it was difficult for UND to shut down there big man inside with not letting body up to him or let them push deny the pass on defense because once he got ball he created such mismatch where we needed more than one person on him allowing him dish it off for scoring. Also the way game was called in second half we had bonus with almost nine minutes to go in the half. This allowed them to shoot free throws to catch up down the stretch. I will very much like to see them again play some mistakes and nerves they had for this game will be eliminated and were going to see where they start beating some these better teams in league.

What is reason for Klabo, Daily sisters, and Nicholson not dressing for the game.

The Bison to me hit crescendo this past Saturday and they will be very good football team again next year but not like they have been last several years. The reasons I have for this change in coaching and huge graduating class that filled a lot of skilled positions. The next reason is this is first year in over 9 years they don't have experienced quarterback to start the next season. They have some good young players that have potential to be good quarterbacks but they have hardly played so they are going to have large learning curve for the coming season. I could very well expect by end of the season they could be contenders but I believe they will have lost a few games getting through the season. I could see where UND playing them early could have very good chance upsetting them and especially when both teams are healthy. NDSU even this year was the best team in Fcs but a lot of it had to do with Stick where they had best quarterback in FCS. I look at rest of FCS the top teams were fairly close in level of play and a lot on who won was based where they were playing. Now this coming year I don't see where NDSU has that dominance at quarterback so I see team that will be much closer than in past to rest of FCS. Now UND is returning a lot of talent and with right offensive coaches and little more depth they will be knocking to get into that higher level of FCS which is possibility. Also SU has been very lucky in not having one of those seasons where you have multiple injuries at key skilled positions to where you have to shake up whole team to get those positions filled. Yes they have had injuries but where you have starter injured and his replacement injured and then having his replacement injured until where your moving player from different position in to start that position. This happens to teams and whole season is lost because of this.

Wentz has great ability but his career will not last long if he is not protected more no quarterback survives in the NFL if they are subject to many hits. Philadelphia is coming to decision point on Wentz next year are they going to sign him up for big money or go with Foles or acquire a new quarterback for the future. I could see where Eagles may let him leave and my guess then he would be perfect candidate for the NEW England in a year. I Think Brady is coming to end of his career and another year of regression is really going to show up. Wentz would fit perfectly in New England where they take a player turn his career around by putting that player in perfect situation to perform.

This was nice win on the road but real test for us will come when we play the Two South Dakota schools to see where we are in this conference. Also Western Illinois looks like they are going to be in the mix of the conference. I think if we play up to potential we could be fighting for the 3 spot in the conference when all dust settles after we get into the conference season.

I watched game on the tv today but I thought UND looked very good at times and then didn't look very good but I think this has to do with young team. Fort Wayne is experienced team and you could see them exploiting our young players. I thought second half we played much better and much better defense. What cost us the game is way to many turnovers. To be fair today Seales being sick sure didn't help for us playing defense and rebounding. I think this team by end of year could become factor and could pull off upset in the tournament. Also I like how this team played hard for whole game.

NDSU / UND rivalry is not what it was once since SU decided to go division 1 first and UND remained at division 2. The reasons for not playing each other has been documented over the years but the bottom line has been SU and Fargo has marketed itself with all its recent success at football to have surpassed UND is ahead of them in Division 1 sports. This has worked quite well with UND in the Big Sky Conference and SU in the Missouri valley conference and Summit conference where they were not required to play each other on yearly basis. This has gone on so long now we have generation of people who never experienced the rivalry the way us older generation had experienced it and even when we played the game recently it was for pride not like it was in the past where it usually determined who would win the conference and who would get playoff birth. Yes back in the day it was division 2 but I can tell you it meant just as much as it would be today. If you would do your history on this large number of the teams that are in FCS today were mix for the Division 2 titles until they created Division 1 aa which today is the FCS. Now today with UND changing conferences and joining SU and the South Dakota schools over next several years were going to see these old rivalries start to heat up again. I think it will be good for both schools and when UND does beat NDSU we will then talk about how big rivalry it is because that day will come and trust me it won't just be in football but other sports as well. The sad part is UND has lost several of the sports over the years that they competed with against SU and South Dakota schools in the past like Baseball, Wrestling, and swimming not something to be proud of . This 15 year period of schools going in different directions and now coming back together will be looked like dark period for both schools because playing each other again regularly and sparking up rivalry will improve both schools programs but also will benefit them financially to keep their sports programs healthy. It will be win for all of North Dakota and South Dakota.

NDSU has had remarkable run do to good coaching, good recruiting and most importantly they have been very successful in recruiting of top flight quarterbacks. The last three has been remarkable run for FCS program. Prior to that SU had good program but when they got this level of quarterback play the program reached a new level first they had Jenson who learned to win the big one as sophomore and continued that until he was senior. His level of play was good enough to get a look at the NFL something very few FCS quarterbacks do. Then they had local boy Wentz the number 2 overall pick in the NFL when has FCS program had that kind of quarterback. Now they have Stick who is chasing Jensen records and looks like he could be draft pick in the NFL. Even FBS schools would like to have that kind of recruiting where they have recruited 3 future NFL quarterbacks. SU has built a program that should be successful but it will come down to coaching and one other thing I haven't mentioned and that is key personal stay healthy which they have had over the years. Also one more point I would like to add is the success they have had gives them advantage most teams in FCS haven't had in that they get extra month and half of full practices with their team. This allow them to develop their players much more than most FCS programs. UND hasn't had football since November 17 meaning SU players will have had practices now until January 5 how much does that develop their kids especially the skilled positions like quarterback. But like all things runs come to end and other teams rise up I have seen it all my life and so will this run.

Has anyone heard on the status for tomorrows night game if Fort Wayne has been able to travel and get into Grand Forks. I was looking and both Grand Forks and Fargo airports were closed down for the day it looked like. Also did all Und players get back from Christmas or are they stuck trying to get back here too.

Will Fort Wayne get in by Friday for the game? Or will they set the game back a day to Saturday with the weather to experience next couple of days.

I don't take much stock in these rankings of teams especially when you get past 150 mark for the schools. I have seen over the years your looking at teams above that range all have weaknesses compared to the top teams and usually are made up young players. Meaning that if these teams get matchup against another team that exploits that weakness they are going to loose or vice versa they can beat team that is supposedly better than them. Also in college basketball it all depends if your playing on the road or at home to if you have chance to win. The small mid major clubs its all about trying to win your conference that truly what the season is about. The fact is we all know the score here for most of mid major conferences is one an done in NCAA tournament and at best then is if you can pull upset chance winning second game is pretty small. I guess I don't understand why NCAA has separate division in division 1 for football and everyone is okay with that but not with basketball because basically the same conferences that are in division 1 FCS are bottom conferences in Division 1 basketball. I guess that why we have these other college tournaments going on at same time of NCAA tournament but get very little attention with exception NIT when it gets to NEW York but usually that is teams of large conference playing in the championship. If winners of the mid major conferences were part of the NIT I could see where they could make it to New York for the final field. But getting back UND it will be interesting how this team improves as season goes when it gets into conference play and if they are good enough to make the conference tournament. Then we will see what type of team we have here and how it developed for the season. If the rankings are right we would make conference tournament but loose in the first round and if improve for the year would be we would win the opening round and loose in the semifinals of conference tournament. A really successful year would be reaching the conference finals with this young team. My expectations or hopes is we reach the semifinals of the conference tournament if that is case we should have pretty good group of players with some additions for next year to be contender in the conference for championship.

I so far have one criticism of him and may effect his recruiting kids here from rest of the country. I heard last year when we were on Pluto Tv his description of Grand Forks and North Dakota how we were so cold and so far north that it was not place to come to. He even said this several time to various announcers especially when they were on the west coast in California or Oregon. These announcers then followed through on this how anyone would want to come to North Dakota play and go to school compared to their climates. I also got from his interviews feeling he had problems with North Dakota weather and being in it and it was not like Texas. I guess my feeling is sell the positives of what we have here at UND and yes we do have cold weather but we have some beautiful other seasons here also and community that welcomes its athletes and treats them like family. This is my criticism it may be over exaggerated point of view but I do think little things like this effect program. His predecessor did excellent job of recruiting which he did fine job of coaching that talent but other side of college coaching is the recruiting and selling yourself and the school to get players to compete year in year out.

I too remember going to the games at the field house what environment to play in. The large crowds and how the Sioux dominated at home in men's basketball. The game was different than it is today but quality of passing and shooting was good. Also some of good players UND had back in that era and how fun it was to watch them play as a team. I remember in the mid 70's when Gunther had those deep teams where he had second 5 nearly as good as first 5 he would substitute whole 5 when things weren't going well that second 5 could turn the game around. I also remember he had some of the division one schools come in they would beat those teams until nobody would come here to play because of that. The basketball game was the sport to be watched then and Sioux hockey was second sport to watch in the winter. All that has changed now with hockey becoming the more popular ticket. I wonder if they can get some this back with Summit conference now because their are a lot of traditional rivalries of the past. The first thing will be needed is that UND and NDSU must get their basketball programs back to where they are competing for conference champions. If they do this the old rivalries with SD schools will become like they were once were because both these schools are still running good programs in basketball. Then you add in Sioux Bison rivalry you could start to get fan interest back into the basketball programs.

Jones has history of bringing some very good players and developing them. I agree with UND snce82 I think we will be surprised with how this teams develops as season goes along but I do have reservation on this team in since that I don't think they have guards this year to compete with top teams in the conference. I just think its hard to blame Jones for this when you loose a player like Crandall late in the year like he did because at that time its hard to go find replacement player. Small schools like UND are going to have hard time keeping top players like in past with the new rule changes and especially now with big time programs being able to come in pluck players from likes of UND when ever need occurs. The turn over in players is going to be common place for small school like UND when they players have the ability to move from school to school.

The latest NCAA RPI shows SDSU 11; USD 17; Denver 77; UND 175; ORU 188; WI 249; OHMA 264; PDW 320; NDSU 331. This shows UND is in middle of pack with the Summit but this is far cry from where we were couple of years ago when we had RPI from 60 to 100. This shows the program has gone backward in last couple of years and we may show further regression before this year is out. The way it looks is we are not even in the league of the 2 South Dakota schools for the coming year and the next year year. I listen to AD podcast sure don't hear any concerns on his part about women's basketball program but I got to feel they are starting to hear from the fan base. Especially when they see how far behind we are in level of competition with other summit league schools. Because few years ago when we played the South Dakota schools we were basically right with them and now I betting we are going to fight to stay within 25 points of them. I think we had a coach that got lazy in recruiting and also has ego that thought he should be moving on to bigger and better program and didn't happen. I also think change in ADs' has hurt in that time has been given as new AD figures things out and he only had past prior years records but not understanding where the program sits right now. The good thing is that NDSU womens basketball program is even further trouble making it easier for UND recruit players. But that window may all of sudden close too and then we will be in for real fight to improve this program. The one thing is the Summit conference is sure conference of the haves and have nots in womens basketball the gap between top 3 and bottom 6 is great right now. We could see 2 teams in NCAA tournament and Denver could also slip in if they continue improve their RPI but could be contender for one of the other college basketball tournaments.

First is some of Brewster success was from Roebuck left him with quality players so he didn't have to recruit to build a program. Second he got loyd also when Roebuck was finishing his career here next year. Then he got Dyer because she was related to Huff the star on men's basketball team. His big recruits since he has been hear have been Szabla, Klabo, and Freije that played significant minutes and produced for the program. The remainder of the recruits have played but haven't produced significant offensive numbers. Szabla was good player and produced for UND but last year she got hurt and he seemed to just forget about her reducing her minutes until she wasn't factor again. Klabo has been one true star he has recruited and she has developed over time in quite a player but he hasn't recruited or kept much for players around her. Freije was here last year produced for him and was constantly filling in at many different roles until she got hurt last year and then like Szabla he reduced her role on the team with his favoring Dooley. I don't know all the in and outs of what going on in program but to loose Freije on her senior year and girl that was second on scoring for the team he had to tell her she was going to have reduced roll and he was going different direction. The problem here is that he hasn't found anyone to make up for her offense and what she could provide team in rebounding defense in the middle. I have nothing against Dooley she wonderful athlete but she doesn't have enough time to develop into player she could be because she has only played one season before this after not playing basketball for four years. I think he looked at Dooley saw this athlete that was bigger than Freije and quicker and could move really well he thought she could replace Freije but because of playing time it wasn't going to happen. The recruits he has made at guard are another issue because the ones he has brought in not one of them have showed they can shoot at this level Franklin, Daley sisters, Morton and Strand plus number of other girls over the years. The current group of guards I don't much about so far they are not shooting if it was the case we would have see some offense from them. To also be fair he doesn't give his guards a lot of confidence either from what I have seen and example was last year in Big Sky tournament Reinke was only girl hitting outside shot in their last game but what does he do pulls her from the game and never puts in again for the game. I have seen this to many times he has played mind games with his girls and not to the betterment of the player. I believe Brewster got lazy after his NCAA run and his recruiting suffered and also his coaching of the team got worse. I truly believed he thought he was moving on but jobs never developed like he thought. So we are now stuck with his last big recruit playing this year with not a lot of help for her especially from the offensive side of the game. There looks to be girls that could become quality players and girls recruited that should help in the future but there are a lot of ifs. The thing is are going to keep Brewster on belief he can turn things around or do want to make a change. I am of the belief it time for a change because his reputation of his handling of his players and will limit Und from recruiting some quality players and I also think we need fresh look at what it will take to win in the Summit conference. This is tough call for the AD and even what it could mean for the UND womens basketball in the future.

The team looked like they were walking all night. Was this tough road trip with a lot of busing or is it really hot down there. Because it sure looked like were tired and really not into this game. This looked like a team that wanted to be some where else and there were not ready to come out and play.

When will UND get Stewart back because he is UND's best possible candidate for point guard. The problem is he's going to behind without playing beginning of the season. Moody and Brown are both off guards basically shooting outside guards. I also don't know much about Panoam he looks like he could be point guard but haven't seen him play much. Its pretty hard to know what we have for a team when you don't have point guard. I look at this team it could develop into fair team if they get good play from the point guard. There bigger than last year in the front line but here again its hard to tell how good they are until we get better guard play. Were small mid major program that is in cold weather climate and distance from major media its going to be difficult to recruit top talent. That being said UND has had some success with making to NCAA tournament 3 seasons ago and was one top 4 teams in Big Sky conference.. The switch to Summit will be better for fans and eventually for players once we get back to having rivalries get reestablished but this will take time and need for us to be in contention for the conference. In the short term it hurts on recruiting because were not playing in warmer weather places and closer to bigger media centers. But getting back to being Mid major team your going compete with top of division one teams every few years and rest of years is trying to find right group of players again to compete again. If you think were going being power house year in year out its not going to happen. Tonight were sure seeing where we need a guard and I look at the turn overs its terrible. It also looks like team is walking in slow motion was this road trip of hell for them. I can't believe utrgv is that much better than us if it is they will be in NCAA tournament.

Und loose by 4 to Northern Iowa and Und was in foul trouble all of the second half with Reinke, Morton, and Orth falling out with Strand and Klabo with 4 fouls also not sure what everyone else had. Und again struggling to get offense going has been weakness again this year. Und needs to look at doing something about offense because shots they are generating are not one they are capable of scoring from. After this year and loosing Klabo how they are going to generate offense couple of these girls I believe can become good players if put in the right system but I don't see that happening.

Northern Iowa game Und ahead after first quarter. Und would be big trouble without Klabo providing most of the offense. Other girls for most part putting up bricks. I don't see where were better with this group of players than last year. Freije would have given them another source of offense this is going to be bad when we get into conference play.

This team is going to struggle unless they start shooting from outside better. Klabo will be good inside but if there is no outside shooting there will be no game for her inside. I also think the outside shooting could improve if they had offense that put the girls they have in position where they are best able to take shots that are high percentage shots for them. So far the new recruits they have brought in haven't addressed this problem at shooting but maybe they will later as season progresses. I think at best were 500 team for this year and we sure are not structured to compete in the Summit conference. Brewster recruiting has picked up last year but the Two years before that has put this team where it is at. Like I said before last year he got lazy coaching after he went to the dance and I believe he thought he was going to move on and that didn't happen. Now he trying to play catchup and I wonder with this current group if he hasn't gotten them to buy in because of what's happen last couple years.

I think everybody is getting way ahead of themselves here on already talking of replacing coach. This team is not that far from being top FCS team but everyone around here wants us to get to where are neighbor is to the south. We were a 6 and 5 team that showed again we are lacking the depth to complete a full season. We have come along way but this team still needs more recruits and depth they want to make it to next tier of FCS. We have had injuries like all other programs but what I see is that if we have multiple injuries in certain area's we don't have the depth of players to fill in. On Saturday it was evident with loss of the Tight ends we were struggling to do things we wanted offensively. It effected our ground game as well as our passing game. Also this season we had hard time on special teams but again this goes to having large amount of depth. The first thing I will hear will be it is coaching by not getting these players. But a fact here is that with success to south its harder to find these kids that you need that will walk on become good football players because so many of these kids that do that like to be associated with program that has been winning playing in playoff games. So it takes time to build a program and we do need to win that is why Saturday's loss is such a set back for the program. Changing coaches to me just puts us farther behind because basically we would be starting over again we would become like Gophers start to build something where your beginning to win and that's not good enough again so start over again but they have never gotten better than where they were to begin with. It takes time to build a winner and takes fan base and alumni that needs to stick with program and be willing to support the program in anyway that could help it get better. AD needs to talk to the coach on goals and what needs to be improved but also how he as AD assist this program to getting to the goals they want to achieve. I look at this season we were probably couple of plays from going to playoffs this year I think if you changed couple of plays this team could have been 8 - 3 easily and everyone be talking about how good we would be in the playoffs.

This was good win for UND should get them ready for conference play and I know were independent but were still playing conference schedule. We still have a lot of things that need improvement kicking and offense is still needing to clean things up but I do see improvement each week. Defense looks to be the strength of this team at this time. I just hope the injuries don't keep piling up we need to keep our top players healthy if they are going to have successful season. If this team stays healthy this could be good year for UND. I don't get it why so down on this team and coach it takes time to build a program and what I see is UND is gradually building top tier program. Wins like this are going to help in the future with recruiting and getting fan support for the program. Contrary to thinking this program is closing gap between them and NDSU football program and margin of difference is not as great as people to the south think it is.

quarter back play for the game weak spot he looked scared in the pocket and missed a lot of open receivers if he would have looked. It appeared to me he had hard time reading defense and knowing where to look for the open receiver. Also we never looked for anything deeper in the passing game. Defense looked good up front until they wore down in last quarter. Difference was there quickness at wide receiver and running backs on pass plays we had hard time keeping up to them. Punting game was acceptable but field goal kicker looks to be work in process. I think he will become more reliable kicker but asking a lot of freshman kicker. Overall not terrible loss but could have been much closer game if the offense and kicking could have performed a better to give defense some rest. I believe they learned a lot about themselves today and what they need to improve on.

I don't see Brewster adapting his coaching he hasn't done it in the past. Dooley I expect to be improved but to make dramatic improvement in just few months is asking a lot. It usually takes players until there third season to start to develop into full potential player and Dooley just won't have time to do this. I look at Klabo it wasn't until last year she developed into real force in basketball. I hate to say this but it looks to me were going to be bottom half of the conference with this group of players. I also see he just added to his coaching staff for the losses he had this off season and has hired some of UNDs former players as assistant coaches. I was hoping he would add somebody new with outside experience to give fresh perspective on basketball philosophy and adapting to what he has for talent. I also wonder if internal conflict was even at coaching level last year with number of turn overs and people that have left since last year. I think our new AD will need to monitor this program closely because I think were heading in the wrong direction.