ND-fan

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.

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.