ND-fan

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.

I have question I believe it was reported that President Armacost had input on football hiring if that was true. I had to believe Armacost had to approve additional money and commitment for football. The other major sports needs similar commitments and changes in these programs like football received this December for the coming year. I know there are posters that are in know what is happening and how university address the problems in athletic department. This has to be communicated to public because people are loosing good will.

Mallory after game interview said the changes made after halftime were suggestions of Hutter which explains a lot. The only positive it appears player like Mallory. I wouldn’t be extending her on one game win when you look at her total record but nothing would surprise me. The big question to ask do you believe Mallory can make us contender for winning conference in next two years. If Chaves does that his job she be tied to his next extensions.

We play the bison tomorrow night what are peoples thought on the game. I thought we might have had chance if Bison had played SDSU better on Wednesday night but I have feeling Jory going to have them motivated by there poor play Wednesday. If we play like we did Wednesday the game will be over at half time. I expect Demers to have better game around but the problem will be if we can control basketball. Second if we run any offense but will we play one on one offsense with very little assists and scoring coming individual basis. My guess we loose by 16 to 24 points. Chaves and Armacost got to be there unless they both travelled with hockey team. If they are there I hope they attention.to product and quality play compared to what we have to the Bison because both coaches have been in charge same amount of time. This should show we need a change at top.

The season is almost over and I am hoping for the end something I never would have wished before but plain fact is I just want to see if we’re going to finally make a change in coaching. I thought tonight ST. Thomas has been just four seasons in conference now they are sweeping us in conference season. I look at this basketball team they deserve better coaching and I believe if they had better coaching we battling for third in the conference. Hard to know how much better we could be but I know we have enough talent to reach that high. Chaves if he does nothing should also be fired but way it looks to me he has decision on basketball teams and may have to address hockey too if we do not make the tournament. This after football and women’s soccer changes. The whole athletic program is in mess we don’t have one winning program for the year.

I am too!! I am so frustrated and if I can see why we’re loosing why can’t division I coach see it and if not that Athletic Director who responsibility is to have winning programs.

Larkins today had 47 against NDSU but the Bison won by 10 with controlling rebounds and only committing 9 turnovers proving we could have beat USD if we could control the basketball. The game is about winning shooting possessions and shooting good enough percentage to win basketball games. I watched SU game to see how they would play South Dakota.

My opinion Mal has learned nothing in her tenure as coach here when putting game plan or making adjustments to counter attack opposing coaches moves. I could believe point that assistant coaches aren’t doing there jobs but I think it’s case of head coach countering what your teaching and rewarding bad performance by playing players when they keep making these mistakes. To point of you as assistant just follow her lead. The reason I don’t believe it’s the assistants in Mallory tenure we have been through three different sets of assistant coaches. This problem is at the top and has gone on way too long. Chaves made this hirer which was mistake which we know now but big mistake was extending her contract for several years. President Armacost needs to step in at athletic department fix the department we need higher standards on performance not just student performance in classroom and community service but that we expect winning on consistent basis. then we need to compensate these individuals well and provide all resources so they can be successful. We have problem when we have loosing streaks of 5 to 10 years against our conference opponents and gap is not even closing with these opponents. I think this has to start at top of the department we have done this on academic side it needs to be done on athletic department.

Was Chaves there how can you as head of Athletic department watch this and not even have some comment to fans of UND on performances this women’s basketball team has had last few games. A division I team averaging over 20 turnovers and now a game with one assist for the game. Just those two stats you know we lost by double digits. How many games this season have we exceeded 20 turnovers? Also the team gave up some where in last part of third quarter. Also we didn’t have many shots at timeouts don’t want us to see what’s happening on the coaching either. I think this is worse this season of coaching than her first season when we won only two games we have enough talent to be better than this.

South Dakota made adjustments but we have not adjusted run any kind offense to much individuals play just said one assist. Hutter gets us prepared then Mallory slowly through game reverts us back to what she has been doing for tenure here. To where we are making turnovers and playing for our selves. I am so tired of this nothing changes. Val Sussex I can’t stand to listen too either has no concept of what’s happening on the floor and never even mention some criticism of coaching moves or what we are not doing.

There is discussion on men’s basketball sight about extension for Paul Sather but nothing here about Mallory Berhard extension or even I should she continue as Head Basetball coach at UND. I don’t think rest of season record could result to lead to extension unless she would win Summit Conference make the NCAA tournament. The latter would be winning back to back lotteries. I wonder where are the UND faithful on this seems to be very quiet response.