ND-fan

Terrible start to game and here we go again with the turnovers. Step forward and now to steps backward.

I believe Mallory has her best group of assistant coaches since she has been head coach. My analysis of this we’re getting better 3 point shooting you can see girls are getting themselves set to take shot by getting squared to basket and getting their feet set to take shot. They are better at playing defense and seem to be getting better as season progresses. Third we are running some assembalnce of offense but as mentioned not changing to defense but this goes to Malory she is running the team on the floor. She might need to do more on floor strategy with her assistants. The reason this team has been more fun to watch we’re playing as team and we’re playing better fundamentally and correcting things. The last road trip we struggled but coming home I see they worked on things in past didn’t see this happen. I also think why we’re seeing some players like Beal making strides as player.

I don’t know who next coach is going to be but my guess is Fruechte after signing day with all recruits signed there has to be some confidence number of coaching staff will be here. Chaves is going through motions of looking for new coach but I think this has been decision unless somebody came up to be good to be true. He also agreed to pay existing staff extra month and if they were really going to blow things up they might not have done that. Only other surprise would be if kostich is considered.d for the job. Even if fruechte is the chosen there will be number of coaching changes because I have to believe defense is going to see changes in coaching and somebody like Kostich might move on where he has chance to move up. I expect announcement by Friday.

I believe one biggest requirements is coach here that has contacts and ability to recruit kids out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota This program doesn’t reach next level unless we start winning the recruiting battles against NDSU, SDSU, and USD because how good your coaches are we need raw talent for them to succeed. Bubba was never able to overcome this and especially on defense side of the ball we had defense could have been top in division II or in Big Sky average defense but not in the Valley. This showed up in playoffs and also in the valley where our undersized defense wore down as season went along to where they couldn’t stop teams consistently and at same time kept our offense off the field keeping the strength of team being factor in the game.

The idea of all these people coming town in three day period seems unrealistic to me. My bet a lot of these interviews are being done on Skype and then finalist will fly in for in person interview. I am just guessing but it’s probably down to two or three candidates and number of people mentioned on here may never apply with openings in the country and coming openings on such short notice. I can tell you it’s just no the job but if spouse and family are willing to pack move to Northern North Dakota. This is not to mention compensation package we’re offering and what they are being paid or will be offered elsewhere. My hope it’s somebody that can recruit and is willing to build program into something special.

I looked at the box score and I was surprised with Ibrahim minutes but also with number minutes by starters when we are only half done with preseason to conference play. This is young team and team that needs to build some depth and it appears we have decided on starters and rotation of several players all players with most playing time or experience with exception Schiller who played minutes like Kacie did last year did today. It showed in our play today we had two starters combined 1 for 20 shooting. It also showed in our defense we were slow covering and got out rebounded badly. Tell me how this improved our fundamental basketball when we were tired playing back to back games. Mallory talked about being ready for league tournament how about building team that learns to play game correctly we will get better shape as season goes along this long season . How’s building some confidence, this young team and if they start loosing like we are now with 5 game losing streak it just becomes learned pattern and does nothing to playing fundamental game. Mallory is going back to her history just play experienced instead developing some of her new recruits this is going to another frustrating year. Mallory hasn’t improved as coach in her five seasons and has gone through number of assistant coaches but we end up with same results.

I just got done watching the Marist game and I don’t know how but this team has regressed, but we are mirroring like last year. We have gotten away from team play into everyone looking for their shot especially from the three. Owen’s has gained playing time but I think when she is in there we get away from our offense. What happened to Volmer playing time I know she is freshman but she gives us length like Horne does only way she can learn is with some playing time. Mallory better look at film this week because she got this team going in wrong direction to much individualism and not team play.

Women’s sports under Chaves has been disaster we have been close to having winning program since he has entered position of AD. Also all the coaches are his hirings and at volleyball ball on his second hiring.this is not track record to be proud of prior to his coming here we had several championships in volleyball, basketball, and we’re top one or two in soccer. There has been no push by athletic department to improve performance. I have to believe Chaves hasn’t held winning as priority but other performances by players and coaches for the program but bottom line winning is ultimate goal especially at division I level.

There’s know way we turn this around until we clean up ball possession can’t have 20 plus turnovers a game. I know Hutter as coach knows how to clean this up has been coaching to long not know Mallory needs to use her assistant coaches to get this fixed. This team can be good we have talent if we can play as team and start playing smart not forcing tempo and work on getting good looks after they work there offense on inside to outside game. If this doesn’t happen we’re finish in bottom three of the conference.

I am surprised, pressure from donors must have been there to get Bubba to step down and athletic department must have got permission or president pushed for change to come up with money for this transition. Second they probably have successor for the program probably lined up like some have stated. I was wrong I just didn’t think UND was ready to spend this amount of money it will be interesting how this plays out for athletics department. I was only right that UND wouldn’t fire Bubba because that is long term history with UND if you have been part of family and given total commitment when you’re there it usually doesn’t nasty.

I just don’t think the way UND history on firing coaches goes that Mcfeely knows very little about is that if Bubba gets fired that would happened last Sunday or Monday.My guess is we hire new defensive coordinator and possibly the future new head coach very similar to way South Dakota State had with their long term coach. Then come next year we have partial buyout of Bubbas contract and he takes position in athletic department to reaching near buyout of his contract. This puts in place a plan where there is not total blow up football program. Administration with title IX problems ahead will not to want to take on additional financial expenditures because I have to believe this going to become costly thing for athletic department. This problem could open up title IX problems going back to women’s hockey. The complaints for soccer facilities I believe are real I look at other conference members have for facilities to what we have and looking at up grades to football, hockey, and not to mention up to recently women’s sports mostly competed off campus venues or shared with men’s sports. I got off track here but for football fans here there is much more going on here than you think.

Recruiting even high regarded recruits are still crap shoot unless your big time FBS schools even then many fail to make grade. We from outside don’t Know how these quarterbacks are performing and time effort they are putting in and they have tremendous amount athletic ability but now requires mental ability to understand offenses and defense do it on quick basis. This requires time varies from player to player.Romfo has had to show this because being walk on from small school behind of number of highly recruited players still to be considered shows he has ability to play the position. Second he has had to do this with two different offensive coordinators.Finally Jerry may eventually win this position but many of you forget here is Jerry is still only freshman I don’t see to many freshman playing significant minutes playing time for young quarterbacks is starting when they are sophomores. Trey should have been one getting playing time this year but he chose to leave and find position he would get more playing time this told me he probably going down division to get this and he didn’t think he could be starting quarterback. NDSU quarterback Cam Miller has been exception to this but look he is being considered For NFL again in there recent condition. I would like for us recruit NFL caliber quarterback but we need to reach next level where players of that level would consider coming here. I even think that NDSU may not be able to recruit that level talent now because FCS and FBS have separated because of money flowing to FBS. Even if FCS team does recruit player of that level he will be scooped up by FBS with money they can offer players today. The problem with this team wasn’t on the offense this year but the defense side we had at beginning of year when everyone was healthy at best average defense. There are number of good defense players but just not enough of them. We need to recruit bigger up front people like we have the offensive side. Second we also need faster and quicker people on backside and outside plus having more depth. The offense needs to improve also with faster and quicker people on receiving end 75% of receiving was dependent on Boe. We also need to have tight ends that can be offensive threat. The change in FBS roster sizes I believe is going to be opportunity for UND to build program through transfers this coming year. Second FCS is basically coming down to Valley and Big Sky conferences. The majority of FCS teams are not going to fund support football to level of these two conferences especially top of both these conferences. The next several years are going to be interesting where all this shakes out.

Belquist not having more completions is result in not having another receiver that could stretch field and get themselves open in the mid range. Second not having couple of tight ends that could become pass option other than in less 10 yards of the line. Finally how many times when we’re on road teams were stacking box just covering Bequist but we were bound to running the football because we determined we are going to run the football even when we’re out numbered at line of scrimmage.

The difference of points off turnovers is difference in this game was 11 points . If you look at other things in box score you would have thought we should have won this game. Still was good game for this team in learning to play against pressure defense. This team is showing promise of being better team than predicted. They are young team and learning to play together. Schiller going to be good player build around. The team that played today looks to be players are going to work in rotation. Still couple players may have roll to play with this team.

No comments on the Montana game from anyone. My thoughts are I have watched UND for ever and since Brewster was head coach and Bernhard was assistant we have had to many turnovers as team. This has been downfall for UND for over a decade of basketball and coaching staff hasn’t been able to improve on this problem. Look at top team in conference South Dakota State when they have two thirds of the turnovers as we do they are not happy with there play. This has to go to coaching and only coach here for that long is Mallory so it has to do with coach not working on ball security and wanting something else in their offensive scheme to continue to have high number of turnovers. At this level of play it something shouldn’t be tolerated. Second we continue to need work on our defense being able to recover when help is needed on drive penetration . this is still better than last years team looks to be better but like mentioned we need more length and quickness. They need work on their shooting as team.

I think article on FBS in Herald by Tom Miller is probably is opening of what administration plan for UND football. With change in FBS rules on roster size we’re are seeing how UND rebuild program in short order. The question then does become is it at the top or is it at coordinator levels how they choose to improve the program. My bet is at coordinator level because of cost of buy out for Bubba. The saving of this money then can be used to hiring top coordinator who could become in house candidate for future coach. Second UNd probably willfind top talent to build up defense as well build with longterm recruits to keep program competitive.Third with.change of FBS rosters players transferring from FCS probably is going to be reduced and possibility of dropping down could easily occur for players that do transfer. I got to believe will only be top FCs players that will be moving. This is going effect teams above us in Valley more will they be able to retain talent that has chance to play in the NFL this will be players that FBS will be looking at encouraging to go into the portal. College football world is changing FCS is definitely will be level of talent between FBS and Division II. The days where NDSU will have seven or eight NFl players on roster is going to disappear and if you have players of that ability will be gone after season with you. But getting back to Und I can see where they will choose to replace part of coaching staff and Bubbas fate will come when he is closer to end of his contract. I could be wrong and I am speculating on this but more of on field coaching will be done by coordinators and Bubba will be more general manger handling day to day business affairs of the team. This will follow UND conservative approach on handling personnel and business end of athletics. History of UND is they are family like organization very rarely have people been fired publicly but changes usually occur behind the scenes which I think has been in process will see how plays out in next month.

Everyone is talking about losing players but I think greater loss could be in the coaching staff after the season. It’s my understanding there is large number of already coaching changes and will create number good openings for young coaches to move up in coaching ranks. We are also talking coaching change the loss of better coaches is probably going to happen. If this happens then these coaches leaving will have number of players to follow. We saw it with Freud number players either followed or went else where. Administration will need to address the future program with finish of the season. This means if Bubba will be retained or if choose to retain Bubba then I believe keep coaching staff in place will require new defensive coordinator and probably several other defense coaches let go and new defensive coordinator ready to be put in place and real change philosophy on how we Play defense and real commitment to find players that will be of caliber to play in Valley conference. A failure of this will be continue decline in the program. If administration tries to kick the can down the road we will just continue to be in bubble where everyone bitching and taking shots at the program. Administration finally take stand and put forth plan and what is expected from the program.I think a lot of people here grade on win and losses but administration does grade on wins and loses but also other important measures like student GPA, community service, fund raising, alumni relations, program having little player problem in the community, and attendance at games compared to peer schools. This has to be established so everyone knows why things are done but then puts more pressure on administration because the public can voice their concerns and what changes can be made. I do think changes need to be made but problem we have here is administration has been kicking can down the road we have master facility plan but we don’t have master plan on direction of the programs in athletic department goals they expect to be achieved by program if we’re getting close or not meeting goals but this then gives public something to also measure administration..

I am tired of argument for giving Jerry playing time he still freshman and coaching staff chose Simon and he has continued to improve as the season has gone along. If Schuster had been able to run like Simon on previous years teams we would have been much better team and had as good arm to go deep we had been playoff team with few wins. Simon is our starting quarter back and this may not please people here but coaches feel he is future of program for one more year. Jerry has his time coming in a year or something happens to Simon. Second people on this board need to be realistic we’re not just going win national championship even if we have change in head coach. We’re far from having program that can move to top of FCS. here are the facts yes we have improved facilities to be one of the better programs in FCs. The money is not there to pay for keeping coaches and finding coaches to want to come here and compete against other Dakota Schools. The money for recruiting and our history since jumping to division I has been insufficient to be destination for recruits coming here from our recruiting area. This leaves us with looking for talent from recruits from other top regions of the country but this comes with finding players that buy into team concept. The other part is will local fans come watch team that doesn’t have regional players South Dakota has been doing this but their attendance is down even when there winning. Finally we’re known as hockey school media attention is there not good for attracting top flight talent because today’s players are looking to get looked at by pros. This isn’t impossible to overcome but it’s going to take administration and alumni going extra mile to move the program forward. But support will not only be for football but other major sports will need similar support and funding if this going to be accomplished. I agree changes need to be made but my gut feeling old school alumni are not there and administration is not ready to do anything because cost to make changes without key money support to do so. This leaves us with changing of defensive coordinator and probably several other coaches. If this direction they go, need coordinator can bring in talent immediately and be able recruit talent that fits to size of the Valley. I could be wrong Bubba may just steps down after the season is done and then we will find out where we stand as program if this happens.. I am just speculating here but I don’t see any easy fixes but I look with the exception of few in FCs of five or six teams at top everyone else is dropping back because most schools are not able to fund their programs like NDSU and SDSU and Montana schools that leaves us with decision of if we can reach that level of support.

I am curious how they are adding 3 signees for next year with 15 on team and all them not seniors so who is leaving or who is not on scholarship this year.

I hoped they would come out play cleaner game to many turnovers, poor defense, and allowed to many offensive rebounds. I would like to see some better three point shooting. they as players need to work on getting themselves set better for theshot and if not pass on three point shot. Beal needs to work on this and second she needs to get some confidence in her shot If she can just develop one thing on offense she could play vital role on this team. Horne needs to also develop shot that she can score out of this offense. She has length to be effective for defense and rebound in the Summit. Volmer is going to just get better as season moves along I think they got top recruit here and I can’t believe that South Dakota schools didn’t get her. Ibrahim needs to work on her finishing when she is down low but I think she will just get better more she plays. Aumer, Demers, and Owen’s are pretty much developed and will fill there roles there is still room for improvement in fine tuning becoming even more effective. Schiller will see how fast she develops and how she holds up playing D I schedule as freshman. Hurst I see only limited minutes with style of play UND wants to play she looks to be further slowed by knee injury hurting her chances to play significant minutes. VanderWal will play spot minutes and if we get in foul trouble with post players. My hope we can be good enough to get to middle of the Summit and improve enough to make run in conference tournament. Sunday we will see how we will do against division I opponent and then again against Montana.

Season is over far as I am concerned. We are in no playoff hunt and way the team is right now we’re not capable of winning. Defense loss of front line people and playing hurt with number players on defense now puts our average defense in bottom of third of FCS football. I thought we should have brought in more transfers last spring but now thinking about our situation that may not have been possible. To bring in transfer you need to make commitment of playing time and financial commitment as well. What do you with players here that maybe equal or better than what you’re bringing. This brings you to team chemistry and if you loose your top existing talent you might be worse shape than before. The problem then lies in recruitment process of getting build up more high quality players in the pipeline. This has been problem here at Und to get enough top talent recruited here but I think this has been the problem whether we like it or not a lot of time we have been third choice behind NDSU and SDSU for number of reasons but bottom line it has been success of the other programs being there first in all phases of being division I program .So then I looked at other sister school of USD and they have gone to recruiting players more from areas that produce more football players but here this also comes with baggage too. The first they are winning but look the fan support has not been to where they fill the house it may be Turing around but Dakota fans like to see local kids performing and they come to the games because of that. Und has worked hard improving facilities which will show up in better recruits but this is not going to happen immediately. The question then lies do we have personnel to recruit long term to get there and for lot number of people on here would say no ,but then if we start to look for replacement what qualities does Und want with in change in program. This is what I think about because it comes down they would want majority of what Bubba is doing working with longterm alumni to get support to build new facilities, find majority of players from the state and regionally where fans support the team by attendance, recruits are good academically and become involved in community, and look to be long term coach here not here for couple years leave the program in mess after they move on to their next opportunity. This is a where we are at number of people just want to win now here on site but I think and administration is some where between now. This was failure of administration with last extension not to put in transition plan if expectation were not being met and have plan of transition to keep what has been built here not go back to where were under Mussman or Murphy in Und history of football. The remainder of this season should be spent on retaining our football players and staff getting out on recruiting trail hard to find players that can make immediate impact on the program. Sad year we went from having chance in the playoffs to this. The problem we started with team that had stay intact that worked until second half of the season NDSU game alone how much talent was lost up front.

This was surprising start in that we had new recruits playing significant minutes and Schiller looks to be player that will be special player. Walker gives us post player that can play both ways. Pemberton is going to be player that can create her own offense. The minutes that new recruit Vollmer had to me is going to lead to more playing time. Beal will continue get minutes because she can play defense only if she can find some offense is only reason of not playing more. the team has talent to get better and can if players start playing smarter can get better we should be able to be somewhere in the middle of Summit conference. Still need to find more talent if we want to catch up to South DakotaState. I watched them last night and there are going to just dominate the Summit and would be surprised if they get beaten this year in conference. My feeling ORU, South Dakota, and maybe North Dakota state battling for second. The rest of conference battling each other.

If there is change it will start in internally where Bubba accepts new position in the athletic department and steps down. My gut feeling is we will see change in coaching staff for coming year on defensive side and with this would be Bubba’s last attempt to move the program forward. Also will see us go to portal to build up depth of this team. The fact what we are seeing is a team showing lack of depth and holding firm on maintaining red shirt in place. We have had no exceptional recruits in past several years on defense and it is showing with just few exceptions of improved play by developed players. I also think it’s philosophy of player they want. They want leaner quick body type playing defense and this works for first part of the season but as season goes along these player get nicked up there effectiveness declines by because of part of step or slight drop off in strength. This where I have problem with coaching then you need 2 to 3 players ready to play at each ready to fill in and rotate. Bubba keeps everything so close on status of his team unless player is definitely gone but I guess the opposing teams can see if player is playing hurt only us fans probably are unaware of this. Second we have seen now for several weeks where teams exploited our weaknesses on defense my thoughts there has to be some schemes to prevent some of this and visually we seem same thing happen over in the game and then in multiple games. My question is somebody must see this and yet I don’t see glaring shake up on this this does go to Bubba needing to force some changes because what we’re doing is not working. I see it on the offense side how we have changed our approach but not on defensive side.

I have to think that my guess will be Walker Demers, Pemberton, Hurst, Aumer, and Beal or Owen based on Mallory past coaching she will lead with experience. I would expect that VanderWal and Ibrahim will get minutes. I would think Horne and Schiller will get playing time. The rest of freshmen based on past with Mallory will get few minutes but they won’t get to play major minutes until they proved themselves in practices and short minutes they are playing in games. But in today’s game with player turn over is so much you need players that can play immediately. I have problem with this because then we’re always recruiting players that have to be developed and they spend their college career to become high quality player. Rarely are we recruiting high talent players that can step in and play immediately but need to just adjust division one basketball. Kacie was one of exceptions even she had hard time getting big minutes early in her career and she was hurt also that also slowed her but her minutes were curtailed. SDSU seems to have one or two girls each year they develop as freshmen that can play immediately first year and by end of the year they look like junior or senior playing for them giving them significant minutes. I don’t know if always they have recruited superior talent or if it’s coaching, but they play their freshmen a lot more early in the season to help develop their talent quicker. All I know we need to change something either our recruiting or how we coach or both. If I was Mallory I would be looking hard at what we’re doing because if your stagnant like we have been with team bottom half and our peak year was being third in conference and playing one done in conference tournament. I have been real fan ever hopeful but I am tired of us trying to rebuild again. Also finding one star like Kacie is not enough we need team of elites that on any given night somebody can step up carry us to win and team plays good defense to always in games. The preseason pick for us is probably right if not generous. My hope new coaches they have hired will mark change in the program.

It’s big loss and going for the 2 point was done at wrong time should have done it after first touchdown in second half. If they made it then we would have won it regulation if not would put us must score mentality instead of playing prevent. Second with way Romfo had been playing would been much better choice because Youngstown would have to defend both the run and the pass. Defense we’re not deep enough at defensive line don’t who was responsible for not being deeper. This at least third year in row where showing lack of depth. In front line. Especially when we run 3-4 defense not having at least 8-9 players that are ready to play should be priority. Second besides Bo our threat at receiver drops from receiving point of view. Our passing numbers should have been better several drop balls and receivers falling or slipping without contact. How big a loss is this for casual fan at Und because if you look by media reports attention has switched to UND Hockey. We had good season until now but casual sports fan focus is hockey since start of hockey season. This is goes for other sports too and what casual fan believes where UND has chance for national championship is hockey. Right or wrong this perception of UND sports for upper Midwest. The days when football, Women’s basketball and men’s basketball were winning or chasing national championships are long forgotten by most casual fans or UND students. I am not picking on hockey but this has been the change in UND sports by administrations, Media,and finally by community plus the region. Just my opinion and what I believe is the state of UND sports.