EternalOptimist

This is interesting - I wonder what the advantage is to announcing this now? I can't imagine a benefit to the current team, or recruiting.

I like the 3-1 start. But as I've mentioned before, I'm not ready to drink the kool-aid yet. Oral Bob and KC were predicted to be bottom 4 teams, so beating them is good, but I don't know if it puts us in the top 4. SDSU was a very good win. St Thomas, from what I have seen, should win the conference, so the game on Thursday will be a good indicator on how good we are. As far as Sather staying and the portal - time will tell. I think Ty Danielson is mostly responsible for the success of this team so far this year. I still think UND moves on from Sather. I also think the domino effect will be real, and there will be some that hit the portal. I don't know if that's a bad thing though.

The 1st person to get thanks for a 3-1 record should be coach Ty Danielson. Unlike years prior, our defense is what is causing other teams fits and helping our offense.

I'm still scratching my head, trying to figure out what the coaching staff was thinking with 58 seconds left and our ball, they have Jones, a 40% FT shooter not only IN the game, but he is the guy receiving the inbounds pass. What the heck is that?

Ouch, open tryouts in the season. That's a program in a tough spot.

I really want to believe. I really want this season to end in a top 4 and do well in the tournament. I was at the last 2 games and the SDSU game was awesome. The OR game was a bit of a roller coaster. I do think Ty Danielson has a LOT to do with the success we've seen, and the enjoyment of watching. I also agree with Good Good with the state of the Summit League. I'm not willing to say Sather is doing his best work quite yet. Their have been times in the last few years I jumped on the bandwagon, only to see the wagon turn over and burn. Again, I hope a top half finish in the Summit is on the horizon, but im not convinced. I'll still be cheering, enjoying, and hoping, but it's too soon to know.

Bottom 4 in no particular order. UND, Oral Bob, KC, USD (injuries looking like it may take a toll on them)

Just my observation and hunch, but it seems like the coaches have a style of play they want to play, and don't deviate from it. They want a big to be physical and control the paint. It doesn't matter if Jones has more career fouls than points, he's a big body, so we stick with it even if he is 0-5. Same with Reggie and A3. Reggie does what he is told, and will give max effort. A3 has more upside and if handled correctly could be really good, but he's also a bit of a wild card emotionally and hard to control, so they continue to put their thumb on him to control it rather than to figure out how to make it flourish. It's the same thing that's happened with the twins. You can probably argue both sides of it, but at the end of the day the coach brings guys in. I think they do a good job of it, but then they want to control the situations and the players to suit what they want, often times destroying confidence in players and changing what made them good. Some players can handle being put in the coaches box, others cant. Good coaches work with players to make them more confident and better. Bad coaches put players in a decided box.

Guga played well, Garrett played better than he has. Eli played well, Grayson had higher turnovers than normal. Marley did well picking up 7 rebounds. Jones only picks up 1 foul, albeit within the 1st 30 seconds of the game, but doesnt score. We had a 17pt lead at the half and found a way to make it close. Coaching unable to make any changes. A win is a win, even if it's ugly, but boy, some of that was really ugly.

Another 20+ turnover game. It's going to be difficult to win any games in the Summit with 20+ turnovers.

When I heard Dakota State gave USD and SDSU a good run, I thought we have some issues. Not having their best player hurt Dakota State, but UND did what was needed to get out, and stay out to a considerable lead. I wouldn't say we played out best basketball, but a W is a W - take it and get ready for Summit League play.

Please help me understand how the process works. Normally, if a coach gets an extension it usually happens before the start of the last year of the current contract. This gives the most stability to the program as the future is understood. In the case of UND, it It is now getting close to 2026, and roughly half way through the season of the final year of the coaches current contract. I assume the renewal of the contract would be public so we'd know either way. Is the renewal of the contract dependent on some level of success, or other markers? Is every week that goes by an indicator there won't be a renewal? Help me understand what is going on with the contract - or what we can read into the delay. Thanks

Agreed - The college basketball climate has changed. It used to be you bring in HS kids and work with them expecting them to learn year 1 & 2 and produce year 3 & 4. With the portal and ability to hop around, it just seems like if you want to be competitive now you need to recruit the portal for experience. Either go out and find really good D2 kids with experience and are ready to make the jump, or possibly solid high major kids that just are not seeing the playing time they would like to see, but understand college basketball and the work it takes. This year UND brought in 4 freshmen (A3, twins, Ouse). Sure, there have been bright spots and the talent seems to be their, but A3 went through some issues (and may or may not be done with them). One Curtis twin hasn't been with the team for weeks, and the other has gone from being a starter to not playing. Ouse still looks lost and confused, and despite what Sather says, is fairly unproductive. UND should have re-shirted them and allow them to figure it out. Instead, because he already has a few that are not working out for him for whatever reason, he has had to rely on them and it hasn't gone well. Last night's game was awesome and a pleasant unexpected surprise. I don't think we have turned a corner and will now be a contender in the summit league. It's the bed that Sather has made, the question is, can he overcome all the challenges he has created for himself? or will they part ways with him.

Which is interesting. Marley not getting in. Micah hasn't even been on the bench the last few games, is he even with the team?

Is there any advantages in letting him go now, run with an interm coach wile looking for another head coach? Or is it better practice to wait until the season is over?

New coaching staff - that's the answer. I

Yep, I've actually seen almost every game for many years now. Not only that, I've seen pretty much every MN kid play live in HS multiple times. I also know what happens when you squash players confidence. After all that, this is what I've come to. You dont have to believe it, its my opinion. UND have had some great players, but the one common thing in the last 7 years is the coach.

No way, that is not an upgrade. Danielson?

I think we do ok in the portal, and recruiting. I know i might be in the minority on that. The problem is we cant coach what we have, and they are sucking the life out of the players. Re-watch the game and check out the body language in the huddle and the bench. Also, the 1st few games, players looked like they were flying around, now they are going through the motions, hoping to not get subbed out or yelled at.

No focus, no grit, no smiles, no good. Players not making shota, Staff has lost the locker room.

This performance screams of issues between coaches and players. The confidence level seems to be sucked put of these guys. Western Illinois hasn't won a D1 game yet this year, and they are on the road beating the Hawks.

And yes, the removal should have happened years ago. I'm just curious with the portal happening very soon after the end of the season, do you wait until that last game, or make the decision sometime during the season? If an extension comes, that would be bad

How long before they either announce a men's basketball coach contract extension, or a removal? And when would be a good time for that?

That's a very interesting article - paints both sides of the picture. It's a lot of $$ for a player to turn down, especially when they dream of playing after college and want to get into a program that can help them. The other side of that story, that's a lot of $$ to pay a player. And when the player struggles and the team struggles, the critics will come out. I'm sure Trey is working his butt off and probably isn't happy with the results in some of the games. I also believe he probably is harder on himself then others are on him - which usually doesn't help progress. Totally understand the community & donors disappointment about a slow start from the team, especially with the amount of $$ that has been spent. The struggle with the portal and the climate of sports. Thanks for posting it.

Gotta hand it to Sather and staff, up 30 and Crown playing guys that dont usually play and he's sticking to the rotation.