bincitysioux

2011-12 GWC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll 1. Utah Valley (5) 34 2. North Dakota (1) 28 3. NJIT 27 4. Texas-Pan American 15 5. Chicago State 11 Houston Baptist 11

Yeah, yeah................we get it. The 6-3 football team sucks while the 3-5 hockey team is awesome................... The demise of the nickname is all the fault of the football and basketball programs.................. The nickname is actually just on loan from the hockey department to the rest of the athletic programs................ Did I miss anything?

I agree that the way the game unfolded yesterday was amazingly embarrassing. But I think it is way off base to claim that Mussman got out-coached yesterday. I didn't see any evidence of it. USF competely took away our run game for the first 3 quarters. Any team that does that, whether it be Montana St. or Morningside is going to have a chance to beat North Dakota. This is a very one dimensional team, and it has nothing to do with coaching, rather it is a result of personnel and talent. UND won virtually every statistical battle in the game, but because we couldn't run the ball effectively, many offensive drives stalled. Despite Goska's adequate play over the last 3 weeks, he just isn't capable of doing it with no run game to compliment him. UND would have never trailed in the game if not for Coach Kelling's inept pass defense schemes that, as usual, allowed a few big plays. If any coach on the staff warrants excessive criticism, it is him. The pass defense has regregressed every year since 2007.

Honestly, I think that throughout the media these days, any school regardless of the sport, that is not a member of a BCS Football AQ conference is considered a "mid-major". "Mid-Major" seems to be a term thrown around to any basketball team that represents a school that would absolutely never have a chance of playing for a national championship in the sport of FBS football. Personally I think there is far more parody in the world of "big-time" college basketball than there is in "big-time" college football. Here's how I break it down as far as basketball goes in no particular order.............. High-Major Big East Big 12 Big 10 SEC PAC 12 ACC Mountain West Missouri Valley C-USA Mid-Major Horizon WAC WCC Atlantic-10 Ivy League Low-Major Metro Atlantic SoCon MAC NEC Atlantic Sun Big Sky Summit Big South Sun Belt Patriot Big West OVC Southland MEAC SWAC America East

You may be right, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possiblities that the WAC would make an exception given their current status. They are in survival mode. The additions of non-football schools Seattle, Denver, and Texas-Arlington implies that the WAC is working more toward ensuring their viability as an NCAA conference in general rather than as an FBS football conference. And although Boise and Air Force wouldn't have their football teams in the WAC, having the rest of their sports programs could go a long way to retaining Idaho and Utah St. For precedence, the Big East currently has Villanova, Notre Dame, and Georgetown as all-sports members that do not place their football programs in the same conference.....................

If Boise and Air Force do go Big East for football, I see them going (back to in Boise's case) the WAC for the rest of the sports. Idaho, Seattle, Denver, and Utah St. would all be in favor of that big time I'd think. The WAC is a decent basketball league. Air Force would make it better and both would probably appease the Northwest schools that have been standing by while Texas schools have been added..................... As far as Boise in the Big East for football, I think they'd do well. Big East football sucks, especially without Pitt, and WVU............... Have to think that AQ Big East football for Boise St. would be a dream come true. Could they compete in the Big 12 or Pac 12 week in and week out? No..............see Utah. But I bet they can in a revamped Big East...................

Good. Mangy coyotes....................

USD averages 6.5 more pass yards per game than North Dakota, and has thrown 1 more interception than North Dakota against relatively equal competition. As far as GWC games, I worry more about UC Davis (bad match-up) on the road, than I do against USD at home. But for right now, I'm most concerned about Sioux Falls, because that's who's coming to GF on Saturday............................

Forensic Accounting...................... Forensic Poll Analysis.................. They've got it all in Fargo.

So far this season, this team has met or exceeded my expectations. I've seen nothing so far this year that would lead me to believe that this game won't be a 30+ point beat down of USF.............

Was he playing against UND's secondary?

I'm sure all of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes would like to send out a heart-felt thank you to the NCAA for this legislation................... SRSLY, it's not enough that these players get a free education?

Wow, an NDSU fan bringing up North Dakota hockey................................never saw that one coming.

It's a fun idea, but the WAC has already tried the 16-team, 4 quadrant model.......................the end result was the Mountain West Conference.

Don't be so lazy. Google it.......................

Just watched the media day video on fightingsioux.com.................... Roebuck spoke very highly of freshman Emily Evers and Brianna Williams. When talking about Evers, said she used to be a point guard but then grew a foot or so over a year and became a post player. Said she is mobile and passes the ball well. Said alot is expected of Alyssa Wall, and they will look to Madi Buck for more scoring as well. He said is biggest concern is who is going to step up and be a scorer this year..................

Just watched the basketball media day video on Fightingsioux.com.............. Jones said that Antwi will play and will be asked to score. Said Gentry will have an impact defensively. Said Benton will redshirt. Also said there is good competition for the center position between Brekke, Wilmer, Stockdale, and Mathison.............................. I assume that is coach-speak and translates to "we have some talent at the position, it's Brekke's position to lose, Wilmer is coming along nicely, and Stockdale and Mathison provide much needed depth".

Just watched the media day video on Fightingsioux.com. Faison said the men's team is giving up a game next season in order to take part in the Minot flood-benefit game this year. Again, hats off to UND for being so supportive of the Minot area ................................

No........not for free anyways. I've only used the platform a handful of times...............

Northern Colorado does have a message board , but not real busy. Sounds like their secondary struggles to defend the pass, and they can't or don't really run the ball that much. They're pretty high on one of their linebackers, who leads the confernce in tackles and is like 5th in the country. Not really a great match up for North Dakota, but I think we should have a good chance to win if we can limit big plays on defense, and establish the running game. That's pretty much the key for UND no matter who the opponent is.

Big Sky Game Notes Don't forget you can watch the game for FREE on Big Sky TV . But remember you have to register first, and you have only a 5 minute window before game time to log on, otherwise you can't watch.

Hats off to UND for all that they have done in support of the Minot area.......................

Sort of off topic, but just to defend UNC in general, (there is no defending there football program for the past 7 years) but I think they can evolve to be one of the top Big Sky members overall in due time. They have a great volleyball program, the men's basketball team won the Big Sky last year, I beleive their womens basketball team is picked to go 1st or 2nd this year, they just won the Big Sky soccer title...................... I think because their football program has been so completely inept since moving to DI, that their athletic department as whole kind of flys under the radar. If they can get their football program back to at least being a top half Big Sky team, the opinion of their value to the conference will change greatly IMO.

I seriously doubt that the MVC would take any of those schools................................

Yes...............yes it was. And now the Big Sky has the two premier programs fromt that storied conference.............................