bincitysioux

Attendance is directly tied to winning percentage in my opinion. Volleyball is one of the best programs in the Big Sky and it leads the league in attendance. WBB is one of the best programs in the Big Sky and it is 2nd in the league in attendance. MBB is not good but they are 3rd in the league in attendance. I think the more money that gets invested into every program makes it better, and I think that the programs with the most growth potential are being hampered because we are spread to thin by dumping cash into losing propositions like women's hockey and baseball. Does anyone know the exact dollar amounts budgeted to each individual sport? I could be wrong but if I had to guess I bet it goes: Men's Hockey Football Women's Hockey I think it is ridiculous that this University could realistically be spending more money on women's hockey than it does on basketball, especially MBB.

I understand there are title IX implications, and I admit I do not know the numbers in depth. But UND has 19 sports which is more than any Big Sky school, and more than all but one NCHC school. Western Michigan and Miami fund FBS football programs without having women's hockey. To my knowledge soccer, softball, and women's tennis do not have the full allotment of allowable scholarships. I don't know about track & field and cross country. But it seems to me it would be a far better investment to fund these programs to their maximum allowable limit since they are sponsored, and in some cases required, by our primary conference. I know I sound like a broken record, but in my eyes women's hockey and baseball are far bigger liabilities to this University than they are assets.

Much to my dismay, I agree that UND likely won't be cutting sports anytime soon. Just curious though, as to why women's hockey CAN'T be cut. UND got along just fine without it until a decade ago or so.

I don't know why Loveland/Greeley didn't register with me. Probably because it has Greeley connected to it and the aromatic nature of the city turns me off. Loveland doesn't look like a horrible option now though when I look at it closer. Although it is really not a short drive for anyone except UNC. As a major western metropolitan center, there are probably a substantial number of alumni from Big Sky schools in Denver, so that is a plus. I know Denver has the 2nd largest number of UND alums after Minneapolis-St. Paul. Upon further review, I see that Billings does have direct flights from both SLC and Portland, so that helps their case. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around spending an extended period of time in smallish city like Billings. Seems like Denver, SLC, even Spokane would be far more interesting. Reno and the oftend discussed Las Vegas seem to make sense if someone is wanting to make it an all around vacation type experience. My biggest concern about a predetermined site is attendance, that is why I feel it needs to be at a place where it is easy for Weber, and to a lesser extent Griz fans to get to. With a direct flight from SLC and being in the home state of both the Griz and Bobcats, perhaps Billings does fit the bill.

If it must be a predetermined or neutral site, I am disappointed that SLC is apparently not in the running. SLC has direct flights from 4 Big Sky cities: Missoula, Bozeman, Sacramento, and Portland. Fargo, Denver, Phoenix, and Spokane have direct flights for 5 nearby Big Sky schools. And it is a short drive for 3 Big Sky schools. Perhaps most importantly, it is within spitting distance of Weber St, the one Big Sky school that really really gets behind basketball. I may be wrong, but I assume SLC is to Weber alumni what Minneapolis-St. Paul is to North Dakota alumni. I think having it in Weber's backyard, SLC, would be similar to the Final Five in the Gophers backyard in St. Paul. No, I am not saying I think there would be 17,000 fans in SLC, but there may be 6,000-8,000 for games that Weber is involved with. I figure half that at best anywhere else (except Ogden). Since SLC isn't an option, I guess I am hoping for Ogden for all these reasons. SLC would be a tad more "neutral". Seems like Reno & Billings have the most steam right now. Reno would be the better "destination" in my opinion. But Reno is not easy to get to by any means. I guess Reno would be the more enjoyable city to pass the time in between games. I can't imagine what one would do in Billings for 3 days if your team lost the first day. Go home I guess. Spokane makes way more sense to me than Billings. If I were to put a Top 5 out there from the sites mentioned in the article, mine would be: Ogden---Weber's home town, short drive from SLC airport which is a major hub Spokane---Short drive for 3-4 BSC teams, decent air service Billings---Selfishly, I put Billings ahead of Reno just because it would be faster to drive from GF to Billings than fly from GF to Reno Reno---Truly neutral, fun non-basketball things to do, not so easy to get there though Missoula---The Griz draw pretty good for basketball so attendance would be OK here. Short drive for a few BSC teams As I said, if travel costs and attendance are the two biggest factors for this tournament, then IMO SLC is the best location to satisfy both collectively for the entire conference. Since SLC isn't option, I'd say Ogden is the way to go, although I don't really love the idea of having it at the home venue of a conference member under a "predetermined site" format. I really like the current format though. It is certainly not perfect but it does make the entire regular season exciting, and it gives the best chance to put the league's best team in the NCAA tournament. I imagine it is a major hassle to set things up in a week's time or less, but I still don't see why the regular season couldn't end a week earlier than it currently does, which would allow for twice as much time for everybody to get their poop in a group.

Meh..... The format should stay the way it is now.

Hooker was stellar again yesterday. Big game from Nash as well.

Is Venky Jois playing? I had read he has been injured and missed a couple games lately.....

STAY ON TOPIC PLEASE

Nice win, and much needed. Way to go boys!

Terrible foul call

How long has Nash been sitting?

Vandals won't go away!

Shanks missed layup

Free throws a factor for both teams tonight

HOOKER

61 UND 54 UI 3:54 2H

53 UND 44 UI 7:46 2H

UND on a 34-10 run.

46 UND 37 UI 11:49 2H

Someone should check with Ryan Powell to see if has kept track of how many lay ups Nash has missed.......

Holy hell, we are out rebounding them 5-1 this half!

This is the best UND has looked coming out of the half all season.

UND up 40-35 16:22 left

Good start to the 2nd half