star2city

The key to the season so far seems to be Aaron Anderson's ability to penetrate and then pass or score. The defenses that stop Anderson's penetrations stop the Sioux offense. The last two games Anderson hasn't had penetrations and has had very few points.

Naples News: Atlantic Sun officials had a site visit at NKU this past weekend: http://www.naplesnew...n-process-with/ The Summit League is going to have a real difficult position gaining new members in the eastern Midwest except perhaps in Michigan. Given the option of flying to Fort Myers, Orlando, and Jacksonville, vs flying to Fargo, Sioux Falls, and Omaha, an administration like NKU will chose the Florida option every time. Cheaper fares, better recruiting, more alumni, more potential students. The Summit League really needs to push for two of Grand Valley St, Saginaw Valley St, and Wayne St (Mi), otherwise its options will be Lindenwood and Minnesota NSIC schools. But all of those options require the MVFC to add two more football teams (or pull an Omaha and drop football.)

The Naple News is reporting that the Atlantic Sun and NKU are in membership discussions. Bad news for the Summit and their dearest Commissioner.

Didn't follow the JC game, but winning by only 8 pts? Must have been a horrible game to watch. This team is either playing to the level of the opponent, or regressing.

Just recently sat next to the Delta Airlines manager for VIP / NBA / NFL charters on a flight to MSP. Interesting conversation. Delta charters most of the NBA on smaller customized jets (three NBA teams have their own jets), most NFL teams, many ML, some NHL, and many BCS/higher budget college teams in football and basketball. Delta arranges the buses and sometimes even security checks at the stadiums with TSA employees escorting the bus to airports once the security checks are done. UND uses charters for football, when they have to fly, but not sure if it is always Delta. All other Sioux teams fly commercial. The manager used to be the Delta representative on every Minnesota Vikings charter. Had a lot of nice things to say about Kleinsasser.

Nothing is final, yet. Some talk that a conference would have to have a top 14 or 16 rating to get an AQ (so this year, the Big East wouldn't get an AQ). UConn going to the Fiesta last year was a total disaster, and the Big East doesn't have any school to offer this year that will give good ratings or sell tickets (except WVU has fans that travel en masse - which is why the Big 12 offered WVU.) The problem the major bowls have isn't with Boise St or TCU, but with UConn and Cincinnati and other Big East programs like USF without national identities. Boise St and TCU had great ticket sales and ratings for the Fiesta and Rose Bowls. Because of that TCU was badly wanted by both the Big East and Big 12. Boise St's problem is that its academics is about like St Cloud States. UConn's and Cincy's capability to earn bowl's money have been atrocious, and nobody wants to touch them. That's why the Big East desperately needs Boise St (it lost TCU to the Big 12), as Boise St is the only real ratings powerhouse not yet affiliated in the BCS. If the BCS system dies, its unlikely that the major bowls would lock out a Boise St if Boise St was undefeated and still in the MWC. Unlike the lower bowls, which need to lock in conference teams #3 and lower, the Orange (ACC), Fiesta (Big 12), and Sugar (SEC) Bowls would want some level of freedom in chosing opponents for their conference champion.

San Diego State is currently negotiating with the Big East. Still some doubts about whether SDSU/Boise/Air Force/Navy go to the Big East. Houston, SMU, and UCF seem almost certain. If Notre Dame and UConn jump to the ACC, that would definitely alter the Big East's plan, probably causing a split off of Rutgers, Cincy, and USF. http://brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29532522/33577375 If San Diego St goes to the Big East, their other sports teams would almost certainly gain a spot in the Big West. San Jose St and Utah St would likely move to the MWC, as well as possibly UTEP. The Big West would need to add another team, and that school could be Sacramento State (if Sac can keep football in the Big Sky). Last month, it was thought that the Big West would like to add UC San Diego (currently DII) and San Jose St, but if San Diego St is available, they would definitely be taken. The only option for UC San Diego would then be the Big Sky (but they would probably have to add football) or the WAC as a non-football member. UC San Diego is similar to UCLA academically, so most presidents lust after that type academics. UCSD also has a student population where a $100 fee / semester could basically pay for an upgrade to DI. Unless the WAC survives with Utah State and San Jose St intact as members, highly doubt Montana (or Montana State) would jump to a Texas-based league. The WAC may very well gain non-football squads from Boise St and Air Force, but, other than Idaho, the closest WAC football school to Montana could be New Mexico St.

Would be surprised if they did that. North Dakota seems more likely to follow the Alberta model: which has a huge trust fund. Alaska's oil production is falling - unless more drilling is allowed soon on the North Slope region, the Alaska pipeline may have to be shut down as it needs a minimum flow that the North Slope won't be able to provide. That property situation could get interesting. No matter what happens with that vote, property taxes and likely income taxes are bound to go down. Minnesota border cities will see no growth or population movement to the west.

This won't be popular, but that statement is total B.S. When the NCAA first came out with the Indian policy, it was for a total ban. When the Florida and Utah congressional delegations began making noise, the NCAA went "OH !@#$". Only after the NCAA found out that the Seminole and Ute tribes in those states support the names, did the NCAA turn around and use that support to protect Florida State and Utah. Florida State and Utah backed down, as did their congressional delegations. In the meantime, the 80% of other affected schools were left dangling in the wind. UND was on the NCAA's radar all of the time because of the Ralph, so special considerations (two tribal approvals) were sent its way. Even if the Seminoles drop their approval, there is no way Florida State will ever lose their Seminole nickname. The politicians in Florida would be ramming an antitrust lawsuit up the NCAA's ass so fast that the NCAA wouldn't know what hit them. Furthermore, Florida State, the ACC/SEC etc would use it as an excuse to leave the NCAA, and the NCAA would have nothing.

One financial analyst following Bakken companies is predicting ND oil output to triple or possibly quadruple over the next five years: Read more: http://www.sfgate.co...L#ixzz1fDCJ1jhm At that rate, potentially, ND oil would contribute $50 billion annually to the economy and by itself reduce US oil imports by 25%. With the US now exporting propane, butane, and soon, nat gas, the US seems destined to be energy indenpendent before the decade is over. ND government would be seeing almost $4 billion annually just in oil revenue. That predicted Bakken output is larger than production in the Permian Basin in Texas, although the Permian Basin is also seeing increased production and expects further increases because of horizontal drilling and fracking, so the Bakken may never pass it. As an aside, the counties that make up the Permian Basin (mostly Midland-Odessa in Texas, but also Hobbs, New Mexico) have over 500,000 people. Although the economy of those cities have somewhat diversified beyond oil, in 1930 before the Permian Basin oil rush began, Midland and Odessa were both comparable to Watford City now and have both grown to over 100,000 people.

Does a douche have feelings? Just a philosophical question.

Today's Herald mentioned that Watford City may grow to 30,000 people. McKenzie County is gaining a huge amount of activity (including building of nat gas processing plants), so that type growth for Watford City may be possible. But if the EPA halting fracking for 15 months or more, as the Bismarck Tribune is reporting, much of western ND could be abandoned again. http://bismarcktribu...1cc4c03286.html

Hadn't realized that the MVFC/Gateway has had only four teams in the FCS championship game, winning two of them (Youngstown St and W Kentucky have one championship). WKU isn't even a member of the league anymore. Next time a Bison fan talks about the Big Sky being the Big Fluffy, they need to recognize by their own smack standards that the MVFC is the Big Puffy in comparison (in honor of the puffed out Bison fans' chests with participation ribbons).

After the Jamestown game, the next six games will more or less decide UND's RPI (and therefore the season). At Idaho St At UMKC SDSU At SDSU At Sac St At W Ill Unless UND beats New Mexico, Kansas, or, more possibly, La Tech (at La Tech), the schedule vs Great West teams will be an RPI killer.

Anyone know the last time that a MFVC team won a playoff game against the CAA? What's the MFVC vs CAA playoff record in the past decade?

2-0 vs WAC Surprisingly, the Mothershed twins led the team in scoring. Both seem to really be stepping up their game. After the whole team played so well against Duquense, and then struggling to beat Southern Utah on a neutral court, nice to see a win against a higher profile program on their court even with some of the players struggling to score.

Overtime had a ridiculous number of fouls when UND took a big lead early.

Agree. That game wasn't ugly, considering the opponent and their skill level. Frustrating at times, with the inability to penetrate the zone in the 2nd half, hit key free throws, and some poor passing decisions late. What is ugly about UND's game, and I mean this with all due respect, is that UND's team doesn't look like thoroughbred recruits that Montana has. UND players, by and large, didn't get interest from other schools because they were either too short (Anderson, Webb, Schuler, even Brekke) or too scrawny. Anderson may turn out to be the best player in the Dakotas, and none of the other schools even gave him a look because of his height and frame. Would rather have Brekke than any of Montana's big men, as he's quicker with his feet. UND men's basketball is like a mutt that can do a lot of things well: wouldn't win any pedigree dog shows like Montana or NDSU would.

Hardee himself stated that in an interview. Wonder if Hardee will pull in a transfer.

Schuler was the only one hitting free throws after being fouled.

Montana went to the NCAA's two years ago, and barely lost out to N Colorado last year. Two of the stars of those teams, Cherry and Selvig, are still playing. Williston's Quale graduated this past year. A win like this really serves notice to the Big Sky that Sioux men's basketball can be a serious threat to the Big Sky conference crown.

UND needs to figure out how to penetrate a zone defense. Montana practically stimied the Sioux offense in the second half. With Brekke and Mitchell fouling out late in the 4th quarter, didn't think UND would pull this out. But Montana quit hitting threes and UND got a couple of big steals.

The big face is the face of Mike Mathison, the UND backup center from Walhalla. Mathison was one of the players that was on the cable hand fishing show.

Emily Thompson of Carrington (who led Carrington to the Class B girls basketball championship last year) had volleyball offers from both UND and NDSU. She chose UND.

The NDSU volleyball team is a very good team this year (rated in the 40's out of 330 teams or so, whereas UND is rated in the 50's). NDSU volleyball will lose their star (Jennifer Lopez .... of Dilworth ), so they probably fall quite a bit after this year. NDSU fans have assumed that since their volleyball team lost to UND, NDSU isn't very good because UND must be horrible (both assumptions are way off).