Coyote Fan

Well if I am not mistaken wasn't UND #1 when USD beat them originally. Delta was also #1 and undefeated before last night. I guess USD now needs to take care of Northern Kentucky and bring the NCC one last title before it goes under. UNK has 8 losses on the year so one would figure USD has a good shot on Saturday. I still can't believe that the Lady Yotes have been able to put it together this well so far this year. One game away from a fairytale ending. One more and we can talk of a true rivalry between USD and UND in Women's basketball. It would be good for both programs to have each other during transition. Both will have each other now as measuring sticks.

I look at cheering and chanting in two ways. Saying things like "overrated" or "so and so s**ks" is just part of the game. If it gets to the point of being personal or derogatory/offensive it should be dealt with immediately. If I were Roebuck I would let some official of USD know if there were derogatory things said by any fan. I completely agree that some of the garbage that comes out of fans mouths is unacceptable. security people need to deal with that type of fan behavior, gives warnings and eventually if needed an ejection from the arena.

I definately see a common theme when reading these threads on basketball. First of all I don't remember one, congradulations you are the better team or my/our experience in Vermillion was generally a good one. I saw a team that would rather run off the court than shake hands for whatever reason. I saw ungreatfull fans sitting in the Sioux section. I hear Sioux fans actually being critical multiple times of how USD celebrates their accomplishments. Well I can tell you that the men do the same thing with cutting down the nets when they win the conference regular season or tournament title as well. Minnesota State men did the same thing when they won the conference. Generally teams that win things cut down nets. They do it all the time in D1 when they win their conference tourneys. This isn't unheard of folks. I see a bunch of soar losers actually. Sioux fans also have a long history of being really whiney about referees calls during womens games. I can tell you in years when the Sioux Women were good they got almost every call it would seem. How about the hockey check screne that was set on a USD player during the last second three point attempt. That was such an obvious call that was missed. I can tell you one thing. I have very rarely gone on a road trip and been completely offended by the home crowd. I have heard some very nasty things said by fans, mostly college students. I just let it go right through one ear and out the other. If anyone gets offended by college students they should really not sit close to them. In Vermillion there are plenty of extra seats far away from the students. I am actually rather shocked that UND fans give almost no credit to their opponents. You have won so damn much that you should show a little grace in defeat once in awhile. It's not a rite of the Sioux Women to win the North Central Region. Whos to say that USD and UND will even make the regional final. Maybe one of them will get knocked off.

I definately sense that UND fans just can't come to the realization that USD is the better team this year. It's not going to get any easier either. I feel USD has the easier bracket and the fans will be even more charged up for the regional. Past history of what UND has done is not going to make any difference what happens at the dome this weekend. USD has just wanted it more so far this year and they have come up big time and time against especially in crunch time.

For one thing there were barely any students there and certainly the crowd was not one where it would appear there was any real threat of a charging of the court. Roebuck had to see that. If he was worried he could have kept his players on the bench where they would have been safe until there was no chance of a stampede. It's probably putting their players in more harms way by having them jog through the court than to have them wait at the bench. There were quite a few Sioux fans in their section that were also rather ungreatfull after the loss. I know there was at least one instance of a Sioux fan throwing a bottle or something towards the Coyote Fans without being provoked. I know because I saw it. Personally I don't really care myself. If the Sioux players wanted to leave the court for whatever reason so be it. If the Coyote Fans wanted to boo so be it. The thing I take by reading this board is that many fans probably still feel that the Sioux are the better team. That's certainly possible but becoming more and more unlikely.

#7 Wayne State vs #2 North Dakota: I will have to go with Sioux here but this is a very dangerous game for UND. Wayne is only 30 miles south of Vermillion so I would imagine they will be well supported and fired up. This team gave Concordia their only two losses this year and 2-1 overall against them. Ryun Williams who was a former player for the Coyote Men is their coach and he is rumored to be a very serious candidate for the USD job next year. I will go with UND but in a closer game than maybe expected, 76-69 #6 Minnesota State vs #3 Concordia-St. Paul: I believe this is a rematch of a game earlier this year that was won by the Bears. I would like to think this could be close with the tough competition that MSU is used to but I will go with Concordia to take it 86-81 #5 Nebraska-Kearney vs #4 Fort Lewis: This will be an obvious rematch and one where UNK should have the momentum after knocking them off in the RMAC tourney. Fort Lewis has had an incredible year but they have slumped a bit as of late. Kearney will have the slightly shorter trip. This one should be a great one that could go either way but I will go with Fort Lewis to win it 84-83 in Overtime. #8 Colorado State-Pueblo vs #1 South Dakota: It's always scarey having to go against a conference tourney winner despite the overall year being mediocre. Augustana beat them by about 8 in Colorado eariler in the season. I think this is a classic case of a team being in over their heads and going against competition tougher than what they see most weeks in the RMAC. They might finish 5th if they were in the NCC. I think with the crowd and excitement of the home game USD rolls the Thunderwolves 85-57. Semi-Finals #3 Concordia-St. Paul vs #2 North Dakota: The Sioux are too tough for the Bears as this is a classic case of the better and more talented team coming out on top. Concordia is good but not quite good enough. Sioux win it 78-64 #4 Fort Lewis vs #1 South Dakota: This is a tough one to gauge. I know USD beat Kearney at home by about 30 earlier in the year but the Yotes only loss came to RMAC's Adams State. I think the Yotes will be challenged here but Fort Lewis hasn't been playing their best ball so I will go with USD 79-62. Finals #2 North Dakota vs #1 South Dakota: Don't they always say that beating a good team 3 times in one year is tough so what kind of a task would be taking 4 games. I would rather have the pressure of trying to do that than the opposite. I am sure the Sioux have had that senario happen often in the past where they were the ones trying to go 4-0. Certainly anything can happen at this stage and it's really anyones game. UND is so tough inside but USD is so tough everywhere else on the court. The Yotes are very clutch when they need to hit big shots. I think USD rides the wave to the elite 8 with a 74-64 win.

Congradulations on your win tonight. I think heads are going to have to roll in Vermillion. Either way you guys picked up a good win. Keep it going and take down the Doggies if you will. Heck don't stop there, take out Minnesota State that way you can earn the auto bid and help put the poor Yotes out of their misery and allow their season to end.

I just wish the USD fans, administration, players and coaches had the same expectation with success as the UND community. You've had so much more success in the sports that matter that it's not even a reasonable comparison. You've had what about 5-10 national titles to have fun with and I would just like to experience one. Winning has not been as high of a priority at USD as it is at UND. If it was we'd be doing more of it. That's exactly the reason certain coaches from the past were allowed to stay on far too long despite the teams they've coached not having any real big chance at national success. As I fan I am not accepting it any longer but unfortunately I am in the vast minority and get bascially chastized for even suggesting certain changes in things such as coaches or having too high of expectations in the first place. I've got to learn to be happy with a NCC title here and there and not expect anything more than that.

The best thing about what the SDSU women are doing is that it sets the bar high for the other D1 teams in the area. UND and NDSU now have something to strive for and the excuses of not being able to compete because it's simply D1 get a little less worthy that way.

Sorry but you have had plenty of moments in the sun in womens basketball so this year USD deserves just one year of doing well.

USD does not want to play UND again. Eventually UND will figure out a way to win against the Coyotes. I wouldn't be quite so sure the regional is going to be in Vermillion especially if they don't win the NCC tourney but even if USD wins out. The regional committee has never really given USD much for favorable seedings. If you remember back in 1994 the USD Men won the NCC at 16-2 and were easily the most deserving host but UND was picked to host over USD. USD missed the regional in 2001 as regular season NCC champs which may not have ever happend prior to that. I am sure you remember a year ago when UNO was seeded over UND in football for no commen sense reason other than to stick it to UND with the mascot/sueing the NCAA issue. Politics play into those regional selection committees and that came right from Tom Billiters mouth. I heard him say that on the radio. I doubt he would say that if there wasn't something to it. USD might host the regional and I feel they deserve to but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they don't.

In South Dakota it's considered taboo to even consider another in state school or school in the 5 state area to be anywhere close to as good as the beloved Jacks. That is all you really need to know to answer the question. Don't ask a SDSU fan for an honest opinion because you will never get one. Some things that they say are true and some are not true but one cannot make the distinction because everything they say is slanted their way. Of course when USD beat UNI on the road in an exhibition game by 30 and SDSU beat the same team at home by less than 15 that doesn't really matter. Everything that points to anything other than a SDSU 20 or 30 point blowout is meaningless to them.

Back to the point at hand. It seems like maybe UND seems to not think of USD as a great rival in football if the press release of the Sioux's 2008 schedule announcement is any indication. It was mentioned that the highlight of the schedule was the game against Southern Illinios, old coach or not. I believe that UND probably considers NDSU, SDSU, UNO and St. Cloud at the least more desirable games. I could probably add a few others but won't bother making the list too long.

I never take the attitude of being angry if another team celebrates on USD's field or floor. If they won they deserve some celebration. It shows they care. If my team loses I don't focus on things like the other team celebrating etc. but rather what my team needs to do better or what could have been. USD should have been celebrating after getting the win just as other teams should celebrate on USD's floor if they win. That is unless it gets tasteless. Now if someone went out and spit on a logo or streak their shoes across it that would be a different story. Augie was celebrating on our floor just a few days ago. I was congradulating their fans and critisizing my own team. I guess that is just my nature.

It's kind of interesting that the coin phrase live by the 3 and die by the 3 hasn't turned on USD to this point. They haven't been doing much dying with the long range shots. Much of that has to do with USD's defense. I would rather have a team rely on offense from the outside and play stout defense than to be an inside team and not be able to play good defense. Defense is always more important than the stlye of offense IMO. It doesn't hurt that USD if fairly athletic and can drive to the basket. They just don't use much traditional post up play as when Mandy Koupal was with the team. Sometimes shooting a 5-8 foot contested shot is a tougher proposition than making a wide open three pointer. If USD can shoot in that 40% range for three pointers the other team will need to counter by making 60% of their two's. Obvious point but important none the less. USD has lived to this point with a huge heart and senior leadership. I have yet to see a USD team play as hard and as tough mentally as this team does. The confidence is very high at present for obvious reasons. That being said anything can happen from this point out. I am really not going to predict how far this USD team can take it but I have been very proud of what I have seen this season. They have definately exceeded my expectation considering that they kind of regressed last year when the conference season started but much of that has to do with the NCC etc. As far as defense I would probably say a high pressure half court defense would be the way to go. I would probably switch up defenses to keep things honest but man to man would probably be my defense of choice. Against a zone USD is going to nail their threes at a decent rate more than having a really off day. It really comes down to intensity on D more than anything regardless of the style.

At this point in time it would be a PR nightmare to the USD community for them to turn back now. As much as many SDSU and NDSU fans would not like their respective flagship schools to go to D1 it is wishfull thinking on their part. Thank goodness USD is going D1 is all I have to say.

Yote53, You are probably right about being a bit too negative with my posts here. It seems I am not the only Coyote fan or fan of another school that is wondering what is going on internally at USD with the move. There seems to be alot more questions right now than anything. Maybe I am jumping the gun too much with this. This has been a tough year for football and mens basketball considering what the expectations were for both and I think it's taking a toll on me as a fan. In all honestly the Womens basketball team is doing a pretty good job of subsiding the pain a bit. Yote53 I am every bit as positive as I am negative but people always point out the negatives that people say. Thats just human nature I guess. I would like to hear some more of your thoughts when you agree with what I write. If you are going to point out the negatives you should also point out the positives as well.

It's my opinion that USD and UND are the two best teams in the region. I am hoping that UND stays at 2 or 3 so the teams wouldn't have to play until the regional final if it came down to it. The only question, is Fort Lewis or Concordia the team to fear the most for a potential semi-final matchup if things hold to form.

Believe me I noticed those teams both losing because it really helps the USD women and their effort to host the regional. I really don't see much of a way now that if USD finished at 12-0 in the NCC that they wouldn't be awarded the regional regardless of what happens in the conference tourneys. USD was #1 before the losses of 2,3, and 4 so I would think they just got some breathing room at the top.

Don't sweat it too bad UND fans. You guys have multiple national titles in hockey and womens basketball and even a title in football. I would love to have that kind of resume attached to USD sports. I am really still waiting to witness just a team down in Vermillion come close to winning a national title. As a fan I am very hungry to see some serious success and the Womens team is really our last shot before the jump to D1. Good luck the rest of the way.

Certainly UND fans can point to the discrepency in free throws to a point. I was at the game tonight and noticed that USD was probably a bit more in position on defense and deserved some of the calls. Did the home court give the Yotes a few extra calls, perhaps it's hard to say for sure. I didn't think the officiating changed the flow of the game or drastically effected the outcome. I know the teams are a bit different from this year to last but last year UND was athletically superior to USD and just annihilated the Coyotes on the boards. I felt this year that UND was as big but maybe not as athletic, but still pretty darn athletic anyway. I felt USD was every bit the equal and perhaps more athletic. The Yotes seemed a step quicker at most instances. I was proud of the USD fans because they really came out in force to support the team which is something that hasn't always been the case. We all know that UND probably has the best Women's basketball fans in D2 right now. With the Yotes sneaking out a couple this year should jump start the rivalry going into D1 next year. The Sioux have been dominant for much of the last 15 years so I would settle for just having a deep run in the NCAA tourney for USD for once. Gosh UND has how many national titles in Womens Ball. It's quite a few. It was truley a big deal for the USD women to win the game. It just doesn't happen all that often that the Yotes put out a very good team. This year they have done that but with that said it doesn't gaurantee anything come post season. Good game and I have a feeling the two teams will meet at least one more time.

It's my opinion that many may have thought the USD win up in Grand Forks was sort of a fluke. I think the game tonight certainly verifies that it wasn't. UND does/did some things very well but one thing that is perhaps underrated is USD's will to win. I have never seen a USD womens team play as hard as this one does. There may have been more talented teams but not harder working teams. I didn't look at the stats but USD seemed to hold their own quite well on the boards. As I was watching the game I was thinking to myself what a pleasure it was to watch as high of a level of ball that was being played. UND played a good game but the Yotes were relentless in pursuit of victory tonight. UND is a very good basketball team like usual. USD loses alot of talent and their coach but from what I saw both of these schools are certainly ready to be competitive in D1. Mens ball may very well be a different story.

Jeana Hoffman has an intangible about her that doesn't show up in the box scores. She has come through in the clutch this year. She hit a couple of huge threes in two big games to allow the Coyotes to win those games. Statistically the Sioux players have the advantage for MVP. USD is fairly balanced all around. The most talented player on the team is probably freshman Amber Hegge and for any of you making the trip you will have to check her out. She is very long and can really dribble and drive to the basketball well for as long of a frame as she has. She has a knack for the game and also plays really good defense around the basket. I think I heard she had an ahzema problem that prevents her from playing big minutes. She is a good player though.

Good ol' Coyote fan--long-winded as usual. I have no idea who is going to win on Thursday, but if your posting history on d2football.com is any indication, if USD loses you will offer up a 1000 word essay on how USD women's basketball is a huge disappointment (kind of like USD football this year, huh?)

I think just because USD and UND are from the NCC and moving up to D1 at the same time that people will think they are going to be rivals. I am not so sure I agree. Most years USD doesn't compete well with UND in football or womens basketball for the major sports. Now that USD's coach is leaving for womens hoops they will likely go back into obscurity again. I get the feeling that UND fans really don't think USD is a very big rival such as NDSU, St. Cloud etc. USD fans really don't care about any rival other than SDSU as it's proven in their attendance. Augie, Morningside and UNO probably are considered at least even to UND or maybe better as far as drawing fan interest. I think it's because of the far geographic distance between the two schools. SDSU and NDSU are much closer and maybe a bit more of a rivalry but even that is kind of forced IMO. UND probably cares about NDSU much more than any other rivalry so I doubt many USD games will bring much of a buzz in Grand Forks. Right now USD's adminstration is totally leaving all of their fans and alumni in the dark as far as what their plans are for transition. I hope that is also not the case up there. There hasn't been any info put out about facilities, scholarship plans and the equity between men and women and the general budgetary plans. I sometimes wonder if they have a plan at all since they really never did hire an D1 advisory firm of any reputation. I think USD should go D1 but I am not very convinced they have a clue to what they are doing. USD hasn't even put on any info on whether they want to partner up with UND so I am guessing maybe they will not partner up in effort to find a conference. UND might want to leave USD behind and go into their own conference. Maybe they can get into the Big Sky as the solo entry from the Dakotas.