UND92,96

You can add Dylan Grimsley of USD (ex-UNI) to that list, as well. Our high school recruiting just hasn't been very good for the past several years. The last high school recruit to make the all-conference team was Evan Lindahl, and he was recruited in 2001 or so? How much, if at all, did we recruit players such as SCSU's David Dreas (Winona), USD's Tyler Cain (Rochester), UMD's John Veaudreuil (Bloomington) and MSU's Jake Morrow (somewhere in Wisconsin)? How about transfers such as Jared Nuness (Minnesota), or any of the really good transfers Mankato has had over the past five years or so (Jamel Staten, Luke Anderson, Paris Kyles)? I do know we tried unsuccessfully to get Brian Sykora, who is having a nice season at UMD after playing at an Arizona juco last year. Fargo North's Eric Erdmann at Mary is another player who seems to be able to score who would probably be a welcome addition to this team. In fairness, we seem to have an inordinately high number of players who have had much of their ability taken away by injuries (Koenig, Harkins, Doyle). That certainly hasn't helped matters, but it's not enough to completely explain the team's struggles, either. I can accept not being very good, but being the worst team in the conference in any sport is difficult to accept, and right now it appears we are the worst.

For what it's worth...like Rich Glas, Brian Jones seems like a very nice guy. He's done a better job than Rich did the last few years of his tenure against the DAC and lower level NSIC teams (so far). But 3-15 vs. NCC opponents is pretty disappointing, to say the least. Granted, 3-15 was also Rich's record in his first year in a then much larger NCC. But that was a team with its best player out for the season (Vonesh) and very little else in terms of talent. And obviously things were much different his second year. I think most people had much higher expectations for this year's team than what has been shown from the Iowa State game forward.

I think you're being too kind. I'm not sure this team will win another game this year.

I agree that Walrus brings up a very interesting point. I would be very hesitant to believe that O'Keefe was behind any sort of anti-Smith or anti-Elbert agenda, however. He strikes me as more of a so-called "good old boy" (and I mean that in a positive sense) who would be supportive of "UND guys," which clearly Smith and Elbert are.

Here's confirmation of the Watkins commitment: link Not sure why they have him listed as a receiver when he apparently only played corner.

Three more applicants: link

Some possible good news? link

With all due respect to the many great players who have played at UND, I don't think there can be much serious debate about who the best player has been--Jenny Crouse. The numbers she put up, and the three national championships during her career speak for themselves. She may be the best all-around post player in dII history.

As expected, UND is number 2 in the first regional poll: North Central Region 1. South Dakota 13-1 10-1 2. North Dakota 14-1 10-1 3. Concordia-St.Paul 17-1 14-1 4. Fort Lewis 17-1 15-0 5. Augustana (South Dakota) 14-4 10-2 6. Minnesota State Mankato 12-3 8-3 7. Wayne State (Nebraska) 13-5 13-5 8. Nebraksa-Kearney 16-5 15-5 9. Nebraska-Omaha 11-5 8-5 10. Metropolitan State 13-6 12-6

It's funny how recruiting works sometimes. Last year at this time, we had about 16 known commitments. This year, despite probably more early commits than ever before, as of now we are at somewhere in the vicinity of 11, with the Tracy commitment in some possible doubt, and the Benjamin commitment not yet confirmed in the media (or by Walrus or UNDvince97-01). The month of January has been high on quality, but seemingly a bit low on quantity.

I don't believe there are any academic issues with Campbell, and I suspect the lack of news regarding his recruitment is mostly due to him not talking to the recruiting gurus. This article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a good read. The above article was from December 1, so a lot may have changed since then. Campbell is ranked among the top ten prospects in Wisconsin on virtually every list I've seen.

It sounds like he has a drug problem--apparently heroin.

link

I believe this is true.

From a very good source, Cavil committed to UND after Lennon's departure was announced. Also, it's confirmed here.

I'm guessing we're looking at signing perhaps eight or nine more players besides the commitments we know about. The following are some of the players who have been mentioned as possible UND recruiting targets and who have not committed elsewhere yet to my knowledge: Damon Campbell, Milwaukee Lutheran, LB--WI A.P. player of the year Tyrell Rosemeyer, Fennimore (WI), LB Bradie Ewing, Richland Center (WI), RB Tony Lyght, Fennimore (WI), OL Sean Kennedy, Milwaukee Lutheran, DB Ethan Magstadt, Maple Grove (MN), RB-LB Rashad Gayden, Robbinsdale (MN) Cooper, LB Willy Baregi, Holy Angels (MN), LB Devin Benjamin, Minneapolis DeLaSalle, DL (rumored to have already committed to UND) Kyle Gratzek, Stephen-Argyle, FB-LB Andrew Anderson, Crookston, OL Matthew Muenchow, Glencoe-Silver Lake, QB-DB I'm sure this list is far from exhaustive, and I still kind of expect there to also be a few juco transfers, particularly on defense.

Good luck to Dr. Kelley, but I really feel sorry for Bruce Smith and Dennis Elbert.

The committee is forwarding only Kelley's name to the board! link

Just to play devil's advocate, you could have Jossy at the point, Guinn and Beck at the wings, and bring Seay off the bench. Danye is a good player and maybe is the player best-suited to play the point, but it has to be very tough for somebody used to playing on the wing (and even some 4) to have to become a point guard at this level.

I guess I'd have less of a problem with this but for Cavil's post-Lennon-departure commitment to UND. He knew the situation here when he committed.

Does anybody know whether Chris Tracy is still a solid commitment to UND? Posters on the SDSU board are claiming he's re-opened his recruitment.

I think the following is why many of us are having a hard time understanding how Coach Lennon would recruit a kid known to already be committed to UND. The change in NCAA classifications really shouldn't make that big of a difference. Even had Cavil simply decided he no longer wanted to go to UND for whatever reason, I really wouldn't have expected Lennon to recruit him under the circumstances, because that would seem to be the exact same situation as what occurred with the Anderson kid last year.

I thought this article in the Strib yesterday was kind of interesting: link

I believe he actually committed to UND after Lennon announced he was taking the SIU job. Anyway, some apparent good news--according to a pretty reputable poster on the minnesotapreps.com board, Minneapolis DeLaSalle defensive lineman Devin Benjamin has committed to UND.

Concordia-St. Paul lost to MSU-Moorhead last night, which should mean UND will be second in the first regional poll this week.