UND92,96

Getting back to the red-shirt issue, here's what Lennon had to say in today's Herald: My guess--and it's strictly a guess--is that Saporu may be the most likely recruit to play as a true freshman. After Alexander, there's not much in the way of proven returnees at corner. That's not to say that there aren't some upper classmen who will step in for Hoffschneider--and hopefully players like Otto and Jordan really step forward in spring ball--but Saporu has impressive size and credentials and has played against pretty strong competition.

It sounds like Beck is out for tonight with an injury. I have no idea how long she's expected to be out. Maffin also is somewhat hobbled, and Guinn has been sick, although both will likely play. Hopefully Bagaason can provide some scoring to offset Beck's absence.

Lennon really seemed excited about Bylin's potential, and I think I can see why. Obviously it's a huge jump in competition to go from North Dakota 9-man to college at the dII/I-AA level, but here's a kid who's 6'5", 270 (probably without the benefit of much in the way of weight room facilities), and he's athletic enough to be averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds per game in basketball this season. If a kid like that had grown up in Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck, etc., had the benefit of those facilities, plus (probably) more coaching and much better competition, I have a feeling he may have been the state's top recruit. As it is, he's probably got some catching up to do, but his potential seems outstanding.

Most likely, although Lennon always leaves the door open for a true freshman to play if it's a position of need, and the kid is capable of contributing immediately. It happens maybe once every four or five years.

According to the Forum, UND's key signings were Carruth and Kelley.

I'm impressed with Goska's credentials, and he looked good on film. Lennon mentioned the name Cullen Finnerty when describing his style of play on the WDAZ sports tonight. It should make for a very interesting quarterback battle in a few years between he and Landry.

At www.fightingsioux.com, you can also view a highlight video on the recruing class. I just finished watching it, and it's pretty cool.

Here's the release. There are two additions whose verbal commitments were never mentioned on this board.

I don't think anybody is saying that it will change, or that UND deserves special treatment. The skepticism has to do with the NCAA's rationale behind the lengthy period of playoff ineligibility for new members. I don't believe for one second that it's primarily academically motivated.

That's all well and good in theory, but in reality those dI "standards" aren't apparently all that difficult to get around in terms of getting academically-challenged "student"-athletes into a dI school. The Cincinnati basketball program under Bob Huggins would seem to have been a prime example of that.

According to an article in the St. Cloud Times, it came down to the fact that NDSU is approaching being playoff eligible, and UND has its period of playoff ineligibility coming up. I understand this, and the truth of the matter is that the same issue probably helped UND win some recruiting battles with NDSU in 2004 and 2005. We'll be at a disadvantage for a few years for some of the top local kids because of the lack of playoff opportunities, but there are plenty of good players out there.

NDSU may also have a bit of a quandry with regard to the whole Walker Lee Ashley deal. According to Kolpack, he's going to visit sometime this week. I highly doubt NDSU still has two full scholarships available, so who knows how that will play out, or whether it will have any effect on the Veldman situation. Personally, I think Ashley is far more trouble than he's worth.

I think only the coaches can answer that. Of course, I suppose the same question could be asked of NDSU. I had thought they were only going to sign 15 or 16, and they're over that now. Of course, a few of them, like the Stephen-Argyle kid, are probably getting very little scholarship money.

Another commitment to report--Ben Hicks, Pine Creek High in Colorado Springs, outside linebacker, 6'1", 195. link to some info. The commitment article requires a subscription, so you'll have take my word for it.

He's Gene Roebuck's wife's nephew.

[url="http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/articles/index.cfm?id=9421

I like the speed of this group, with examples being Ankenbauer, Murray, Hawkins and Ebanks all reportedly running in the 4.5 range for the 40; Kudrna being the defending 400m state champion; Daggett was third in the MN class A 110h in 2006; and Rose was third in the 200m and sixth in the 100m at the WI d3 state track meet last spring.

Hawkins' father was drafted by the Patriots in 1992. He was an NAIA all american player at Southwest State. I would assume that the fact that he was injured and missed basically the entire season scared off a lot of schools, but he could turn out to be a steal for UND. He has the size and speed to be a very nice corner.

Kudrna was first team all-state as a db this year, and was all-conference on both offense and defense. He's also one of the top track athletes in the state, and is the defending class A 400m champion. He was also third in the 200m as a junior. It used to seem like UND rarely got Dickinson High players, but have gotten a number of them in recent years (Loegering, Bauer, Ott and Holinka). This class is already larger than I thought it would be. I just hope there's one or two more to come. Apparently Veldman and Jackson are waiting until the last minute to make a decision.

Here's what somebody familiar with Hawkins had to say about him on another board:

Just a lucky guess on my part.

So does this close the door on a potential UND-NDSU game in 2007?: Above quote from Hallstrom's blog. I have to assume UND falls within the category of "d2 of any kind." UND, Concordia-St. Paul, they're all the same, right?

From Ryan Bakken's blog today: I don't really agree about reviving St. Cloud's playoff hopes, as regardless of Thursday's game I still think they have to win the conference tournament to get in. Will they, away from home? Highly, highly doubtful. They're just not that good. Touting them as a post season threat reminds me to an extent of people doing the same to the late 90's Bison teams. Some Sioux fans/media were wary of them because of the success of past teams, but the truth was they just weren't very good. UND may very well lose in the post season, but I don't see it being to St. Cloud.

Apparently, they're starting to recruit some in northern MN. I'm pretty sure Brackins visited there, also.