UND92,96

It seems unlikely we'll be able to find anybody good, who doesn't have baggage, this late in the summer. However, a Koenig-Dryburgh combination inside is still a major improvement over last season, especially in terms of physical presence. Hopefully Gutter and/or Seckar-Anderson can provide some decent minutes off the bench.

I'm excited about the potential of the running game this year. Up front, the line has a lot of talent, with the addition of Murray, the return of Braegelmann, and another year of development by Troen, who was honorable mention all conference as a freshman. Hopefully Kusler can move back to tight end, which would also potentially really help the running game. Strouth should be back to close to 100% (hopefully), and Beatty and Brady should both be very solid. Throw in the constant threat of Dressler on reverses and end-arounds, and that should give defenses a lot to worry about. Manke also provides the threat of the option. While it's true that the receiving corps isn't really proven other than Dressler, I'm not worried about that as there shouldn't be any shortage of guys who can catch the ball, including younger players such as Caufield, Trenbeath, Wahlin and Rambeck.

The hiring of Schmidt is now official.

Here's more on the probable hire of Eric Schmidt: link.

I agree that either Starcevic or Schmidt would be prime candidates to replace Kotelnicki, assuming either is interested in getting into college coaching.

I didn't mean to imply that Kelsch was being recruited by UND, or that she should be. She could probably play college ball at some level, however.

Cassandra Kelsch is another pretty good senior-to-be from Mandan.

The top senior player in ND will be Jessica Kielpinski from Mandan, although I have no idea where she's looking in terms of colleges. Her sister is at Alaska-Anchorage, so that could be a possibility if she doesn't go to UND or NDSU. UND hasn't gotten many Mandan players over the years, except Perrizo as a transfer, so I'd be surprised if she goes to UND. I'm guessing Roebuck and Amundson (Mandan's coach) may not be on the best of terms. It seems like quite a coincidence that the top program in ND hasn't sent a player directly to UND during the Roebuck era (to my knowledge, anyway).

If I remember correctly, you've seen her play, correct? What are your thoughts on her game and how she'll do at UND?

I was kind of expecting that Craig Smith might get the vacant Bemidji State job, but apparently not: link. Of course, I have no idea whether he even applied.

Here's a very interesting column on the problems with the UNO athletic department, with some pointed criticism of the school's administration.

What's wrong with this schedule? Where do I begin? First, whereas last year we had 11 home non-conference games, this year we have six. Second, whereas last year we played a couple of decent (certainly not great, but decent) RMAC teams at home, this year we play none. Plus, we made a trip to Metro State last year, but don't receive a return trip from them this year. What's up with that? And when four of the six home non-conference games are against current or recently departed DAC teams, are we as fans supposed to be happy with that? Finally, while UND men's basketball has seriously underachieved for years, it's not "horrible." Anybody with any knowledge of history knows what this program has achieved in the long term, and knows what its potential is. UND football was also way down in the 80's, but that didn't last, did it? I don't believe it's asking too much to be playing several upper division NSIC and RMAC teams every year, with roughly half being at home and half on the road. Keep the NAIA opponents to a minimum. And NEVER agree to play a dII team on the road without the guarantee of a home game the following season, e.g. Metro State.

Are we getting bumped from KFYR in favor of Mary? link.

Does anybody know whether Thomas Dryburgh is still coming to UND next year? Any word on other possible additions prior to next season?

Travis Brewster has resigned to take a job at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

He's playing in Europe.

That's about as poor of a home non-conference schedule as I can recall. I had thought Metro State owed us a return trip since we played there last year?

Any word on Rion Rayfield and whether he may still come to UND?

So does this mean that there's a decent chance Bledsoe could actually be ready to go for next year, or is Jones just engaging in wishful thinking?:

I believe it closed somewhere around 1994. I know it was still open during the 1993-94 school year, but I don't believe it was open the following school year.

Per today's Herald, Jones is retaining Chris Johnson as one of his assistant coaches.

Herald article on the Jones hire. He stated one or two players could be added--I suspect possible transfers from one of the Iowa dI schools--and that Toronto could be a future recruiting territory for UND. Not a bad idea, IMO.

I'm willing to give Jones a chance. My big concern was the apparent demotion, but supposedly there is more to that story which mitigates things somewhat. If Mac and Jake vouch for him, then that's enough for me to give him a fair shot to prove himself. I'm not a big Alford fan as a coach, although I liked him a lot as a player, so the fact that Jones was an assistant (apparently a ways down the totem pole) on Alford's staff is not, in and of itself, all that impressive to me, but Jones is the new coach and deserves the support of the fans. It will be interesting to watch what happens with the Bemidji State opening. I have a feeling one of the coaches not selected for an interview at UND could get that job (Smith? Olson? Irwin?), which will make our games with them the next few years quite intriguing.

I wanted Smith, but would have been satisfied with anybody who has been a successful head coach at any level of college basketball, or a highly-regarded assistant from a good dI or dII program. For that reason, I am not opposed to Brown, but would have big problems with a Weemer or Jones hire. Most of the people I've spoken with feel the same.