UND92,96

I have to agree with you. Luckily for me, I never had to leave my seat the whole time, so I didn't experience any of the hassles surrounding the rest rooms and concession stands. The bottom line is that we have to move conference games to the Ralph, or if that is impossible for some reason, then let's hope the contract with REA would allow for conference games to be moved to the Al. Many of us questioned the small capacity of the Betty when it was in the planning stages. It took all of three conference games for our fears to be validated.

I just realized something--the women's regionals are set for March 10-13. Grand Forks is also hosting the class A boys and girls state basketball tournaments on March 9-11. Do you think it might be a little tough to get a motel room in Grand Forks that weekend if UND ends up hosting? EDIT: Also, the Region 2 class B boys' tournament is in Grand Forks March 6, 7 and 9 at the Betty! Luckily it doesn't conflict with the women's games, although it could create some headaches for the practice schedules.

I would think that only the ticket sellers at the Betty could give any sort of an estimate.

The Grygla-Gatzke kid's name is Tomas Loberg.

The same thing happened after the women's game against Augie. What is really interesting is that nearly the entire student section left shortly after the women's game. By midway through the second half of the men's game, I'd be surprised if there were more than about 1000 left. We've had worse teams (1988-89, for example), but I don't think the level of apathy for the program around town and around campus has ever been this bad.

It will be interesting to see whether there's any fall-out from last night's game. I'm sure Roebuck would resist moving games from the Betty since it does provide a nice homecourt advantage, but on the other hand, I don't think the athletic department is in a position financially to be turning away people (and their money) who want to attend women's basketball games. Can you imagine how many more people would have been turned away last night had it been a Saturday night, and had the weather been better? Keep in mind that very few St. Cloud fans made the trek, but likely would have on a Saturday. My preference would be to try dakotadan's idea next year for configuring the Ralph for basketball, at least for NCC games, or at a minimum for the St. Clould State game. Do a little arm-twisting at the NCC office if necessary to make sure it gets scheduled for a Saturday next year, too, and that it is on a weekend when the hockey team is on the road. I'm guessing that at the Ralph on a Saturday night, this game could draw 6000 to 7000 people. Possibly more. Am I wrong, or does REA use a "tickets sold" method of determining attendance for hockey, but apparently uses a "headcount" method for basketball at the Betty? I know I've been to many hockey games were there were several hundred no-shows, but the announced attendance was 11,500.

Well, it was announced as a sell-out, and the few empty seats almost certainly belonged to season ticketholders who didn't show up, so I guess maybe the capacity is less than what we were told? In any event, I don't think more than maybe 100 more people could have been fit in tonight even had there been no no-shows at all. I'm still confused as to how many people the Betty actually holds. It appears that maybe it's much closer to 3000 than 4000. EDIT: I guess I really can't estimate how many empties there were, since from my vantage point (side where the benches are), I can really only see the other side. There were very few empty seats on that side, but of course there could have been some on my side that I wasn't in a position to see.

I remember Ferguson, but I guess I didn't realize he'd done anything once he got to Wesleyan. They've kind of fallen off since their probation, I think.

I can't disagree regarding the track records of recent Mon-Dak players, at least from schools other than NDSCS. Hunter Berg is the last really good one I can think of from Williston, Bismarck or Lake Region.

Thanks. Do you know whether UND is recruiting Matt Goodwin from Williston State? He's a 6'1" guard, a high school teammate of Mike Gutter, and is averaging something like 27 ppg.

Good article. Thanks. I wonder if the Empire could perhaps fill a niche that the independent theater in Helena (mentioned in the article) fills?

I agree. I don't care much for the Carmike 10. Just a question to anybody who might know: why didn't the movie "Good Night and Good Luck" ever make it to Grand Forks? Or did it and I just missed it? Did Carmike even try to get it?

Does anybody know whether there's any scholarship money left to bring in players for next year? I have to think there's a big need for some immediate impact players, since nearly half of the scoring--for a team which struggles to score as it is--will be leaving after this year. Considering Koenig's uncertain health status, I would think it's imperative to find another player who can be a scoring threat in the post. I think there may be a player at Lake Region who may be able to help there, and I've also heard Dryburgh's name mentioned from NDSCS. Also, I think there's a need for a guard who can penetrate and create his own shot. But perhaps Bledsoe can fill that need.

I think you'd have to say that this was a pretty good year for North Dakota high school talent, judging by the number of signees thus far. UND signed eight; NDSU four; other NCC schools signed three; and so far, eight more have signed with NSIC schools (Mary hasn't announced yet). Bubba signed two (Zack Winkler from North Border and Jamie Sigl from Bismarck); while Wahpeton's Cole Zarak signed with Augie. I don't know to what extent, if any, UND recruited Winkler, Sigl or Zarak.

If Tibesar was responsible for Wisconsin (I thought somebody said he was but I'm not sure), then it really seems as though his departure may have had an impact. We got far fewer Wisconsin signees than the past two seasons. I am pleased with our linebacker signees. I believe Cochran, Dublanko and Kasowski all run very well, and German is very solid on the inside. They should nicely complement last year's outstanding group of Stroup, Miller, Dombrovski, etc.

I was looking at it from a worst-case scenario: 1. Beatty is done after this year for sure; 2. Strouth may or may not come back for a 6th year, which would mean he could also be done after this season; 3. Sundby's health is an unknown to me (bad injury a couple of years ago); 4. so that leaves Brady, Armentrout and Chappell (who may possibly play some at receiver, a la Dressler). I know the coaches did try recruit some backs, and I have no problem with not signing any if the top 3-4 guys all decided to go elsewhere. Better to wait rather than simply signing guys for the sake of signing backs if they are not projected to be likely contributors down the road. Running back would seem to be a position where you can fill in with a transfer, either juco or division I, if necessary.

Here's the list of recruits. I have to wonder if perhaps there are more to come? If not, this would be the smallest recruiting class in several years. I'm also extremely surprised that no running backs (Kasowski and Schwenzfeier will almost certainly play defense) or receivers were signed. That's very unusual.

UND is expected to sign another North Dakota quarterback today: link. I'll be very interested to see whether Travis Mertens signs with anybody today. If not, I guess he's going to concentrate on basketball in college. I had heard before Christmas that he may try both at UND, but a lot may have changed since then. I think he's the biggest uncommitted North Dakota prospect out there.

I think UND may have gotten a good recruit in Rion Rayfield. He's averaging about 20 ppg so far this year.

Two days away from what should be the best home game of the year so far. I really hope we can fill the Betty for this one.

I'm hoping for some pleasant surprises tomorrow. No running back or receiver commitments have found their way into the media, and generally you want to sign skill position players every year due to the inevitable injuries and/or attrition. I would also expect at least one more linebacker will sign.

Playing Upper Iowa (men) and Mary (women) in February isn't ideal, but then again, neither is NDSU's January/February home schedule (men): Utah Valley St. (RPI 295) SDSU (RPI 230, but at least a familiar opponent) UMKC (RPI 264) Idaho (RPI 312) IPFW (RPI 269) Jamestown College Mayville St. Mary Whether playing AT Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado St. and Kansas St. is worth having those home games during what is normally the meat of a schedule is debatable.

verbals so far: Paul German, lb, Fargo South Ian Henderson, ol, Winnipeg Creighton Schroyer, ol, Pipestone Ross Cochran, lb, Kenosha Adam Ward, dl, Maple Grove Joel Schwenzfeier, db, Kittson Central Ryan Kasowski, lb, Grand Forks Central Jake Landry, qb, Grand Forks Central Kyle Krusenstjerna, dl, Eastview (MN) Carl Hanson, db, Oak Creek (WI) Matt Bakke, dl, Grand Forks Central Peter Gibbs, dl/olb, Grand Forks Central Steve Kalwasinski, te, Rochester Ty Boyle, dl, International Falls Dylan Glaser, ol, Bismarck High transfer: Taylor Murray, ol, SDSU

UND gets a couple of good commitments today: Ty Boyle, a lineman from International Falls who was 2nd team A.P. all state on offense, and Dylan Glaser, a 6'3", 270 lineman from Bismarck who was a two-time all stater.