UND92,96

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.

All I can tell you is what I've heard regarding the reported figures for bball attendance at the Ralph. As for the Betty, if anything, it seems to be under-reported, at least that's my perspective using the supposed capacity minus the approximate number of empty seats. If there were really only 2500 people for the women's game last night, I'd be shocked.

To give credit where credit is due, the full front lobby at the Betty was utilized last night, so congestion wasn't bad at all. Now if they could just find someplace else to have the Fighting Sioux Club function (Olympic arena perhaps?) so that the entire area behind the north (?) bleachers didn't have to be blocked off... With that said, I really like dakotadan's suggestion more and more regarding a different set-up for basketball in the Ralph.

It's kind of an apples to oranges comparison using last year's numbers. I believe the suites artificially inflate the basketball attendance figures at the Ralph, since my understanding is that those people are counted whether they show up or not--and most don't. On the other hand, I do not believe that the Betty counting is necessarily 100% accurate, either. As I said, if there were 2700 for the UNO game, I really think there were over 3000 last night.

I don't know if I just can't judge the size of the crowd at the Betty yet, or if there was some problems with the count, but I could have sworn there were 3000 or more there last night. The "official" number was only a little over 2500, though.

Fitzner was a walk-on UND player for a year or two, and then transferred to Wayne State when Mac got the job there. He's from Valley City.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was thinking of festivus when the phrase "feats of strength" was mentioned.

I think you have a good idea, but the issues with scheduling around home hockey series and concerns about how the ice would be affected would be challenges. On the other hand, other schools/facilities seem to make it work so it's not impossible.

I agree. Another addition to the "ignore" list. I guess a little maturity is too much to expect from some people.

Another commit: Carl Hanson, a 6'2", 180 lb. defensive back from Oak Creek in Wisconsin. link.

I will grant you that the SW St. game wasn't a huge problem despite only officially having about 350 fewer people. But there really seemed to be more overall congestion for the UNO game--a lot more than what you would expect based on a relatively small increase in attendance. I am going into the next couple of games with an open mind. If the Betty can handle 3000 or more people (hopefully the next two games will exceed 3000) with no major problems, then great. I would still question the ability to ever expand the capacity beyond 3500 to 3800 or so, but time will tell.

I'm just curious, were any of the three of you guys at the UND vs. UNO games this year? I can't fathom how the Betty could realistically handle another 1300 to 2300 people regardless of whether more seats were added or not. Or more specifically, it might be possible to fit 4500 seats or more with larger portable bleachers, but getting the people into and out of the building, as well as handling the traffic at halftime and between games (concessions, bathrooms, etc.) would be the biggest challenge. I think it has to be experienced before a person can really understand what I'm talking about. But if you guys have been there for a game with much over 2000 and still feel the way you do, then I am more than happy to simply agree to disagree.

There's really only one way to know whether the Betty could reasonably accommodate more people than what's its current capacity is, and that's to have a game which is a sell-out and see what the experience is like. I'm hoping we find out either tomorrow (probably unlikely), or a week from tomorrow (quite possible). There's no hockey game tomorrow night, folks. Tickets are relatively cheap compared to hockey and football. Check it out.

I don't think we'll routinely see more than 4000 at a game, but it will happen a few times a year if at least one of the teams is good enough. Or at least, it happened many times at Hyslop over the years, and not only against NDSU. Heck, St. Cloud St. drew 4800 for the games against UND last Saturday, and that was even considering they were going head-to-head with a home hockey series. And historically, SCSU doesn't touch UND in terms of women's basketball attendance. I think a lot of people are really missing the boat if they don't check out a UND women's basketball game this year. One need not even be a huge basketball fan to be highly entertained by them. Of course, with a 3800-4000 seat arena, there's not that much room left on the bandwagon.

I guessing somewhere in the low to mid 3000's. It's hard to say how much attendance will be held down by the fact that it's a Thursday instead of a Saturday game. Considering how well the Sioux women have been playing, how long it's been since they've played at home, and that Augie is a quality opponent, I'm hoping for a much bigger crowd than the UNO game, which was reported to be around 2700.

I wonder how much, if any discretion UND has in terms of deciding where to play any particular game? For example, say it becomes clear that the Betty is simply too small to handle conference games. And further assume that the Ralph isn't available due either to hockey being at home the same weekend, or concerns regarding the ice. Would the contract between UND and REA allow for games to be held at the Al? I realize that brings up all kinds of issues (determining seat locations for season ticketholders, whether the coaches would want to have multiple "home" courts, etc.), but I see a day in the not-too-distant future when the Betty simply may not be the best option from a bottom line standpoint for several games which can and should draw well in excess of the 3800 (or whatever the Betty's true capacity is).

UND still number 2. link. Interesting that SCSU stays number 4.

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) transfer: Taylor Murray, ol, SDSU I'm a little surprised that two defensive linemen have committed thus far considering five signed last year, including some very highly-regarded ones.

If Dietz is, in fact, out for the year, I have a lot of doubts as to whether UMD will even be a tournament team. That would be a shame for such a great player to have her career end with an injury.

UND didn't get quite as many bench points as usual, but still out-scored St. Cloud's bench 17-2. Sioux now have five of the last seven NCC games at home.

According to a poster on the minnesotapreps.com board, Machacek has committed to St. Cloud State.

I'm thinking Dan Monson and a lot of other coaches are kicking themselves for not recruiting Ben Woodside (or not recruiting him harder).

It was a very nice win by NDSU. This is an example of the unpredictability of sports which makes them so interesting. A couple of days ago the Bison lost to Utah Valley State, but then turn around and beat a top-25 team. You just never know...

UMary to change nickname? link.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the key is to get one or two of the SCSU players into foul trouble, and make their bench play more than what Ulferts wants them to. After Quigley, they have absolutely nothing in terms of an inside presence. Langen and Kimbrough need to take it right at Quigley. Their bench is essentially all freshmen, and none of them have been putting up big numbers. Also, their point guard (Hansen) is very hobbled by an ankle injury according to the St. Cloud paper, so how much she'll be able to play and how effective she'll be is a question mark. I just hope the Sioux bring their "A" game tonight. If so, the superior depth and inside game of UND should prevail, so long as the perimeter players can play better than they did against Mankato the other night.