UND92,96

It comes down to winning, and having reason to have optimism for the future. This is the first year in a long time that there has been legitimate reason to be optimistic about the future of UND men's basketball. I have been watching UND basketball since I was a little kid in the late 1970's, so I've seen plenty of up's and down's.

If everybody else returns, seniors on offense will be: Goska Solum Quesenberry McKendry Daggett Anderson On defense: Watkins Belotti Kudrna Hawkins D. Hendrickson Goertz Bellmore Daniels

Breon Butler and Adam Shaugabay both red-shirted. I suspect both will be strong candidates to see time next year, particularly if Sutton has further injury problems.

Plus Stroup, who likely would have been our top defensive player in 2008 and 2009.

I asked Coach Mussman in the live chat yesterday about the possibility of red-shirting Jake Miller in 2011. Guessing that option is no longer realistic.

http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=205089248 I'm growing tired of key players not fulfilling their obligations and leaving the team short-handed.

Thanks. I can't blame him for doing that.

Prior to the live chat this morning with Mussman, I hadn't realized Jace Schillinger was no longer at UND. Anybody know where he went?

Not sure who this guy is, but he evidently doesn't think too highly of the Summit League: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/592659-summit-league-should-the-conference-flag-be-lowered

Just heard that Brooks will be the head football coach at Hill-Murray High School.

Just read an interesting tweet--UND gets 64.7% of its scoring from the freshman class, the highest % in dI.

26 HBU 18 UND 7:40 left in first half Sioux playing very poorly against the lowest-ranked dI team in the country.

I fully realize that we're not in a position to be overly critical about a game we won, but...UTPA is 3-18, has an RPI of 340, and was missing their leading scorer, and yet still managed to keep the game close throughout, and scored well over their season average. The UND defense has got to play better than that, and we can't afford Brekke getting in foul trouble if we're going to win many more games this year. On paper, the only game left on the schedule which should be easier than last night is Saturday against Houston Baptist--currently last in the RPI ratings.

33 UTPA 43 UND half

Brekke continues to show that he's going to be a good player.

63 UTPA 76 UND final Youngblut and Wall had big games.

Steve Brekke would be better than Johnson.

UTPA really likes the 3-point shot, don't they?

Lauck reminds me of Kristi Boese.

UTPA can't handle Wall if she can stay out of further foul trouble. First half shooting was brutal.

USD's 2011 Football Schedule Date Opponent Time/Result Sat, Sep 3 at Air Force (Colorado Springs, Colo.) TBA Sat, Sep 10 Eastern Washington (DakotaDome) TBA Sat, Sep 17 Lamar (DakotaDome) TBA Sat, Sep 24 at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.) TBA Sat, Oct 1 Lindenwood (DakotaDome) TBA Sat, Oct 8 Southern Utah * (DakotaDome) (Dakota Days) TBA Sat, Oct 15 at Illinois State (Normal, Ill.) TBA Sat, Oct 22 UC Davis * (DakotaDome) (Family Day) TBA Sat, Oct 29 at Cal Poly * (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) TBA Sat, Nov 12 Missouri S&T (DakotaDome) TBA Sat, Nov 19 at North Dakota * (Grand Forks, N.D.) TBA

Should make for a rather interesting live chat today: http://undhockey.areavoices.com/?p=86546

You are correct--it's 2012-13.

With a 3-8 record, I'm sure nobody's surprised that UND's ranking is far worse this year than in 2009, but to provide a point of reference UND's final 2009 ranking was a tie for 40th.

I can't even begin to comprehend how courageous that girl was. My heart goes out to her family.