UND92,96

End-of-spring blog entry by SFI: http://siouxfb.areavoices.com Sharp's departure is confirmed.

I also think it's significant that the kid was a walk-on at Wyoming. I've heard of schools refusing to grant releases of scholarship players to another school within the same conference. But I can't imagine this situation happens very often--refusing to release a walk-on so he can transfer to a lower level. I think a possible compromise is that the NCAA waives the requirement that Wyoming has to sign a Release, but that Nevermann isn't eligible to play in the Wyoming game.

Gorres is apparently a really good athlete. She's actually a good sprinter--something you don't often see in a 4/5. If her basketball skills catch up to her athleticism, she could be a player.

Was the spring game held at Memorial one other time during the Alerus era? I was thinking it was, but I don't recall how many years ago.

Baldwin highlights:

I'm not sure if you took a look at the link I posted earlier today, but UND is reportedly spending MORE than Minnesota and Wisconsin for women's hockey. I don't want women's hockey dropped, but neither do I understand the logic behind this level of spending.

Could UND cut $200,000 per year from the women's hockey budget, and still achieve a similar record to the last couple of years? I would guess the answer is probably yes.

I do think Duluth is a useful comparison, because they've tried to keep up with MN and WI (and UND) spending-wise, and it has led to some serious problems for them. I don't think women's hockey necessarily needs to be dropped. But the spending has to be looked at closely. If travel costs and coaches' salaries aren't the issue--and I don't believe they are--where is all the money going? Here's an interesting link: http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/291770101.html

Is it a potential Title IX problem, or just a potential PR problem? As I see it, so long as schools such as Bemidji St., SCSU, Mankato and Duluth are funding programs, it might be tough to make the case that UND can't do the same. From what I've been able to gather, the problem might be that UND is spending at or above the levels of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Where is the money going exactly? The women's WCHA is essentially a bus league (other than Ohio St.), and Idalski isn't being paid as much as the Minnesota or Wisconsin coaches.

Granted, I don't know what new players UNC has coming in, but based on returnees I would be disappointed if they finished ahead of UND next year.

I don't think it means Baker is out. It might be a contingency plan, or it might mean others won't be back. Hypothetically, there might still be as many as four scholarships open right now, depending on who else won't be back. At this point, I'm only really counting on Hooker, Shanks, Cashman, Crandall, Seales, Collins, McDermott, Bernstine and Avants being on scholarship. Maybe Hobaugh will get one for his last year, but that's not necessarily a given. The other three or four are still questionable IMO.

Several early departures seem inevitable. With 15 scholarships, the lack of quality depth this year was a bit alarming. I wouldn't be surprised if there only end up being about four total juniors/seniors-to-be returning on scholarship.

UND adds a 6'6" juco post: http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=210025594

I guess to me there's a difference between simply saying "I don't know" or "I haven't heard anything" and saying "I'm hearing he may be back". I don't think the return or non-return of a basketball player necessarily warrants much press coverage, and I completely understand why UND isn't going to confirm or deny anything when the player hasn't announced plans to transfer, but you would think it shouldn't be all that hard to confirm that he doesn't plan to return to the team next year. Tyler must have told some people about his plans, given the number of normally pretty reputable posters who don't seem to have any doubts about his non-return.

Enough people have posted this to lead me to believe it's probably true, but it makes me wonder why it was that somebody--presumably close to the program--indicated to Miller that it was not yet a certainty?

The possibility of Tyler and DeRouen coming back, along with the possibility of Baker and/or McKinley transferring in, means there is a lot uncertainty about the use of the last few scholarships. You have to assume Hooker, Shanks, Cashman, Crandall, Seales, Collins, Bernstine, McDermott and Avants will all be on scholarship. That's nine. That leaves four more for some combination of Tyler, DeRouen, Baker, McKinley, Benton, Hobaugh or possibly even some other newcomer(s).

It will be very much like 2010-11. Unfortunately, distribution of scholarships among the classes has been an issue for several years now. It seems like there are always 9 or 10 devoted to back-to-back classes.

I would bet money that Jones would make sure a scholarship is available for both of those players if they choose to come to UND.

Does anybody have any information on whether Benton is or is not coming back? I believe there have only been two other situations under Jones like this, i.e. a fifth-year-senior-to-be on scholarship who played very little as a redshirt junior. Archer came back. Haugen did not. I don't really count Goodman due to his injuries.

He might be the most improved player I've ever seen from what he was when he arrived at Wisconsin, to what he's been the past two years. Ryan seems to have a way of finding/developing under-the-radar types into stars.

Will any of the half dozen or so players expected to declare for the NBA show up on campus again this year? On another note, Kentucky high school basketball must not be very good, since despite having a population of 4.4 million, none are apparently good enough to see the floor for Calipari. I think Pitino only had one at Louisville.

Duke has great talent, but is vulnerable if they get into any foul trouble since they have so little depth. I think Wisconsin is the team of destiny.

Hard to believe Bo Ryan didn't get a division I coaching job until he was 51.

Wisconsin and Kentucky tied at the half despite Kentucky shooting 60%.

Looks like they average a little over 600, with a high of 1465 against Minnesota.