jdub27

Wonder if Jones didn't forego a little bit more of a raise in exchange for an extra year when he signed his last extension, hoping for the chance to renegotiate his deal if he had some success.

Again, not trying to disagree, but you're comparing it to a guy who's salary was almost double UND's entire budget and a school who spent $6.8 million on basketball. My main point being that whether Jones stays or goes, UND needs to put more money into basketball if they want it to be relative. The athletic department appears to have made the commitment to football, now it is time to do the same for basketball. It might require some tough decisions to be made across the department but if that is what it takes, then so be it. A fresh start with a new staff might be the jump start the program needs but at this point, it doesn't appear it is going to happen this offseason. Guess it is time for Jones to prove everyone wrong, the AD right and do something worth cheering about next year.

No, but to pretend it isn't a factor in both performance and expectations isn't correct either. UND can and should be able to be relatively successful and pretty competitive within the Big Sky with the budget they have but I think a 25-30% increase in their budget would do wonders. For example, might help UND keep assistant coaches around longer instead of losing them to places like USD. And just to be clear, this isn't a push for a raise for Jones, giving him more money isn't going to magically flip some switch. His salary is where it is for a reason.

George Mason basketball budget: Just short of $2.8 million and paid their coach around $750K UND basketball budget: Just over $1 million and pays their coach around $100K Not an excuse, but just saying.

Women's team has accepted a post-season bid but have not yet announced which one. GF Herald says its likely Women's Basketball Invitational, which announces its field tonight. Be nice to see them rattle off a couple wins. #buttWBI

I think this might be pretty close but I would guess that Tyler starts at SG over Coleman but I think the 3 spot is the one up for grabs with Hobaugh or Coleman with the inside track unless someone else takes a big jump. Don't see UND starting 3 guys 6'8" or taller (not enough athleticism on defense) and don't think any of the Fr or RFr will start, at least at the beginning of the year.

If there is an instance that Hooker is not in the starting line-up any time in the next two years I'd love to hear it. He should also be playing 32-34 minutes a night without question. He averaged just over 34 this year and almost 36.5 in conference play. He could have used a few more breaks a couple games this year but this is his team the next 2 years.

I originally didn't care for it, but have embraced having Hobaugh play significant minutes. He did it the last two years, don't see that changing next year.

Cringe on clicking on this thread any time its bumped. My guess is that the players you'd really have to worry about transferring are the younger ones who haven't red-shirted (Hooker, Shields, Cashman) as they wouldn't actually lose a year of playing time. Don't see Hooker going anywhere, hoping the other two don't have any plans of leaving, think that those three and Shanks could be fun to watch down low for the next few years. Tyler won't transfer as he only has one year left and would lose it if he transferred. Not sure if de Rouen or Coleman would actually leave but both may have the option to sit out a year and then play their senior year somewhere else if they wanted to and find somewhere to bring them on for only 1 year, don't think either of them have used a red-shirt yet. Edit: As hoopster pointed out, de Rouen used 3 years of eligibility at NMSU and has used 1 year at UND so put him with Tyler in the back for sure category.

I think they are bound and determined to try a neutral site for three years. I think after that experiment is up, they will go back to the home team hosting, I don't think any of the venues that are finalists are going to perform well enough to make them want to continue the neutral site. I'll give the Summit League SDSU/USD fans credit, they very much support the tournament in Sioux Falls. That place will be a morgue if/when those two teams get knocked out early some year. I guess it doesn't really matter as the tickets are sold, but crowd shots will look a little different. Look at the attendance (not the box score number either) for some of the other games that didn't involve those two teams for proof.

Congrats to them on that. I wish UND was dancing but I'm talking Big Sky vs Summit. I'm well aware both are one bid conferences and who the representatives are. Just seems so odd after hearing how the whole Big Sky conference is no good and even the top teams would be middle of the road in the Summit.

I wish they'd stick with the current format but pretty sure that door is shut for at least the next couple years. Have a feeling its not going to do real well, there just isn't a great central point for multiple fan bases.

Wait, so the second place team in the lowly Big Sky got a 13 seed (#53 overall) while the almighty Summit co-champion got a 15 seed (#62 overall)? That just can't be right, someone alert the authorities!! Congrats to EWU, had one or two big wins this year and should have had a couple more. Earn an extra share or two from the conference.

EWU is dancing. Came back from 11 down in the second half to win by 4. Seeding-wise in the NCAA tournament, they were the best option.

UND has had no trouble recruiting against NDSU in the past, winning the last two recruiting battles that I'm aware of (Hooker and Shanks). What they have done since they have got to campus is a completely different topic.

Not so certain that its really profiteering if you take into account the fees/donation required to purchase club lounge seats.

He did end up signing. That one is a little bit of a head scratcher after Murray signed. Pretty good 1-2 combo with Sproles as your third back if they can stay healthy.

If it's apples to oranges, why did you find the need to make a specific post addressing it and then multiple posts about it? Do ever get dizzy spinning yourself in circles?

Two members of the B1G actually voted to kick them out (Wisconsin and Michigan). A big reason they were kicked out is because a lot of their research funding was coming from non-competitive grants (very similar to a nearby school that likes to too its own horn about research).

In one case, your saying championships doesn't determine who is better (dominant). In the other, you're saying that championships determines who is dominant (better). Gotcha.

Last I heard, Mathews hadn't actually signed his offer and might not now. Wouldn't blame him.

Any idea if they have already made it through clearinghouse or there will be any issues? Or one of those things you don't get to find out until it happens?

I, and everyone else here, is well aware, it's your slow friend you have to explain it to. Hopefully he understands it better than the difference between "alumnus" and "alumni".

NDSU still crying poor after giving out almost $18 million in tuition waivers which is almost 56% of waivers within the NDUS despite having less than 28% of the students. Approximately 23% of NDSU students got some sort of waiver vs. the NDUS average of 17% (or under 15% of you exclude NDSU). Lots of money on Grad Assistants as well. Guessing they are still included in the funding formula so that works out nice. Arguments for and against those, but even if they are excluded, NDSU still gave out 40% more waivers than UND.

UND didn't receive an invite because they cancelled the Summit League's visit. In the history of the Summit League, there has not been a single instance where they haven't extended an invite after a campus visit. That might not normally carry a lot of weight, but when it comes from a league that has had 30 different members in its 33 year history (not even counting affiliate members), it is pretty obvious that UND was going to get one and made a decision between the two.