SiouxScore

Sound pretty positive on Thorson right now. Hopefully we hear it soon after Colorado State finishes up the NIT.

There had always been a buzz about how little Pitino really recruited as he just left a lot to assistants but there are stories out now of just how bad it was and it was worse than I could've imagined. Lot of good buzz that Johnson will change that and change that quick. Could see some transfer portal additions soon and some very positive real possibilities to fill his staff.

I thought Johnson would be more a down the line guy and go to a mid major first. I like it but I would've liked a few different guys. Probably would have went with Smith or Medved as my choice but Coyle doesn't mind rolling the dice a little more. I knew the search was close to coming to a close yesterday but it sounded more like it would be tomorrow. Believe Smith and Ben Jacobson were two of the other final choices. I don't exactly know why but I just never really wanted Gates so I was happy when Marquette opened up and it seemed like he was more focused there. Will be interesting to see if Utah goes after Smith. Sounds like they have a couple alums as NBA assistants that are also in the running. Really want to see which way Indiana goes as well. Have to think they make a hard run at Porter Moser.

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Thought the high seed gets to pick? We were a 2 or 3 in Fargo a few years ago against BU and played early.

Much better bracket than I expected. Biggest misses in my opinion are Mankato should've been a #1 and them and Wisconsin should've been together. Notre Dame should not have made the tournament. Also would've put Minnesota over BC as the 2 overall.

It seems like they went with a lot of bracket integrity so not sure how they stick the 3rd 1 Minnesota with the top 2 Mankato.

Notre Dame over Bemidji? Notre Dame shouldn't be in.

Wisconsin gets a 1 seed. Thought Mankato should get it.

Won't be surprised if Fox ends up at Minnesota.

Chris Dilks bracketology. Definitely agree that UND has earned the right to face the weakest team in the field which is St. Lawrence. Loveland Regional #1 Minnesota vs. #4 Lake Superior State #2 St. Cloud State vs. #3 Boston University Fargo Regional #1 North Dakota vs. #4 St. Lawrence #2 Minnesota State vs. #3 Minnesota Duluth Bridgeport Regional #1 Boston College vs. #4 American International #2 Michigan vs. #3 Quinnipiac Albany Regional #1 Wisconsin vs. #4 Providence #2 UMass vs. #3 Omaha

Pace of the game was great up and down, lots of chances. Gotta clean up a few coverage breakdowns and sloppy turnovers. Sanderson was outstanding. PP continues to look sharp. Scheel was really solid. I'm sure he'd want the Hentges goal back and a little unlucky on the first goal as well. Big to get Gaber going again here the last couple games and Hain seems to be picking it up the offense too. Interested to see who else they send to Fargo Sunday night.

This type of game could be really helpful in a couple weeks. Definitely not real sharp right away, didn't seem to have the legs going much at all, and pace of game wasn't great. Denver had a real defensive style and got away with a ton of holding throughout the game and we couldn't really establish the cycle game much the 1st half or so of the game. Battled through it and came out with a much better 3rd period and found a way to score a goal late in the game when you needed it. Then in OT came with a big push right away and despite a couple of bad d zone turnovers end up drawing a penalty and making a nice play for the game winner just after the penalty expires. Scheel continues to play solid hockey. Came up with some big stops on the couple good chances DU had. PP looked really solid tonight. Lots of chances and really solid entries and movement.

Sounds like they are giving Pitino a few days to see if he gets another job. Believe he interviewed with New Mexico today and may have a good shot at that job.

Gophers season ends with a 79-75 loss to Ohio State. Down a couple starters and a number of guys playing banged up I was impressed with the battle they showed today. Got down, didn't get any help at all from the officials, but just kept battling back and had a shot at the end. We will see how long they wait to announce parting with Pitino. I would assume they don't do anything tonight but maybe sometime tomorrow.

Yeah I think I put it in the other basketball thread but the beginning of February there is a insider on one of the $$$ Gopher sites that said Pitino would have to win his job. Since that he went like 2-8 down the stretch. Names have been on there for the last month+ and the candidates mentioned are Craig Smith, Niko Medved, and Dennis Gates that seem to be the top 3, there are a few more like Porter Moser and some assistants. A few names missing would seem to be John Belein, Brian Dutcher, and Eric Musselman. It sounds like they probably don't have the $$$$ right now for Musselman and that they are looking for someone younger at least right now than Belein and Dutcher. I'd be pretty happy with Smith or Medved and would love Musselman. Gates seems to be a rising name but not as much sustained success and seems like more of a roll of the dice to me.

Thought for sure Kiersted was gonna win in it early in OT he just doesn't miss from there often at all. Just not a lot of sharpness and too often the compete level just didn't seem high enough tonight. Think a performance like this going into the playoffs can kind of snap you into a alright we gotta lock in no shifts off from here on out mode. Not a whole lot of worry from me after this one.

Kiersted

I've been a big Pitino supporter over the years but the last couple weeks I kinda accepted it is time and this week definitely got on board. Pitino seems like a great guy and he had some bad luck at times and I really wish it would've worked out better but at some point you gotta go out there and earn it and it just didn't happen. Report in early February was he would need to win his job and it hasn't happened this month. Optics will look bad paying his buyout after cutting some programs but you gotta do it. It has been constantly shut down that Musselman will be a candidate, think a big part is the $5 million buyout. Couple other names that I thought would be heard haven't yet like Belien and Brian Dutcher as it sounds like they will go younger. Number of candidates have been mentioned a few assistants but it seems like the top 3 targets will be Craig Smith, Niko Medved, and Dennis Gates. I'd be happy with Smith or Medved and yeah part of it is the Minnesota ties and the appeal that if it goes well either one could be here forever.

Good win. Definitely a little bit of sloppiness at times and gotta be stronger on clears especially but down 3 of your scorers to get a road win is nice. Powerplay looked really solid. Big positive if it can start rolling a little bit. The interference call on Omaha was obvious. They had called interference pretty tight all game and that was the most obvious one of the night. Guy even stuck his hip out a little more for extra. The big thing to me is the response from Omaha after it. Your coach and a couple key players absolutely lose it and can't keep their composure. That is an indictment on your leadership. Meanwhile Senden gets hit with a hook late and I thought it was weaker than the interference call but didn't get a great look at it. Still Senden was upset with the call and calmly asked about it but held composure. You see the guys on the bench and the team as a whole just kinda say alright can't control the call but we will control the response and just gotta get the job done.

Left no doubt tonight. This team has so much depth and so many guys that play the complete game. Scheel is really seeing the puck well. Both goals this weekend took fluky plays to go in. Really seemed in complete control for pretty much the whole weekend which is what this team should do to a middle of the pack team. Get/keep guys healthy but keep the foot on the gas pedal.

Got better as the game went on. Pretty good job defensively getting sticks in lanes and creating a lot of deflections. The skill of this D group is so high level and I think they seem to be getting more aggressive and confident as we go here. Scheel is really locked in right now, playing so confident. Would really like to see the powerplay start to get going a little bit, maybe simplify things some.

Absolutely. Was more talking about the 1st period where I thought we didn't look sharp at all and seemed to be losing every race. Definitely a pretty solid job defensively especially considering Denver's goals come off of a guy coming out of the penalty box and a puck taking a bad hop over JBD's stick.

Good teams find ways to win when they aren't at their best and that is what UND did this weekend. Especially in the 1st tonight I thought we just didn't look sharp at all. Beat to too many pucks, not connecting on passes, giveaways, indecisiveness, and blind passes for turnovers. It did get a little better as the game went on but still nowhere near what this team is capable of. Powerplay really looked off, just no rhythm at all and a half second slow with everything. Thome looked a little shaky at times like the 1st goal but stepping in to a tough situation he got the job done.

Not real sure but I watched him a few times at Cretin and loved his game.