siouxfan512

So anyway, UND in 2016 .... What will likely be our biggest Stregths and Weaknesses? Strength: Run game, defense (front 7) Weaknesses: Passing game (potential, but a lot to prove), defense (secondary, you and potential, but a lot to prove) thoughts?

Ok, I think we've all made our point here. Does it matter who we play in the playoffs? No, it truly is about getting in, winning games and winning Championships. Would it be fun to play NDSU in a playoff match? Of course .... is it fun to play the Gopher in a post season in hockey? The game would get super hyped up, and I for one would love to play the Bison again before 2019. (Of course maybe you don't want to play NDSU based on their playoff history over the past 5 years, no denying what they have done is unbelievably impressive. Though they will not win championships from here until eternity, so eventually these team will even out. UND is certainly trending in the right direction.) As for regionalization, I understand trying to control travel costs, but it really is stupid. If I had been a Bison fan I would have been somewhat irritated as well. Fun thing about the playoffs is to see new teams. I know there has been talk, but I'm not sure if there has been a decision. They need to extend the seeding process to we see some better match ups.

Does anyone know if this game will be on Fox College Sports? I haven't seen anything, so I assume its only on the Big Sky TV. Anyone know for sure?

So pumped to watch this game tonight! Keep it rolling. I'd like to see McBuckets with another big night.

Dumb part is that a successful basketball season, has zero impact on hockey or any other sport at UND. Ideally, they are all successful. Yes, Basketball would definitely garner more national attention. Though successful hockey is certainly important too, give the size of the fanbase and the revenue they generate. It is still national exposure, just not as much as you can get with basketball. I think we can all agree, that we just want success across the board, but especially for hockey, football and basketball.

As I am a big time Sioux fan, but am tired of being ridiculed for not embracing the new name, I would like to motion a new (if its not already out there) twitter hashtag for this weekend. #GoSiouxHawkey Already a thing? Thoughts?

Jeff Kolpack ‏@FGOSPORTSWRITER 7m7 minutes ago Dale Lennon has decided to get out of football, hired today as director of public affairs at the University of Mary in Bismarck.

Is Jim going to post his Pairwise rankings articles like he has in the past? Always enjoy reading the "what if" scenarios for the upcoming weekends.

UNDs hockey fan base has been around far longer that the REA. Does the REA help? Sure. But the Betry should also help, compared to the Hyslop, and the Alerus should help, compared to memorial. It all comes down to winning. If UND was 5 time national Champs in football, there would be zero question about support or filling seats. If basketball was annual big Sky contenders, and making the dance the crows would be there. We are already seeing improvement on both fronts. Let's not cut the hockey programs success short because of their arena, or because they have the following, which is based on success. The other sports are getting there, which is awesome.

Sure hope so, he has shown his potential in small flashes. Today, not so much. Thursday, he play horrible to start, then came back into the game and played much better. Development and consistency is what he needs, certainly has the size.

haha, maybe, as long as none of this young talent were to leave. Also depends on who we would hire to replace him.

..... and in the last 40 years? UND has been in the frozen four how many times in the last decade? UND football has been in the playoffs how many times in the last decade? Yes, UND had a great Engelstad contribution, but they were successful well before that. Even so, we don't need to argue about that point. I would like to see the stands packed for all sports, but UND is not the only place to have this issue. Schools support successful programs, UND is working to get there for Basketball and Football. It WILL get there. You've seen me on the other thread enough to know, I'm a big supports of more than just hockey. Even so, there is no denying hockey is the big ticket in town. Can't control what people like, can only hope that they expand on what they watch.

I don't think the criticism is totally unwarranted, given Jones's record over 10 years. BUT at this point, he has found a good combination of young talent, and has them played great, on both offense and defense. I would say Jones has certainly quieted the "fire Jones" talk, and earned the right to play out what happens with this group of talent. Especially, if he can make some noise in the Big Sky Tournament and potentially go dancing, he will have really earned the right to shut people up.

Totally, as far as basketball goes, I just want to see these kids keeping rolling. Crandall - Going to be a stud, just needs to be a little more patient. Hooker - Already a stud, can't believe we get the kid for another year. What a leader. Avants - Going to be a horse for this team. Hard work and pure grit. McBuckets - Going to be a sharpshooter for years to come. Bernstine - Great all around player. Going to be a solid leader for this team. Seales - A ton of potential, but looks like a freshman. Going to develop into a great player. Baker - can't wait to see this addition.

No, I agree with you. It goes both ways. Booing people for embracing the name is dumb, just like criticizing people for yelling Sioux is dumb. Either way, you are cheering for the same team, maybe just with a different historical sentiment. Regardless, lets cheer against the opposition, not ourselves.

I understand what you mean, and part of that support will come with winning. Support used to be there, especially for football. It'll be back, but you can't ever expect it to be as big as it is for hockey. In the "hockey world" UND competes on the highest stage and pumps out NHL athletes. UND Football and Basketball don't. Doesn't mean they don't deserve a high following, but also considering the region in which UND competes, some people are just bigger hockey fans than anything else. Nickname politics aside, if UND Football and Basketball wants a high level of support, they need to win. Today was a great example of the potential for that. Huge win, best fan support we have seen in a while. Absolutely love seeing a ton of football players at the game supporting the basketball team, Bubba included. Just awesome to see. I understand wanting more support across the board, just need to be mindful than not everyone like sports outside of hockey ... in this region. UND Hockey has earned the support and attention the get. At most schools Football and Basketball is the money maker; UND is an exception to the rule. We're not the gopher where we play in the BIG football or Basketball. UND is in kind of unique position where our hockey program is bigger than our basketball and football team; not something most schools have to deal with.

ok really, lets move the nickname chatter to the appropriate thread. If you want to talk on here, lets celebrate a huge victory for this basketball team.

Lets not kid our selves, even with football, its not like we're an FBS Alabama either. In Grand Forks, hockey is, and always will be top dog. Doesn't mean there isn't a ton of room for Football and Basketball to flourish. I just think we need to let people use whichever nickname they prefer, without criticizing, as it won't change anything anyway. Trying to convince a hardcore "Sioux" fan to refer to teams as "Hawks" is like trying to convince a hardcore "Republican" to vote "Democrat". To can talk your ears off, but people are going to think what they want. Just let it be. Let Sioux fans use "Sioux", Let Hawk fans use "Hawk". It really doesn't matter, as long as both parties focus on the sports and not the nickname crap. The bickering just makes the fanbase look foolish.

Wow! thats awesome.

Everyone seriously needs to shut the hell up on the nickname crap. Both sides of the argument. If you want to call em hawks, do it. If you want to call em Sioux, do it. Bottom line, und hockey is #2, und football is on the rise and primed for a big season, and UND basketball is young, loaded and looking for its first trip to the big dance. Screw you all if you want to bicker about the name, and that goes for the folks criticizing the use of Sioux, just as much as those criticizing the use of hawks. Pathetic!

Finish strong boys!

He kind of reminds me of Werner from NDSU, not the most graceful guy, but just gets it done.

Just an awful game

Nice half. Got start the second hot. Wbeer is going to want to close that gap fast and early. Weather the storm and keep doing what they are doing. This is a really fun team to watch.

McBuckets!