UND-FB-FAN

I'd say I mentioned wins, if you would read carefully. In recent years, hockey has contributed to poor crowds to a degree also, whether you like it or not. Bottom line: the leadership of the basketball program is not right.

Absolutely. The guy is not a motivator which is crucial. The guy really needs to be let loose. Faison can find someone way better out there for not much more in terms of salary.

Expanding on this, the attendance/atmosphere was horse !@#$ tonight. UND basketball deserves way better and Grand Forks is very very capable of doing so; however, need wins and less of this hockey-only bullsh*t attitude. No reason vs Montana that the Betty should be like that, oh, other than the fact that this team is underachieving.

That's not a bad idea.

Spot on. And from the optimistic side of things, I do think both offensive line and defensive front 7 will be improved. Both units return a lot of players from last year's group.

Way too early. Let's see how the additions look in spring ball and then how the injury front and freshmen look at fall camp. If everything comes together as expected, with maybe a few pleasant surprises, then UND will have a chance.

Not a bad idea at all.

5'9" 170 lbs. backs are not the prototypical player at that position if you look at successful running games around the country. "Wiggle" is not the preferred characteristic. I commend Garman for what he accomplished last season, but his lack of physicality deprived the offense of something. Guys like Arrington or Olivera can hopefully bring an all-around back type to the offense (a player that can both hit the home run and get tough yards inside).

No reason Arrington or Olivera can't do what Garman did last season.

I guess by lead I meant he was the starting signal caller during those games. Also, Jer did do some good things those last two games, but so did the offensive line. Let's not forget about the main unit that makes a running game go.

Studsrud led an offense that won the last two games of the season versus Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado. Now yes, both of those games featured Jer Garman running wild, but the offensive line returns and I truthfully believe Arrington and Olivera can at the least match what Garman did. No reason the offense shouldn't at least be marginally better given the improvements/time to the gel for the offensive line. QBs/RBs/WRs all are quite useless if the offensive line can't produce.

Well that's got to count for something...

By signing an apparel contract, you get discounted items for the required sum of the contract. Essentially, you're getting more items for your money, which is definitely advantageous for the coaches, players, and prospective recruits because they get more gear. It's not a matter of payout, but rather quantity of items, such as shoes/cleats, football gloves, shirts, under-uniform wear, coaches clothing, etc. Its a way to better brand your program.

There's no question this is true, but it's not a deal-breaker. Having an apparel deal is key to programs like football and to limit it because the men's basketball team thinks they have that kind of authority is inconsiderate and laughable. Adidas makes more than one model or 'kind' of shoe, and again, it comes back to the success of Adidas-sponsored programs. As far as basketball, Louisville, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and UCLA all wear Adidas shoes and do just fine. Not to mention, many NBA players wear them too. Yes, it may require some getting use to for those who wear Nike regularly, but they aren't going to suddenly cause injury or deter performance.

Yes, he was, and yet that does not make it excusable. Adidas is worn by many collegiate and professional greats, so really, there is no legitimacy. Carry on.

Yes, all of those things are currently emphasized by the program because of Bubba. A couple years ago with Mussman, supporting fellow athletic teams, emphasizing ND/MN, and engaging alumni was at a minimum. Which leads exactly into my point; UND football has experienced an instant turnaround in many off-the-field areas due to Bubba (on the field is coming up real soon). Men's basketball could possess that same turnaround if the right man has the head job.

And yet people think UND men's basketball is on the right track... Of course, many said the same for UND football following the 2012 season.

UND men's basketball won't get anywhere with Jones at the helm. I understand people want to let him coach this year and next just for continuity and fairness, but the inevitable is the inevitable. The guy just can't get it done here at UND.

Good lord... Coming from a player that averages, what, 2 or 3 ppg. I'm sure Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Louisville, just to name a few, are all doing poor on the court as well because of Adidas. Give me a break. Jones and his club are so lost it's not even funny.

The "people" of Grand Forks aren't stupid; they read the Herald and know what UND is doing on a national scale. Also, many UND athletic fans aren't regulars; therefore, they need reason to attend. Winning is the number one reason, and just winning at home doesn't cut it. If UND men's basketball wins their home games but then loses every road game, you end up with a .500 record and loses vs. every big-name team because they're all on the road. When UND's men basketball squad has a legitimate team, one that wins in a road pay-out game and beats NDSU, fans will notice and the attendance will rise. To this point, the best Jones has been able to muster is a .500 record and yet people support him....

To be expected; just too good of an opportunity for Mr. Adams. It's gonna hurt EWU a bit, but as UND saw first-hand last season, EWU's backup QB (now the starter) is more than capable. UND doesn't play EWU this season anyways, at least not in the regular season...

Sounds and looks like a great prospect. I'm sure Bubba and his staff will be looking into him; try get him to attend summer camp if possible! Http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1634567/dalton-feeney

As of now, I would imagine so. However, because of the returning players at the LB group, if one of the freshmen LBs plays right away it would mean he's one heck of a player.

Absolutely, I agree with you. I hope, with the youth on the team and the upcoming talented recruits, that UND will be much improved next year. Of course, we went through the same hopeful faith just with football from 2012 to 2013. If anything, we know how Faison handles the potential dismissal of head coaches; gives them two seasons - if they don't improve and things get worse, they are cut loose. I'd say Jones has next season to improve on whatever happens this season. If there's improvement, great - I look forward to watching many wins in the Betty versus teams such as NDSU, Montana, and Weber. If the team doesn't improve and just gets worse, than it's time for new coaching. I assume this is also how Faison looks at it.

You're really quite amusing, but I'll play along. Anyone who understands collegiate coaching knows the premise: you win or else. It's a performance-based occupation, just like the IRS representative working your taxes or the mechanic repairing your vehicle. If they don't "get the job done", they will not have the opportunity to perform that job any longer. As an alumnus and financial supporter of UND athletics, I have a right to at least have an opinion on men's basketball and the coaching. I feel that the tenure of Brian Jones has been inadequate compared to the likes of NDSU and SDSU, and unless his upcoming performances prove otherwise, I feel the position should be reevaluated by the athletic department and perhaps opened for a new coach in a year or two. That's not a personal attack, but rather an opinion that I feel this site allows me to voice and debate.