fightingsioux4life

That's not an excuse, it's an unfortunate truth. You cannot expect to win hockey games when you are fighting an illness. They absolutely must quarantine sick players so it doesn't spread to the rest of the team. The extra time off is a Godsend for allowing sick players to shake off the virus and get back to what they have been doing all season.

This season is 100x better than last season no matter what happens the rest of the way.

It's ALWAYS "very tough" to win a natty in this sport. That's something that is well known by anyone who follows the college game. What I find very disheartening is that our own fan base has gone incredibly soft and complacent and seemingly resigned to our status as a stepping stone for other teams and also-rans in college hockey who cannot be expected to compete for nattys anymore. The idea that everything is based on "luck" has become almost Biblical law around here and it is absolutely infuriating. Denver hasn't won 3 nattys since 2017 because they are "lucky". It's because they have recruited well and have had outstanding coaches guiding the program. We now have an outstanding coaching staff of our own who cleaned up a toxic dumpster fire in a few short months last year. And I think the future is way brighter for this program as a result. It is NOT "unrealistic" to expect this program to annually compete for nattys, it should be a reasonable expectation. And I think Jackson and his excellent staff are in position to do just that. Now it's time for our fan base to shrug off our self-doubt and PTSD from recent playoff failures and start believing again.

The 2016 team didn't look good in the NCHC semifinals either. Don't write the team off based on one (albeit putrid) game.

If we lose everyone and NDSU loses no one, it will be time to have a serious internal conversation at UND about the future of our MBB program and how to fix it.

You are correct. I just think people are frustrated from years of underachieving and outright mediocrity and are anxious to get back to winning in March and April.

I am not in the mood for your nonsense tonight.

Any players who are sick and showing obvious symptoms need to be told not to set foot in REA and especially the locker room for the next week. Tell them to go to class, but otherwise rest and recooperate. They have to flush this crap out of the roster or it will continue sabotaging the team on the ice.

It also isn't what Quinnipiac does. They got bounced by Clarkson in the first round.

Denver finished second in the NCHC this year. So let's not talk like they struggled all season until now. And I would love to knock little Opie Taylor and those hideous red uniforms out of the national tournament on our way to #9. Preferably in Vegas. The #drivefornine is not over, tonight's putrid performance notwithstanding.

Michigan State lost to Ohio State. That doesn't ruin their season any more than tonight's putrid result in Grand Forks ruins UND's season.

It may be affecting a good percentage of the team even if they aren't being held out of games. And I don't think the coaches or players ever have or ever will mention illness. But that doesn't mean it isn't a very real problem.

Then why doesn't every program build their team the same way? Denver sure as heck doesn't build their teams like that. Our 2016 team wasn't built like that either. Duluth will not block and tackle their way to a natty. It will shock me if they do.

Couldn't agree with you more.

I still think we end up in Sioux Falls.

Agree 💯% I think the sickness has taken a lot out of the players. The extra week may just be what the doctor ordered.

Our only goal was a result of net front presence and taking the goalie's eyes away.

I was in the Target Center. They didn't look good in either game. Thankfully it didn't carry over in Cincinnati and beyond. But feel free to start the 2026-27 season thread early if you want.

Finally!

The 2016 team looked like crap in the NCHC semifinal and third place game. It didn't stop us from hanging #8.

There's a reason we have only pulled off the Trifecta three times (1980, 1987, 1997). It's mentally challenging. And all the teams you play are treating the conference tournament as a second chance to win a conference title. Once the NCAA tournament starts, all that goes out the window and doesn't matter. It's truly a new season.

Excuse me, but I'm one of the very few people that are NOT writing the team off over tonight's performance.

That is entirely possible. A week off may be what the doctor ordered.

Our fans have been burned the last few years with the playoff meltdowns. So I understand the sentiment. But you are right, we cannot write off the team before the season is actually over.

Not according to some people here.