SWSiouxMN

um… okay, heads up in the students section over there

Benford makes both 15-12 Dons

Both teams are playing ok, I wouldn't say one team looks better than the other right now.

we go to the under 12 Dons up 13-12 11:04 to go

Davids makes up for it with a 3 13-12 Dons

meanwhile Godfrey blows by Davids 13-9 Dons

Rebraca with the mid-range 11-9 Dons

Godfrey misses both free throws

moving screen on Walter.

11-7 after Godfrey 2 free throws

Billups leads all scorers with 5 points

Media Fort Wayne up 9-7 13:41 to go in the half

Marlon needs to take those 3's 1-2 feet closer 9-7 Fort Wayne

Rebraca lay up 7 all

7-5 Fort Wayne

DAE 3 5 all

5-2 Fort Wayne

Walter with the midrange after some good ball movement 2-2

Is ANOTHER Philly backup QB going to win a playoff game?

Usual Starters

Perhaps

I'm all for it. Find a way to get it done.

I said in the 2019-2020 thread that the Seniors needed to step up their game for UND to get the most out of this season. I feel comfortable in saying that Stewart has stepped his up so far to at least a borderline All-Summit team caliber. I also think Walter has stepped up to a point where I feel he is a very capable starter and if he can continue to average double figures, it will help this team going forward. Rebraca is nearly averaging a double-double and DAE has lived up to the hype. I cannot wait to see how both of these players are one year from now, they will be monsters. The issue going forward will this this: Outside of these 4... What is UND going to get? They need to get something from their bench. Brady busts his butt, but he needs an entire offseason to work on his game. G could be the guy, but he is saddled with foul trouble. Panoam and Davids have settled the point guard position outside of Stewart but they need to be more of scoring threats. Which brings me to Billy: If Moody is going to be out (no idea when he is coming back), he needs to be the one that buries 3's. Either the 46% he shot last year was a fluke, the 3 point line moving back has effected his game, or he is just in a monster slump that he cannot get out of, he just hasn't been that person. He needs to be the guy that can hit the outside shot. It really hurts that UND is missing that 2nd guard to pair with Marlon that would take this lineup to another level. If Moody was healthy and effective, I wonder if a switch would have been made, but UND is in a catch 22, who would you start instead of Billy?

Using a hot 2nd half shooting performance and clutch free throws down the stretch, UND did something rare in their d1 history... win their conference opener. UND looks to do the same in their conference home opener as they host Fort Wayne, who is adjusting to life after John Konchar. About Fort Wayne: The Dons have been members of the Summit League since 2007, during that time they have been consistently been in the top half or in the middle of the pack of the conference standings, under 3 different coaches. The two big story out of Fort Wayne this year both relate to change. First: The Dons are leaving for the Horizon League to join rival IUPUI (who left a couple of years ago) and more regional schools in 2020-21, so this is their final go around in the conference. Second: They are adjusting to like without do it all big man John Konchar, who has graduated and now is floating around in the G-League. Nevertheless, this junior heavy squad had done okay so far to start the season. They are around .500 and coming off a big win at home against one of the league favorites in South Dakota. They have a great 1-2 punch at the guard with Jarred Godfrey and Brain Patrick. They don't have the great rebounder in Konchar anymore, but they still rebound well as a team (crushed USD on the boards 44-29). Picked 6th in the Summit, The Dons would love nothing more than to leave the Summit League with the one thing that has eluded them so far, a trip to the NCAA tournament. About Jon Coffman: Coach Coffman is in his 6th year as head coach at Fort Wayne (and 9th overall). His record is currently 103-74 (46-33 in Summit League). He has been a solid coach for the Dons, they have always finished with a winning record under Coffman and have finished no worse than 4th in the Summit. The did share a Summit Regular Season Title in 2015-16, but Coffman is missing one thing currently: An NCAA tournament appearance. Can he get it in his final chance in the Summit? Or will it have to wait for the Horizon League in 2021? Key Players: Jarred Godfrey (6'5 Sophomore) and Brian Patrick (6'5 Junior) Replacing an do-it-all player in Konchar is tough, but these two are making it a lot easier for Fort Wayne to deal with it. The Sophomore Godfrey is the more attacking guard and looks to get to the rim and shoot it from distance. He does turn the ball over so that will be something to watch. The Kansas State Transfer Patrick has been a shot in the arm for the Dons and has shot it well from 3. Both are average from the free throw line. These two are going to need to be slowed down for UND to have a chance. Series History: These two schools split the series last year, winning on each others home courts. The Dons lead the all time series 3-1 Stats: Rebraca 11 point, 16 rebound effort was his 3rd straight double-double, the first UND player to do that at the D1 level. That is also his 9th of the season and his 11th of his young career Stewart current leads the Summit in Assists (5.1 a game) and is 4th in scoring (15.9 a game) Fort Wayne Jarred Godfrey is 3rd in scoring in the Summit with 16.3 a game. Milestone Watch: Stewart is currently sitting at 890 career points (883 at UND). He is 110 points away from 1000 career points at UND. He should reach it sometime during the 1st half of conference play. Other Games: Sat 1/4 WIU (1-1) @ SDSU (1-1): WIU dropped one in Fargo but still has that victory over USD in their pockets. SDSU bounces back with a big win against ORU. Can the Bunnies exact a little revenge from their summit league tourney loss last year? Or will WIU make another statement that they could be ready to not be a bottom feeder ORU (0-1) @ Omaha (1-0): ORU dropped one in Brookings and now head to Omaha to avoid falling to 0-2. Omaha took down the Bunnies and would love to start 2-0 and prove that last year was not a fluke. Should be a great battle inside between ORU bigs and Pile of Omaha Sun 1/5 Northland @ NDSU (2-0): Bison did what they needed to do in conference play and look like the favorites many picked them to be. Should be a laugher here. DU (0-2) @ USD (0-2): Is a little silly to call this a must win for the Yotes... but they need to win this one, they cannot afford to fall to 0-3 in conference play if they want a shot at the title. Denver dropped a pair at home to the NoDak schools, so they know they have to steal some wins elsewhere so they do not finish as the last team out. Keys: 1) Get off to a good start: Fort Wayne hasn't been a team getting off to great starts, so if UND can jump out early, that would be huge. 2) Win the turnover battle: We know of UNDs struggles, but this is a team that UND can turn over as well. 3) Rebraca needs to play big: He will be the best big on the floor and he needs to play like it. 3 double-double in a row and he should try and make it four. Haven't had a 20-10 game from him in a while, The Call If UND has serious thoughts of finishing in the top half of the Summit, then defending the Betty floor is a must. Going 3-5 last year at home in conference play is not a recipe for success. UND is going to have to slow down the Dons guards, win the rebounding battle, and hit some shots at home. I think Rebraca gets his 4th double-double in a row, Marlon and DAE slow down Godfrey and Patrick enough for UND to win and get to 2-0 in conference play UND 79-74 Game is on the Plus and Midco

77% as a team so far, that is good for 23rd in the nation