SWSiouxMN

Now, go Lady Griz.

great camera shot of Szabla, Dyer and Roscoe at the end

a little nerves towards the end, what else is new, but another solid win for UND. Now can be no worse than a #2 seed in Reno

UND 73-68 16.6 left

its amazing to see how much Roscoe has grown has a player since her freshman year. She was so raw to start out

still looking good with 4:49 to go UND 65-52

UND 52-40 at the end of 3

With a strong 2nd half performance, UND picked up its biggest Big Sky win ever it its short history with a road victory over Weber State to take over first place. Now with a 1 game lead in hand over Weber and EWU with 3 to go, its far too soon to be placing mission accomplish banners up. UND takes to the road 1 last time in the regular season as they travel down to Greely to take on old NCC and current Big Sky Rival UNC. Its been a long year for the Bears and with 3 games remaining in their entire season, it wouldn't be that far-fetched to say they are looking onto next year. With the NCAAs investigation still clouding the program and the announcement of those violations early this week still fresh, there are still many questions as to what will be the future for UNC? Did they do enough self-punishment to lessen the NCAAs hammer, or will this be another example of "selective" punishment. However, there is the other factor of there is nothing to play for, so they will scrap and claw the rest of the way. UND found out for 35 minutes last time in Grand Forks before stepping on the gas to force OT and the eventual winner, but this time there is so much more at stake. Wouldn't UNC just love to be the lego that UND steps on. With Weber's loss last night, UND has a chance to clinch a share of the Big Sky title and the #1 seed if all 3 of these events happen. Its highly unlikely that all 3 occur but a good chance 2 out these 3 would happen. UND win over UNC ISU win over EWU Idaho win over Weber These games you can chuck the record book out the window and you can almost guarantee an overtime game between these two or a last second shot. They have some decent shooters in Miles and Glotta and their star Davis would love nothing more than to put up big numbers against UND and at the very least hope he can be rewarded with some individual successes in the all-Big Sky awards. UND would love for the continuation of strong play from one Cortez Seales who has been an force off the bench in the 2nd half of the conference season. Q and Geno have been putting up big numbers, can they keep it up? How will they come out after a week off an emotional victory at Weber? UND all time in the Big Sky against UNC is 4-5, but they are only 1-3 in Greely and that win was all the way back in year 1 when double A, Aaron Anderson hit a staredown 3 with about 8 seconds left to win the game. However, as stated early this series has had several close games. Other Games (rated in order of significance for UND): Weber (11-4) @ Idaho (9-6): Good news or bad news first for Weber? Good news, it would take a miracle for you not to have a top 3 seed. Bad news? Its going to take quite a bit for you to overtake UND. Its the spot they are in after dropping one on the road against a tough EWU squad who they are now tied for 2nd with (they do the current tiebreaker over them however). Last road game isn't easy as they invade the Palouse to play Idaho, who fought off in-state rival ISU to tie MSU and Montana for 4th (could be wrong but it might go Griz, Idaho, MSU). Lots at stake for both squads and hey, could be a QF preview. Idaho wants the Bye and knows with a win and a favorable finish can get it, Weber wants to keep their slim hopes alive at the title and stay at the 2, they need a win here. ISU (3-12) @ EWU (11-4) Its surprise vs disappointment as ISU comes into Cheney. Eastern finds themselves only a game back of UND for first, and that loss in GF is looming large right now. Would take a lot to overtake UND, so getting that 2 seed and avoiding the MSU/Griz/Idaho mess is better. Schedule favors EWU the rest of the way but they have to take care of business. ISU is trying to stay out of the cellar and knows they are playing day 1 in Reno. They got nothing to lose, can the Bengals pull one off? Or Will the Eags steamroll their way to Reno? Griz (9-6) @ Cats (9-6): Round II, Electric Boogaloo. This time its in Bozeman and there is much at stake. Despite their slump, the Griz can all but lock up a bye with a win over the Cats (and a Weber win over Idaho). Cats can finally end a long drought and find themselves in a good spot for a bye. Both teams have to play Weber in Weber and play ISU. Potential QF matchup here at the 4/5? SUU (3-12) @ SAC (7-8): Sac State... you had 1 job. You just swept Montana and were right behind them for the bye. All you needed to do was take care of business in Boze... well no shame in losing to the Cats at their place, you have NAU at home so no prob right? err.... Bad week for the Hornets who went from a bye contender to likely day 1 Reno. Any hopes left need to start with a win against SUU, who is fighting to stay out of the cellar NAU (5-10) @ PSU (6-9) Day 1 preview? Possibly but both teams might have their sights a little higher after victories tonight. PSU might still have a shot at the 7.NAU at the 8, a win by either team can help that quest. Results that help UND ISU over EWU Idaho over Weber Cats over Griz The Call: UND is sitting in a position they have never been in before, total control of their destiny. Win out and you win the Big Sky all by yourself and hold the #1 seed. I'm sure Jones has been making 2 clear points in practice this week. You haven't won anything yet and UNC will likely play like its the Big Sky tournament final the rest of the way, so they are going to have to bring a better effort than they did up in GF when they first played. This will fit the mold of the current UND/UNC series, it will be another close game. I think UND has too much at stake and a strong senior leader to let themselves step on a lego. A solid team effort lead once again by Q and Geno gets UND their 13th Big Sky win and 18th overall. UND 80-75

Weber/Griz as QF matchup? Maybe

Looks like Eastern is going to take this one and UND will be up 1 game over Weber and EWU

This is Faison after all.

A lot of truth in that statement, although a couple of them have made some efforts to improve. I remember back in High School they had a hockey team in Sleepy Eye (which for ND reference is the about the size of Beulah), a lot of lopsided scores, 18-0, 20-0 (they now co-op with New Ulm). In my hometown they opened up a new hockey arena right next to the high school and it is an massive improvement from what they used to play in. Luverne had a couple of decent teams the past few years. Had that one kid who be going off to the U to play hockey. I know since I have left, the hockey has improved in that part but it has a long, long way to go and will be 3rd fiddle to FB and BB for quite a long time.

If anybody wanted to discuss the other games tonight, thought it would be good to put it here. The most important game of the night is Weber @ EWU. Weber wins and UND and Weber are tied up at first (with the tiebreaker going to UND). An EWU win gives UND a one game lead over both teams in the conference with 3 to go. I haven't forgotten about the game thread for Saturday, I am just waiting for the conclusion of tonights action.

I want to be as fair as possible and not stick a coach in a no win situation. Any smart AD would do that (which is why I wasn't too happy that Faison didn't give Jones a 1 year extension last summer). It makes no sense to extend him a year and go through the same thing again next year. You are also forgetting option 3: If Jones takes another job If they go dancing I predict a 3 year extension.

Now the last time this thread was brought back from the dead UND lost to NAU. I now need to go throw many grains of salt over my right shoulder to get this bad juju away.

I've never really liked the Muss comparisons, I think Idalski is a more fair comparison TBH. I've seen enough of out both during my time to think that Jones is a way better coach than Muss.

Well as the late Dark Star would say: Well there's that.

Maybe if UND is a 16 they can be the first team ever to beat a 1. Gotta have goals people! If UND takes care of business in the next 6 games and gets in, I think there will be enough upsets where they don't get in the play-in first things is first. Beat UNC in Greely on Saturday.

Guess we need to include how A & S is going to handle the cuts. Can't be total sports sports sports, is your whole like just sports* http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4221416-und-arts-and-sciences-announces-budget-cut-proposals *Copyright the Common Man

Was thinking of this question last night about Geno. Say he stays healthy and continues to improve/progress as a player. Does he leave UND as its all time leading scorer?

Think of this potential scenario. UND/USD play-in game. It could happen

<tinfoil hat> Be the way to cut a certain program that isn't in the Summit?

I think this is what he was talking about http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/4221443-und-athletics-may-be-facing-summit-penalty-fees-if-cutting-sports

Dead on with this, Faison would be idiotic to offer him only a 1 year extension after this. That's what he SHOULD have done last summer but failed to do. Don't put a coach 2 years in a row without a contract. If he truly does that, Faison should be out of a job... period. The AD might have another problem is Jones leaves to go elsewhere next year (not saying he won't but you got to think someone might sniff around after this year)... and gets ZERO compensation for it. Said it in the Jones thread a few times, its a multi-year extension or nothing