nodak651

Good point. Sather reminds me of Stig. Can be a winners if placed in a good position, but don't really have what it takes to do more with less, if that makes sense. Given UND's funding and the place the program sits on the totem pole, both locally and nationally, I don't think Sather is the best fit for UND at this point. I dont necessarily think he's a bad coach either, and I prefer his philosophy, but I kinda think UND Basketball just needs more of a Deion or PJ Fleck type of personality to help shine a spotlight on the team locally, and to differentiate UND from other low major programs nationally. Another reason I'm ready to move on is because I think Herbst deserves the opportunity to show what he can do, and letting him finish out the season would allow him that. Additionally, if Sather is retained, what are his expectations for next year? Even if he improves to .500 in d1 games, that's still a mediocre season, especially for his 5th year. Is anything better than that truly realistic? Say he does go exactly .500, then what? Is that where our expectations are or should be? Just seems like we will be delaying the inevitable if we don't move on now. Truly hope I'm wrong.

This thread was created to do exactly that. It's literally a poll asking what people's opinion is. Also, the buyout is only 80k. If the AD thinks he has the wrong coach, he can easily cover that through the existing budget. If not, they could follow through with cutting men's golf as they were supposed to.

Just listened to college hockey news podcast and a guy from jlg architects was interviewed. He said there are two projects they have to keep under wraps, one in Virginia and the other in Maryland. He didn't specifically say they were college hockey projects, but its worth noting. Navy happens to be in Maryland, so hopefully they can get up and running after, reportedly, being really close prior to covid.

Was gonna preface my comment with something about that. Was he really that popular? Like if it was only Kansas, what do you think the game would have drawn?

What do you mean by actively working on it? Serious question. Could mean many different things to different people.

I really hope that's the case. Have you actually talked someone at UND or the REA that stated that specifically? Would be awesome if they could incorporate a legit B-dubs style UND sports bar somehow, potentially along with an additional entrance. Would make for the perfect pregame bar for all of the games at the REA, including hockey. Could also incorporate gambling, with UND athletics as the non profit beneficiary, without anyone getting upset. With something like 60+ home games at the REA complex, you would think it could stay pretty busy. If they install permanent seating, maybe it could be incorporated with the sports bar somehow, or at least accessible from the Betty. Place would be hopping before hockey games... one can dream.

2008-2019 We were in the Great West, The Big Sky, or an Independent playing a Big Sky schedule. I have no interest playing at Target Field now, after NDSU and SDSU will have already done it, but UND could have been leaders in this. Games vs SDSU, USD, UNI, and Illinois State would have made a ton of sense as true neutral site games. We missed the boat - simple as that. Now? St. Thomas at Allianz Field in St. Paul would make sense for many reasons. For example, we could have scheduled that for 2025 when FCS teams get to play an extra game. Instead, we scheduled a home and home with Portland State, which is nowhere near our recruiting territory, is expensive to travel to, plays off campus in a former 7k seat baseball stadium, has poor tv production quality, and they are also at risk of dropping their program entirely which could leave UND in a scheduling bind. UND has had a decade to find a creative way to engage potential UND Football fans in the Twin Cities, now in addition to NDSU, SDSU has beaten us in that regard as well.

After the women's hockey team was cut, I thought they would play select games there each season since the arena would be available. They seemed to do that up until the womens team was cut which is odd. The betty can get loud, but the REA would help to draw casual fans. Given that that the Kansas game drew so well, it would be cool to see the REA/UND pay to bring in a p5 or Big East team every once in a while, one that would draw. See the games the Sanford Center puts on in Sioux Falls, for example. Ideally UND would also have a better basketball product itself. Conversion costs are also a factor.

Haven't thought of that to be honest.

Asking again. Are there pictures of that game anywhere?

It'll be gone and they will regret it. Demolish the buildings north and south of the hyslop and you essentially have a shell. Besides, wouldn't the chester fritz have had the same issue when it was just redone?

This is probably for way down the road, but food for thought I guess. With college hockey teams like CC building new arenas and the Gophers and I believe New Hampshire reducing the size of their ice sheets from Olympic to NHL, at some point it may make sense for the REA to reduce the size the size of the practice sheet down to the NHL size, which would reduce the width by 15 ft. This would only make sense when SCSU moves to or near the NHL dimensions. With the basketball and volleyball locker rooms (I believe) butting up to the the practice ice sheet, those spaces could have the potential to be expanded by up to 15 fit, perhaps as the next project after the practice gym and new seating are completed. Thinking like 10-15 years from now, unless by some miracle they move back into the hyslop.

Wonder why they haven't done this already, financing it the same way the Betty was.

This. To answer @jdub27's question about where the funding for the buyout should come from - pretty much anywhere else. If there aren't basketball boosters who would help to fund it, why hasn't Chaves done anything to keep former basketball alumni and potential donors more engaged? I see the hockey program is doing the "one more skate" thing, bringing back guys like Ed Belfour, etc. Meanwhile, UND didn't even do anything to honor the passing of the legendary UND basketball coach, Bill Fitch. No wonder the program is where it is... A lack of money isn't an "out" for Chaves - it just highlights another one of his deficiencies (fundraising). If there aren't donors lined up to help with the buyout, Chaves could do something as simple as bussing the hockey team to Omaha next year, rather than chartering a flight. That would probably satisfy the entire buyout, which is only like 80K. Which is a higher priority to Chaves, the men's basketball coach or one charter flight to Omaha? If not that, maybe he could work with the Ralph, which retained about a million dollars in profit.

Und has to accept applications for like 14 or 30 days right? Why not start process now and have interim coach? Could announce or inform players of who the new coach will be soon after the season ends, which could help to retain key players. Would also give the new coach more time to recruit before next season. Also gives our assistant a chance to show what he can do in the meantime.

If UND moves on, I really hope UND announces more details about plans for the basketball facilities before they start the hiring process. Would help to show potential applicants that this isn't a career ending job.

Yeah. https://blogs.und.edu/und-today/2022/07/esports-construction-project-aims-for-change-in-culture-and-community/

He was enrolled but didn't play right?

Literally the worst replicas in the country.

This is pretty neat. Summit League website has a live video feed for the ORU radio guy https://thesummitleague.org/watch/default.aspx?Live=2213&path=conf (except during the radio commercials)

https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2022/4/25/transfer-portal-data-division-i-student-athlete-transfer-trends.aspx

Denver and The Brandr Group Launch Group Licensing for Student-Athletes ORU Athletics and The Brandr Group Launch Group Licensing for Student-Athletes More Player Apparel and Jerseys Coming Thanks to The BrandR Group Partnering with Follett University of Utah NIL partnership opens path for fans to purchase jerseys with player names Fans can expect to be able to purchase official Seton Hall merchandise, including team jerseys with the name and number of Pirates' players

Goodbye St. Thomas and Potentially Denver or Omaha.

Sure, but I'm trying to say that there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest that the Pres and AD at UNI would not be interested in adding hockey. They are currently trying to fundraise for a 50 million dollar UNI Dome renovation - they don't have the money. Fenton is still working on the Summit League's media deal/strategy, and I would think that will play a large role in determining whether or not he wants the Summit League to pursue sponsorship of additional sports.

What I would want doesn't really matter though. The UNI fan base wouldn't want to risk hurting basketball. Go to panthernation.com and ask them how they would feel about adding hockey.. guessing you wouldn't be well received.