nodakhoops

Freije went for 47 and 16 tonight in the region final...........wow! That was against 2 college level players (hagler & kilvang). Kilvang had 16 and 10 and I do think she plays D1 basketball or volleyball as well. At 6'4 the potential is off the charts for her.

Where's Darrell when you need him? Joking as I don't think Brew should be fired, but I do feel this team has really dropped the ball in conference play. I thought the ladies looked like they didn't miss a beat from last year in the non conference this year but for whatever reason they have struggled in conference.

I honestly believe this team has a chance at 7-8 wins if they catch a few breaks. Defense was really good last year and they didn't lose much. Defense should be the best in the conference. Honestly the offense can't be much worse and they won 5 games with that offense last year. If they can get to middle of the Big Sky offense we could be looking at playoffs. If we get that kind of production on O and the D remains the top D in the conference which is more than possible with what is back I look at it like this. Should be wins - Drake, UC Davis, Portland St. Weber State, UNC Swing games - Idaho St., Montana, Montana St., Cal Poly Probably Losses - Wyoming, NDSU All they need to do is win 2 swing games or games i see as losses and they are at 7 wins.....3 of those and they are in the playoffs. I don't think this is that far fetched with that schedule if the offense is improved.

A couple videos of interest. First is a feature on Lexi Klabo. I think UND is glad she was kind of under the radar nationally and they signed her so early. She is dominating Class A ball and is going to be a very good player for UND. Second one is a feature on Hannah Stewart. Talks a little bit about how she was going to come to UND until she played AAU last summer and blew up. Great for her, but man if she would've not played AAU and signed with UND that would've been something with her and Klabo in the middle and Frejie on the wing for 4 years.

You are correct. Her brother is also AJ Jacobson who plays for the Bison men. I have to think our chances aren't good, but the fact she unofficially visited means there is at least some interest. She might not even play for the Bison either as I saw some rankings where she was ranked top 5 in the 5 state area (ND, SD, MN, IA, NE) for girls in her class. If she is that highly thought of she'll probably have some Big Ten interest similar to what Hannah Stewart had.

If this is the case it might be reason alone to not fire Jones....who knows what UND will get. UND was lucky Bubba really wanted the job. Is there a coach out there like that for MBB? The head football coach and men's basketball coach positions are not ones you just put online and hope good applicants come in, you go out and go after the ones you want. Any good AD should have a list of 3-4 candidates in FB, MBB, WBB, and at some schools (UND included) Men's Hockey and Baseball. Don't forget the open records requests to go along with the long hiring process. That alone will probably keep good candidates from applying which probably happened with football. Do you think a guy like Chad Wathall will apply if he doesn't think he will get the job when the local paper will publish his name and his current employer will see that? He is a guy Faison would probably have to reach out to and if he doesn't he probably won't come here because he won't apply. It would've been interesting to see how NDSU would've handled their coaching searches for FB and MBB had they hired from outside current employees.

One other factor that might play into UND's favor. UND Asst. Coach Adam Jacobson's dad Tim is Sarah's coach at Shanley...Pretty sure that is Adams dad anyways. I don't think they are related to Sarah, but that has to help UND a little maybe. Still an uphill battle with the NDSU connections i would think, but a UND connection at least. Shout out to Oxbow in the Jones thread for making me remember that.

Thanks for bringing facts to this discussion. Was going to say, now it's time for Darrell to bring up OOC games, D1 road games, Signature Wins, butNDSU, you probably wanted to keep Mussman, etc., but I see that already happened.

I am a Kelly Green and White guy in a big way. Guess i don't know how being supportive of the current basketball team, thinking I would like the Summit/MVFC conference better (def. not the only UND fan that thinks that), and wishing UND would've raised money from the challenge grants for athletic scholarships because others did would put me on the NDSU side of things?

I gotta think UND would've used the money for athletic scholarships if they thought they could. Otherwise why would UND be the ones asking about it? Plus it was 10 million, they could've said here's 1-2 million for athletic scholarships and the other 8-9 million is for academics. I just don't see why UND would care unless they would've also raised funds for athletics. Plus I think with the money the foundation has been given/raising lately for the Engineering, Aerospace, Business, Law, and Medical school 1-2 million for athletic scholarships would've been fine. I get around the state and region a lot and NDSU is killing UND in PR right now across ND and the Twin Cities because of football and basketball. There is no reason their enrollment should be close to UNDs when you consider how much better UND is academically and the reason is because of FB and BB. 10 million in academics is awesome, but so is 4 NCs, 2 ESPN Gamedays, and 2 NCAA tourney appearances. Not saying the challenge grant is the reason for that, but I can't help but feel like it's a microcosm of why they are where they are and UND is playing catch up. If NDSU, MSU, and DSU get that money taken away for athletics hats off to UND for following the rules, and if not they still got 10 million for academics so either way great job UND. It just seemed to me like they would've fundraised for athletics if they thought they could and other schools getting away with it is disappointing. I'll leave it at that

I did not read the entire thread, but I did read the quote below from Drew Wrigley in the paper today. Based on that it tells me NDSU didn't do anything wrong. If it was made clear to all schools then why did multiple schools fund athletic scholarships? Based on that info, I think UND should've done some double checking. I will eat my words if the state comes back and takes these scholarships away from DSU, MSU, and NDSU, but I don't see that happening. Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, who chairs the fund’s committee and brought the idea to the Legislature two years ago, said in an interview last week there’s “nothing in the statute that would encourage us to discriminate against students who are athletes.” The fund wouldn’t cover sports-related projects such as upgrading locker rooms, but Wrigley argued that scholarships are different. “It doesn’t get them a new football helmet or hockey stick or anything like that,” Wrigley said. “They’re not there to be football players, they’re there to be students, and you’ve got to have some way of paying for that tuition, fees and books.”

My thoughts on the matching funds. Hats off to NDSU leadership for recognizing this and getting after the fundraising. This is completely UNDs fault for not looking into this further. $250,000 in scholarship money could sure go a long ways. Somebody should've did some double checking on this for UND right when the grants were first announced. NDSU obviously did and they have been rewarded to the tune of $250,000 plus in football scholarships... UND should be looking in the mirror instead of complaining to the state. Disappointing to see from a UND perspective.

This is correct and attendance will grow when that happens. However, when not winning it sure is nice to have regional rivalries to keep interest and attendance up. I bet if we had the same BBall record but played in the Summit this year our attendance would be much better based on playing USD, SDSU, NDSU, at home. Same for football if we were in the MVFC. Plus we would have better local/regioanl media coverage. FM is about 20% of NDs total population, and there is very little UND talk there compared to NDSU/Summit/MVFC. Being a part of that conversation would help UNDs local image/perception when it comes to basketball, and football if the MVFC were to happen. Again, love the big sky and didn't mean to derail this thread, but my personal preference for a conference tourney would be Sioux Falls because I could either attend, or I could watch every single one of the games (Men and Women) on Midco.

Correct, and I don't envision anything changing. just stating there are many other reasons besides just travel why I think the Summit is a better fit for basketball for UND compared to the Big Sky.

Again, I love the Big Sky but i was just giving my opinion on where I would like the tourney if it was up to me. If UND could also get in the MVFC I think joining that and the Summit are a no brainer and below are the advantages I see. A lot more than just travel costs. - Road games fans can travel too in football and basketball (Playing these schools twice a year in BBall allows more opportunities for this) - Home football games with NDSU, SDSU, USD, Northern Iowa - Home volleyball/basketball games with NDSU, USD, SDSU, Omaha, Denver - NDSU home fb game every other year along with home and homes in BB and VB. - A baseball league UND could easily win. (They beat NDSU every game last year who won the league. UND could've been playing baseball on ESPN but instead NDSU was) - Less travel costs - A great basketball conference tourney fans can drive too. -Can still schedule non conference games with Montana, Montana State, and other big sky schools. - More casual fans at games (having NDSU, SDSU, USD, Northern Iowa, etc will drive up attendance numbers) - Increased media coverage in Fargo and South Dakota. Fargo media talks MVFC and Summit League all the time as does Midco Sports. UND in those leagues increases UNDs coverage more in those markets. So I guess I see a lot more advantages than just travel costs. Let me say again, I really really like the Big Sky and Big Sky TV is awesome, but I stand by my opinion that a MFVC/Summit league is the best conference for UND to grow attendance and casual fan interest.

Phoenix, Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver would be the only places I would go, and it would have to be Men and Women so I could watch both. Spokane might be an ok option, but traveling from ND to there is tough. My ideal location would be Sioux Falls and I would go every year...yes joining the Summit League. I love the Big Sky for FB, but I would prefer the Summit for hoops because I could make at least 1-2 road games a year (NDSU, SDSU, USD, Omaha, or Denver) and UND would also get those teams at home. I think that would help grow UND's basketball brand locally, and I think attendance would rise as well. Not going to happen, but that is my opinion. I have yet to make a Big Sky road game, and back in the NCC I could make many. The Summit allows that for fans and I think it would bring a lot more casual UND basketball fans out to games.

I don't think fans should be speculating on who the next UND coach will be when there really isn't a need too. I don't think that is fair to players and coaches on the current team and I don't expect there to be any changes anyways so this just seems like a bad topic. I think that is very poor taste and kind of disrespectful to the current team. At the end of the day it's been a tough year, but a few breaks here or there and this team is 7-6 or 8-5. I will say that they continue to play hard and battle. I don't feel like i am watching the football team 2 years ago get beat by 50-60 points. On a side note, Walthall is a fantastic coach. He'll probably be getting bigger offers as soon as this summer.

Didn't include Feeney because of my assumption he'll play baseball at a high major. Still think from a fb standpoint he'd be one they might want to see in camp first. Two other local qbs worth watching might be. Ben Bolinskie - Minot - maybe on the small side but has a really nice arm and footwork. Also a great athlete that can run. Matt Bye - Moorhead - not quite the arm as Bolinskie, but better measurables and maybe faster. Might be recruitable as an athlete. I'm not a QB expert so ill let the ones on here breakdown their film. My guess would be both are probably somewhat on the radar and will be watched by UND.

2016 interest Nudell committed to NDSU. Like I mentioned there is so much d1 talent in local GBB right now they are bound to get a few. Jacobson, Two Bears, Askvig, Mckeever, Irwin, and Kvilvang are all top priorities I'm sure.

Hookers younger bro should certainly be getting a look. I can post some more local names when I get time but these ones below are probably 3 of the bigger local guys next year. All probably scholarship worthy IMHO. Brayden Lund - TE Minot, ND - great athlete with great size. Think he is in he Ben Ellefson TE mold, and UND only had a PWO at TE this year so I would think he we be a top local priority. Mike Duginski - RB/S Moorhead - Speed Speed Speed. Check out the hudl you will be impressed. Hopefully getting Lawrence helps us here. Zak Kuntz - FB/LB GF Red River - watch the hudl. This is a Bubba ball kind of kid at either lb or fb, and UND didn't take a FB this year. I also think its important to put a fence around Grand Forks. Lots of others UND will want to get into camp but those three are good prospects.

College game is really starting to slow down for him. I think I agree in that he could challenge for conference POY in 2 years. I think he is quite a bit further along at being a complete player (scoring, defense, sharing the ball, being a leader) than Huff at the same stage in his sophomore year. Seems to have a great head on his shoulders as well. I've said it before. but our guards next year with Hooker TDR Tyler, Crandall, and Seales could be really good. Also will be good having TDR and Tyler as Seniors so the two Fr can grow into their roles. To add to 24/7 comment on Crandall, I know it's been said before but he is not redshirting because of lack of talent..He has the potential to be all conference caliber from what I've heard.

Agreed, must win. On a side note I picked up the Herald today hoping to read a preview on the MBB and WBB games today. The front page consisted of UND Men's Hockey (no brainier) and EGF girls hockey gfc girls basketball and a interview with a HS QB on deflated footballs(wtf, are you kidding me) no article or mention of the games today even on the inside pages.....what a joke. Being that was the main reason I picked up a copy along with the men's hockey gamer I was a little disappointed. D1 basketball should equal D1 coverage IMO.

Yes, didn't mean to turn this into a typical NDSU/UND argument. Just was stating most of the local guys UND has gotten are all guys SU would've probably offered most years. I fully realize NDSU has a great class beating out some FBS teams for kids. from my perspective it looks like NDSU got more kids outside the local area that were maybe higher on their board. Because of that UND got more local kids NDSU would typically offered in most years. If that trend continues each year it could be very good for UND because those local kids was/is how NDSU built the foundation for their dynasty. No i don't think ndsu will slip, just think that could be good for UND. Others have more knowledge than me so i thought I would ask others what they thought? One last thing I forgot to mention. I've talked with some and Heidelbaugh could be a diamond in the rough at QB. I've only seen him play bball and know he is d1 athlete, but I've heard he could be a big time QB. 6'5 ,great athlete, and strong arm. Long ways to go from Rugby to the big sky, but he could be real good after a few years in the program.

I really like this class. Bubba is doing what he said he would. Heart and soul from the Midwest sprinkle in the rest. I also like the 3 toba kids. If UND can get the top 2-3 Winnipeg kids each year that would be awesome. It's a huge untapped football market that is getting better, and UND has a strong history there. I do have a question for both UND and NDSU fans. As someone who follows local HS football it appears to me Bubba has the better crop of local kids (ND/Northern MN) than NDSU. I realize NDSU has a much better class on paper and from the Twin Cities but I'm just talking ND/Northern MN. In my opinion the HS football in this area is getting better and better and this year had a lot of talent. Curious from those in the know why they think that is? - NDSU going more national? - UND offering more money - Bubba/Schmidt/Rudolph all being from and putting more focus on ND - Kliman/Hedberg not as good in ND as Bohl/Vigen Just curious because i watch enough football to know Lawrence, Heidelbaugh, Grady (was an NDSU offer), Blackwell, Hartness twins would probably all be NDSU scholarship offers most years. Ellefson is far and away the top local kid after Johanasson but I think I would take Jade Lawrence over both Robbins and Brooks. I also really like Blackwell and Tristan Hartness at WR. In his highlight video there is a clip or two of Hartness outrunning Ty brooks, impressive. Blackwell didn't have a QB otherwise his stats would've been better, Hartness had his bro. Curious what some thoughts are? Whatever the reason NDSU's loss could be UNDs gain with the local talent.

Tom Miller has an article in the Herald today about this with quotes from Faison. Says Men's Hockey is for sure and the rest is up in the air. If you have to match women's sports I would think the logical choice would be Women's BBall since that brings in the most money and has the most fans for Women's teams. If it is $3500 a student I would think UND should look at funding for Men's hockey, Men's Basketball, with Women's Basketball and Volleyball or women's hockey to match them. I would probably lean to VB before women's hockey based on revenue potential. This could really separate UND from other schools when it comes to recruiting. This amount would easily be covered by increasing champions club dollars a little or raising ticket prices a few bucks. Football would be a big undertaking with 60 some scholarships. I do think if NDSU, SDSU, USD start offering it for football UND needs to do it to stay competitive because that is who they recruit against the most not other Big Sky schools. If that happens they will probably have to look at dropping a sport or two to fund the increase costs which is not an ideal situation.