Jump to content
SiouxSports.com Forum

UND (3-6) @ Cal Baptist (7-1) 12/7 9 PM


SWSiouxMN

Recommended Posts

After a 2nd half to forget for UND, which included an injury to a key backcourt player.  UND looks to finish the road portion of their non-conference schedule (already?) with a trip up down to Riverside to play Cal Baptist of the WAC Conference

About Cal-Baptist:

It wasn't that long ago when this program was in Division 2.  They made the move up to Division 1 and the WAC conference (when they were desperate to take in teams) and started their journey in the 2018-19 season.  So far in their first three years... they have more than held their own in the WAC.  Winning records in all 3 seasons, including a 21 win campaign in 19-20, which would have gotten then a CIT/CBI invite but COVID... 

Now they have reached the final season of their transition and that isn't the only transition going on in the league.  This is the first season of a massive influx of teams from the Southland.  No longer is it the NMSU, GCU and the rest.  The WAC has seemly risen from the dead and has really solidify its basketball conference.  With all of that, Cal Baptist has stated, don't forget about us.  They have started the year strong, 7-1.  Their only loss is against a ranked Texas squad, and includes wins against San Jose State and Northern Colorado.

This is a team that loves to score and has a very dangerous set of guards.  While they have to wait one more year before they can be eligible for the dance, they certainly will be a darkhorse in the WAC.

About Rick Croy (9th year at Cal Baptist: 57-34 overall record at D1 level, 23-19 WAC record. )

This guy is a Cali lifer.  He was born in Cali, raised in Cali, went to college in Cali, and has coached in Cali.  He was a successful coach at the JUCO level, assisted at St. Mary's under Randy Bennett, and then got the gig at Cal Baptist.  He was pretty good at the D2 level, his teams went to regionals every single year and has made the D1 transition quite easy.  He certainly has the program going in the right direction with international players and his excellent backcourt of shooters.  Soon he will get his chance at the dance and I think it is not if he gets there, but when.

Key Players: Armstrong Brothers (Taran 6'5 freshman and Tre 6'5 sophomore)

These pair of Aussies give Cal Baptist a dangerous backcourt. Tre is picking up where he left off last year and is shooting an electric 45.7% from downtown.  Taran has made a statement in his first season, putting up Baylor Scheierman like numbers (12.5 ppgs, 7.6 rpg, 8 apg).  This guy is a triple-double waiting to happen.  With multiple years left with this duo, you can see why you would think that the Lancers would break through soon with an NCAA tournament appearance and these two would be the reason why. 

Keys:

1) Status of Nero:  If he can't go, who steps up?

2) Who is ready to be a leader?

3) Time to grow.

The Call:

Notice my keys was nothing to do with the opponent.  It is high time that this team figures something out.  Conference play is starting in a couple of weeks and what they have put out the past two weeks is not what they are capable of.   This might be a game where Sather decides to make a statement (i.e: 2nd night of NDSU last year) and shake up the lineup.  

With that said.  Baptist is too good and this will be a double digit loss for UND.

Baptist 81-65 

Game is on the Plus

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...