UND (6-8, 0-1) vs NDSU (3-11, 0-2) 12/30 7 PM

[SWSiouxMN]

A untimed offensive drought in the 2nd half combined with the difficulty of stopping Riley Miller and Parker Bjorklund prevent UND from getting to the winners circle.  UND has stewed about this for a while since they didn't play on Wednesday in Malcomb.  So now, they have a 3 game homestand.  First up, the hated Bison of NDSU who is having a season.... to forget

About the Bison:

In a typical NDSU basketball season, you would see them win around 20 games, finish in the top 3 of the conference, get really hot in the 2nd half of the season, and make a deep run in Sioux Falls.  Last year was the perfect example of this, falling just short of the NCAA tournament. With the departures of Rocky, Griesel, and Eady, things might have been a little tougher but with Nelson and Morgan anchoring a tough frontcourt, why would it be any different.

Well.........

The Bison have been on the struggle bus since the beginning of the year.  They only have 1 D1 win and 3 wins total.  The conference season also began rough for the Bison with 2 losses on the road to St. Thomas and Western.  So what's going on?

Grant Nelson is still averaging nearly 16 points and 8 rebounds, but his shooting horribly from 3.  Andrew Morgan is averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds, but for whatever reason isn't getting the minutes he deserves.

However, the biggest issue is the guards and the outside shooting.  Outside of Hastreiter and White, no Bison is shooting about 32% from 3.  They don't have THAT guy to help the bigs down low and until they do, it might be a long year in Fargo.  

About Dave Richman: 9th Year (162-108 overall record, 82-48 Summit)

The 44 year old from Wahpeton is now in his 9th year as a head coach at NDSU but as been a lifer.  This is his 20th season as a coach for NDSU (spent 11 years as an assistant or GA).  Has lead NDSU to 3 NCAA tournament apperances and 2 wins in March Madness.  

However... it just seems like there are a lot of NDSU fans who just don't like Dave and will be happy if a bigger program snaps him up.  This season has been frustrating for Bison fans.  Could this be the year they don't finish in the top 3, the first time since 17-18?

Key Player: Grant Nelson (6'11 Junior)

The Junior from Devils Lake is now adjusting to being the man after the graduation of Rocky.  While the outside shot isn't falling, he still has been dangerous on the inside, dropping a 35 point, 16 rebound performance against Western.  He had big games against UND last year and is looking for another one on Friday.

Other Summit Action (Thursday Games)

WIU (1-0) @ SDSU (0-1)

Western got off on the right foot with a 79-60 win over NDSU at home before having their game snowed out vs UND.  SDSU had a night to forget at ORU, losing by 39! The Bunnies are looking for this weekend to get right before heading North, can they shake it off?  Or will WIU pull a stunner and continue the Non-Dakota trend of success.  Massner vs Mayo should be a dandy of a matchup.

UST (2-0) @ USD (0-1) 

The Tommies find themselves on the top of the Summit standings after a sweep of the NoDak Schools, while USD just couldn't score against KC.  Will the time off help to settle down USD?  Can UST keep the good times rolling? AJ vs Riley Miller?  Tasos vs Bjorlund?

ORU (1-0) @ Omaha (1-0)

ORU made a LOUD statement last week, beating SDSU by 39! at home.  Now can they carry that into Omaha and avoid the toe stub against a Mavs squad coming off a nice win at home against DU.  Can the Abmas show roll on?

KC (1-0) @ DU (0-1)

The Roos threw up a defensive gem, holding USD to 45 points while their 1-2 punch of Mitchell and Allen combined for 41 points in the win.  DU had a rough go of it in Omaha, dropping their conference opener.  Can DU avoid an 0-2 start and blunt some of their non-conf momentum or can KC steal one on the road and establish themselves as a early season threat?

Keys:

1) Does UND shut down Nelson/Morgan or their guards?

2) Who will step up and score for UND?

3) Can UND play a clean game?

The Call:

UND has 3 games at home against the Dakota schools, and they are ALLLL winnable.  UND needs this one badly against NDSU to gain some positive momentum.  UND had a game plan against NDSU last year in Fargo that worked pretty well (double Rocky, double Nelson and make the guards beat you) for 30 minutes.  Wonder if they go back to that with a much better team.  

T needs to play like last year Fargo T.  Norman needs to hit outside shots.  Omot needs to play awesome.  If they can get that, UND wins.  

UND ends the losing streak against the Bison.

UND 73-67

Game is on Midco and ESPN3

*Per the usual request:  Keep it clean people!

[HoopsFan03]

This game is all about can they stop one guy. Grant Nelson. He is the one guy that can really hurt UND and win NDSU this game. UND struggled against St. Thomas big man Parker Bjorklund and allowed him to score 29 points. If they guard Grant the same, he could score 40 in this game.

Shouldn't be worried about their guards as none of them are that good and UND has excellent perimeter defenders. But Grant Nelson is the one guy you have to stop. Double him on any post up. Double him on any drive into a post up. Make him see multiple bodies at all times and HAVE TO kick the ball out. Make somebody else make a play and beat you. Don't overcomplicate things.

If they do that, UND wins this game!

[jdub27]

4 minutes ago, HoopsFan03 said:

This game is all about can they stop one guy. Grant Nelson. He is the one guy that can really hurt UND and win NDSU this game.

On the other hand, he went for 35/16 against WIU and they lost by 19.
He's likely going to get his. Contain Morgan and don't let any of the other players contribute. 

[forksandspoons]

Need a good crowd! LGH! 

[SD UND]

Need this one. Time to beat these guys

[HoopsFan03]

47 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

On the other hand, he went for 35/16 against WIU and they lost by 19.
He's likely going to get his. Contain Morgan and don't let any of the other players contribute. 

That is also the way you could do it. Let him score 40 and then try contain all the others to less than 25 in order to win. UND averages 70 ppg. Either way could work!

[SiouxFan100]

Skunburg (so?) is a pretty good player for the bisons as well - Jamestown grad

saw an article that named him top ten player from out of North Dakota all time - didn’t think he was that good?

[HoopsFan03]

9 minutes ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Skunburg (so?) is a pretty good player for the bisons as well - Jamestown grad

saw an article that named him top ten player from out of North Dakota all time - didn’t think he was that good?

He is a solid player. He is averaging 13 this year but he's pretty inconsistent. Not so sure about the top ten player out of ND all time....

[sioux24/7]

2 hours ago, jdub27 said:

On the other hand, he went for 35/16 against WIU and they lost by 19.
He's likely going to get his. Contain Morgan and don't let any of the other players contribute. 

This! Contain Morgan is huge in my mind. I know Bison fans have been frustrated by his lack of minutes but I could see him being unleashed. 

[JohnboyND7]

51 minutes ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Skunburg (so?) is a pretty good player for the bisons as well - Jamestown grad

saw an article that named him top ten player from out of North Dakota all time - didn’t think he was that good?

Skunberg very well might be a top ten ND high school player.  Not like we pump a ton of great players out.  

Both these teams are horrid.  Hope its a fun game.  Might not get many of those this year lmao

[Kab]

Don’t see how skunberg would make top 10 of all time

would be fun to see these kids play against a passer like Hunter Berg, doubt many of them would be aware the ball is coming their way 

[SiouxFan100]

Sorry - top ten last decade - not all time

https://bustingbrackets.com/2022/09/09/ncaa-basketball-10-best-players-from-state-of-north-dakota-of-last-decade/amp/1/

[UND1983]

2 minutes ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Sorry - top ten last decade - not all time

https://bustingbrackets.com/2022/09/09/ncaa-basketball-10-best-players-from-state-of-north-dakota-of-last-decade/amp/1/

I was gonna say....

[GoodGood]

It’s a must win game. As simple as that…

[Und246]

Key is contain Morgan. Nelson will get his

[forksandspoons]

Just curious - does Brad Berry ever bring his team to basketball games? They’re one of the teams that is for sure on campus over break so that’s why I bring them up. 

[FightingSiouxHawks]

This will be an extremely tough matchup for the hawks.  NDSU has really cut down the min of their subs since the start of conference play. With the youth of the hawks look for the physicality and length of the Bison vs the second group coming off the bench for ND to be the deciding factor. Hope we have a few new wrinkles or change of pace. Hard to go toe to toe every game with this youth and same concepts hoping for a different outcome. 

[jdub27]

1 hour ago, FightingSiouxHawks said:

This will be an extremely tough matchup for the hawks.  NDSU has really cut down the min of their subs since the start of conference play. With the youth of the hawks look for the physicality and length of the Bison vs the second group coming off the bench for ND to be the deciding factor. Hope we have a few new wrinkles or change of pace. Hard to go toe to toe every game with this youth and same concepts hoping for a different outcome. 

There's been two games and NDSU spent both of them playing catch up. But I'm all for them continuing to limit Morgan's minutes. 

[SWSiouxMN]

I'm excited for this one.  

 

[UND Fan]

18 hours ago, forksandspoons said:

Just curious - does Brad Berry ever bring his team to basketball games? They’re one of the teams that is for sure on campus over break so that’s why I bring them up. 

I am quite sure they do not attend BB games. 

[jdub27]

58 minutes ago, UND Fan said:

I am quite sure they do not attend BB games. 

They've attended before. Not saying their attendance couldn't be higher, but typically their schedule does not line up as well with being able to attend.

[HoopsFan03]

1 hour ago, jdub27 said:

They've attended before. Not saying their attendance couldn't be higher, but typically their schedule does not line up as well with being able to attend.

Tonight would be prime game for them to be able to attend

[SiouxFan100]

Let’s shut up the su tonight 

[SIOUXFAN97]

Is Jalun hurt

[HoopsFan03]

1 minute ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

Is Jalun hurt

Doesn’t look like it. Just Sather being Sather