The Sather Conundrum

[sioux24/7]

17 minutes ago, EternalOptimist said:

You might be right.  If that plays out, how long of an extension does UND offer? I would imagine Sather wouldn't be to interested in a 1yr deal, maybe not even a 2yr deal - Unless the $$ was too good to turn down.

I’m thinking it will be a 3 year deal and buyouts something like 75% of remaining salary fired in year 1, 50% year 2 and 25% year 3. Then add some automatic extension options or something we win a regular season title, win the tournament, have 20 some plus wins and take 2nd. I think it has to be a heavy incentive based contract. 

[GoodGood]

It’s just so hard to tell what’s what with how bad the summit is this year. The teams we have beat have a combined winning percentage of 25% for the year 

[CMSioux]

On 1/21/2026 at 9:54 AM, AJS said:

I know you know this, but it's not the coaches / players who are setting their budget. I have heard that this past year, Football budget increased while Hockey decreased. There is something to the bus trip to Omaha.

Clearly, not enough $ to go around. Strategically, I like where they're at. Keep hockey at a high level, increase Football and once Football gets going, then start really concentrating on basketball. 

Totally agree. 

[Long Snapper 92]

20 minutes ago, GoodGood said:

It’s just so hard to tell what’s what with how bad the summit is this year. The teams we have beat have a combined winning percentage of 25% for the year 

The Summit is so down this year

[EternalOptimist]

14 minutes ago, Long Snapper 92 said:

The Summit is so down this year

It really is. Why is this? Is this the result of the change in the portal and NIL or is it just an anomaly and it will get better.  Maybe a little of both.  

[coachdags]

30 minutes ago, EternalOptimist said:

It really is. Why is this? Is this the result of the change in the portal and NIL or is it just an anomaly and it will get better.  Maybe a little of both.  

Sad fact, the lower leagues (Summit) will now always just be a farm system for upper leagues. 
 

Our top Summit team, would be bottom of MVC, need to face the facts. 

[fightingsioux4life]

13 minutes ago, coachdags said:

Sad fact, the lower leagues (Summit) will now always just be a farm system for upper leagues. 
 

Our top Summit team, would be bottom of MVC, need to face the facts. 

I'm sure glad Eric Schmidt doesn't adopt this attitude.

[coachdags]

7 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

I'm sure glad Eric Schmidt doesn't adopt this attitude.

Different Sport, still happen, numbers of players effect the outcome. 

[EternalOptimist]

45 minutes ago, coachdags said:

Sad fact, the lower leagues (Summit) will now always just be a farm system for upper leagues. 
 

Our top Summit team, would be bottom of MVC, need to face the facts. 

I'm curious about this. If this is true - which I guess I lean towards the possibility, logically then wouldn't that mean that every level below the top levels would be watered down? Is the NSIC down as well? D3 also down? I don't follow those levels close enough to know.

[Big Green]

1 hour ago, EternalOptimist said:

I'm curious about this. If this is true - which I guess I lean towards the possibility, logically then wouldn't that mean that every level below the top levels would be watered down? Is the NSIC down as well? D3 also down? I don't follow those levels close enough to know.

My theory would be that the big money is at the Major College Basketball level.  D2 to Mid Major or D3 to D2 are not going to provide much in NIL money.  Mid Major to P4 is where the real money is.

 

[UND92,96]

Here is the difference between this year's (so far) Kenpom rankings vs. last year's end of the season rankings for the Summit:

2025-26

132. St. Thomas

140. NDSU

185. SDSU

259. Denver

269. UNO

282. USD

290. UND

317. ORU

346. KC

 

2024-25

130. St. Thomas

135. NDSU

137. SDSU

165. UNO

238. KC

240. USD

265. UND

311. Denver

330. ORU

[GoodGood]

3 minutes ago, UND92,96 said:

Here is the difference between this year's (so far) Kenpom rankings vs. last year's end of the season rankings for the Summit:

2025-26

132. St. Thomas

140. NDSU

185. SDSU

259. Denver

269. UNO

282. USD

290. UND

317. ORU

346. KC

 

2024-25

130. St. Thomas

135. NDSU

137. SDSU

165. UNO

238. KC

240. USD

265. UND

311. Denver

330. ORU

Yikes!! 

[Und246]

Even the top teams right now in Summit aren’t near as good as the top teams in the Summit have been the last few years. 

[coachdags]

1 hour ago, UND92,96 said:

Here is the difference between this year's (so far) Kenpom rankings vs. last year's end of the season rankings for the Summit:

2025-26

132. St. Thomas

140. NDSU

185. SDSU

259. Denver

269. UNO

282. USD

290. UND

317. ORU

346. KC

 

2024-25

130. St. Thomas

135. NDSU

137. SDSU

165. UNO

238. KC

240. USD

265. UND

311. Denver

330. ORU

Be interesting if any other conference has almost 60% of its schools ranked 200 or lower? Sad reality.

[SIOUXFAN97]

4 hours ago, coachdags said:

Sad fact, the lower leagues (Summit) will now always just be a farm system for upper leagues. 
 

Our top Summit team, would be bottom of MVC, need to face the facts. 

is Fenton ok with this...has he tried anything to change the culture of the summit?

[Long Snapper 92]

Extend the man!!!!

[GoodGood]

Just now, Long Snapper 92 said:

Extend the man!!!!

Pay the man!! 

[coachdags]

Nice Road Win Today! Fun game to watch! 

[gfhockey]

12 minutes ago, Long Snapper 92 said:

Extend the man!!!!

Extend his azz!