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**filbert** · 01-18-2006, 01:49 PM

Re: North Dakota State

Originally posted by JACKRP

Comments from recent posts indicate that many now feel that the coaching staff has made a mistake in scheduling a very difficult schedule this year for the Jackrabbit basketball team. So how can we justify that thought process from the many previous posts that theorized "that to be the BEST you have to play the BEST". What has changed since all those posts.
Go Jacks!!!

That . . . we were wrong?

**SD-STATE** · 01-18-2006, 02:31 PM

Re: North Dakota State

Would this team be truly better if we played a weaker schedule. How does playing weaker teams improve perimeter defense and limit turnovers. A few more wins and lesser opponents would only cloud the true level of ability of the team. These are young men and should be treated as such. Lets not make weaker schedules for future years for fear of shattering their confidence.

**JH81** · 01-18-2006, 02:43 PM

Re: North Dakota State

Maybe a weaker schedule early in the year would have helped this team learn to play together, or play better, which would in turn result in better play as the season progresses. Instead, they play above their abilities, coach gets frustrated and starts mixing line-ups, gets down on players, players lose confidence in their abilities as individuals and as a team, resulting in the piss-poor play they've demonstrated lately. Seems like a weaker schedule would be a good cure for what ails them right now.

How does a weaker schedule help perimiter defense and limit turnovers? The players learn how to play the game against like competition which in turn leads to less mistakes (turnovers). Perimiter defense could be a product of 1. just being a lesser athlete, or 2. not understanding concepts of help defense or the coach's defensive philosophy of perimiter play. If the players don't understand what they are to be doing they ain't going to do it right. And if we're playing better teams (w/better athletes), don't you think our players are going to look like they're playing poor perimiter defense because they simply can't hang with the guy they are guarding.

I've only seen one game in person this year, so I can't address anything specific. Just merely stating my thoughts after reading all of these posts. Oh, and I've just contributed to beating the dead horse that is this thread. Thanks.

**Jacked_Up** · 01-18-2006, 05:17 PM

Re: North Dakota State

I agree with those who have called the NDSU loss a new low for the transition period, though a couple of last year's losses were major stinkers, too. The transition has been more painful than I expected. Interestingly, Coach Nagy said the other day that some of his good D-II teams would have a winning record at this point in the season. However, he offers no excuses and sees reason for hope, with the goal being to have a good program established by 2008-2009.

**reveroo** · 01-18-2006, 05:49 PM

Re: North Dakota State

If that's the case, (an established program by 2008-09), then they better start recruiting some kids that can play at the Div. I level. I will be shocked if these two 6'11'' players redshirting from Minnesota will help us in this transition to Div. I. We need athletic players, not tall skinny weak post players that are going to get pushed away from the basket. And please find us a scorer, someone to compliment Holdren so he doesn't have to shoulder the whole scoring load.

**jackmd** · 01-18-2006, 06:12 PM

Re: North Dakota State

Originally posted by reveroo

If that's the case, (an established program by 2008-09), then they better start recruiting some kids that can play at the Div. I level. �I will be shocked if these two 6'11'' players redshirting from Minnesota will help us in this transition to Div. I. �We need athletic players, not tall skinny weak post players that are going to get pushed away from the basket. �And please find us a scorer, someone to compliment Holdren so he doesn't have to shoulder the whole scoring load.

I too have concerns about the RSFr on the inside. I suspect they will be decent players but not durable or strong enough to make a big difference at the DI level. Cadwell can help with the scoring and Gilbert will continue to improve but I agree, we need several more DI quality players.

**MilwaukeeJacksAlum** · 01-19-2006, 07:38 AM

Re: North Dakota State

I understand the dissapointment with this season, but already condemning our redshirted freshmen without even seeing them play one minute seems like a waste of time and completely detrimental. From what I've heard from those who have seen the big guys play in high school, there is skill there. It's much easier to put on weight than it is to develop skills. Will either of these guys average 20 and 10 as freshmen? Probably not. Do they have the potential to average 20 and 10 by the time they're juniors and seniors? Never know. Matt Jones was a good player as a senior in high school. However, I doubt anyone could honestly say they saw him being the NCC freshman of the year until he started dominating at the college level. Give our redshirt's a chance. NDSU did and they just beat us by 30.

**jackmd** · 01-19-2006, 08:25 AM

Re: North Dakota State

Originally posted by MilwaukeeJacksAlum

I understand the dissapointment with this season, but already condemning our redshirted freshmen without even seeing them play one minute seems like a waste of time and completely detrimental. �From what I've heard from those who have seen the big guys play in high school, there is skill there. �It's much easier to put on weight than it is to develop skills. �Will either of these guys average 20 and 10 as freshmen? �Probably not. �Do they have the potential to average 20 and 10 by the time they're juniors and seniors? �Never know. �Matt Jones was a good player as a senior in high school. �However, �I doubt anyone could honestly say they saw him being the NCC freshman of the year until he started dominating at the college level. �Give our redshirt's a chance. �NDSU did and they just beat us by 30.

I trust your not interpreting what I said about the RSFr as condemnation. �I simply have concerns. �I have seen highlights and footspeed as well as jumping quickness will be an issue for both. �They both have a reasonable range but thats not what we need. �We need a guy who can score consistently with his back to the basket, grab 10-15 rebounds per game and protect the lane and the hoop on defense.

**SDSUFAN** · 01-19-2006, 08:46 AM

Re: North Dakota State

Originally posted by MilwaukeeJacksAlum

I understand the dissapointment with this season, but already condemning our redshirted freshmen without even seeing them play one minute seems like a waste of time and completely detrimental. �From what I've heard from those who have seen the big guys play in high school, there is skill there. �It's much easier to put on weight than it is to develop skills. �Will either of these guys average 20 and 10 as freshmen? �Probably not. �Do they have the potential to average 20 and 10 by the time they're juniors and seniors? �Never know. �Matt Jones was a good player as a senior in high school. �However, �I doubt anyone could honestly say they saw him being the NCC freshman of the year until he started dominating at the college level. �Give our redshirt's a chance. �NDSU did and they just beat us by 30.

AMEN, I too think its grossly unfair to write anyone off. I sure when they recruited these guys there were other big players out there and there had to be some good reasons for picking them. I am blue sky for bringing this up but I got to the NDSU game very early, because not being a Bison Teamaker, your parking choices are limited. I am glad I did as our guys were out taking their warm up and one of them was working with Micheal Loney on defending Loney's lay ups. This kid is going to play good defense, and that's what Nagy probably saw in looking at the videos.

Also both played in the exhibition games and they are not blungling idiots by any means. They will add depth to where we dont have it now. Namely at the post and power forward positions. When you got move Andre Gilbert to the post because of foul trouble, its not a good thing.

Please reveroo say something positive for a change. ;D

**MilwaukeeJacksAlum** · 01-19-2006, 09:59 AM

Re: North Dakota State

Originally posted by jackmd

We need a guy who can score consistently with his back to the basket, grab 10-15 rebounds per game and protect the lane and the hoop on defense.

Couldn't agree more. �Kurt Meister comes to mind. �Couldn't jump over the free throw line, but he banged, picked up rebounds and gave us a post presence. �Tom Rops also comes to mind, but he was more of an outside threat than Meister.

**filbert** · 01-19-2006, 12:34 PM

Re: North Dakota State

Well, I certainly hope that Bilitz and Engen are hitting the training table and the weights this year, as well as getting the most out of Jackrabbit Acceleration.

That's why they were red-shirted . . . because they weren't ready to be D-I post players straight out of high school.

Let's give them a chance to develop and see what they can do next year, what do you say?

**jackrabbit1979** · 01-19-2006, 12:50 PM

Re: North Dakota State

They need to be locked in Larson Commons with their "collective arses" taped shut for the next 6 months.

**filbert** · 01-19-2006, 01:43 PM

Re: North Dakota State

Originally posted by jackrabbit1979

They need to be locked in Larson Commons with their "collective arses" taped shut for the next 6 months.

Oof. That's an unpleasant mental image . . .

**SD-STATE** · 01-19-2006, 05:46 PM

Re: North Dakota State

They need to be locked in Larson Commons with their "collective arses" taped shut for the next 6 months.

They might be better off with some sort of "Incredible Hulk" serum. Some people's bodies arne't able to bulk up and add weight. High metabolism, small body frames. Any genetic engineers on campus? I'll have to call my close personal friend... Dr. EVIL. I suspect they are solid basketball players though and will be solid contributors in years to come. 6'11, if they can tie their own shoes they should be able to play a little basketball.

**SDSUFAN** · 01-21-2006, 03:46 AM

Re: North Dakota State

Jeff Kolpeck had an interesting column yesterday in the Fargo Forum, and to those who frequent Bisonville, this is probably old news, but Stop-n-Go has donated 1 million toward the improvements at Bison Sports Arena. No doubt Stop and Go will get a great deal of advertizing out of this and they seem have these places all over Fargo, but its an interesting piece.

Here is the link:

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/ind...Jeff%20Kolpack

One other note, NDSU lost to Utah Valley on a last second tip in in Orem. Ouch that has to hurt and lets hope the Jacks go Orem with heads up and ready to play. Attendance was 720 at the game.