If the NDSU Bison win a couple of games in the NCAA tourney (very big IF) then maybe its a semi interesting story state wide, however, until then worry about qualifying for the NCAA tourney. Outside of Fargo, ND NDSU Basketball is really a non-story. I could care less what the Bison are doing. Most hockey fans that I know or associate with aren't interested in your college basketball team.
I don't think NDSU basketball is EVER going to be as big as UND Fighting Sioux hockey. Face it NDSU fans; Fighting Sioux hockey has a following that not many teams in College Hockey enjoy let alone NDSU basketball. Making the NCAA tourney once isn't equal in state history in terms of biggest achievments. Are you going to compare that to any of the 7 NCAA Division one hockey titles, or one of the 13 WCHA regular season championships? What other teams fans travel like Sioux fans. Maybe Gopher fans?
Does everything have to be a contest between UND and NDSU? NDSU had a chance to go the hockey route and decided not to.
(Check it out): Bison in NCAAs biggest sports story ever in N.D.?
Steve Hallstrom of WDAY-TV and I hashed this over yesterday on the radio: If (and I emphasize IF) the North Dakota State men's basketball team qualifies for the NCAA basketball tournament by winning the Summit League tournament in a few weeks, where does it rank in state history in terms of biggest achievments?
I think it becomes the biggest sports story ever in the state. The NCAA tourney is the second largest sporting event in this nation (behind the Super Bowl) and the Bison making the Dance would be a national story (first-time eligible team making it to the big time out of frozen North Dakota, etc.). The magnitude of the NCAA tourney trumps everything else.
University of North Dakota hockey fans will likely take issue.
I bet if the make the tourney they will do really good, best of luck!
ReplyDeletenow if the Force make the playoffs...
ReplyDeletearen't they out drawing the bbteam anyway?
I read some where the Force were out drawing the Force.
ReplyDeleteThe Summit League? Is that the outfit that has the car parts catalog?
ReplyDeleteThere is a summit racing part store. :)
ReplyDeleteOne trip to a large national tournament featuring 65 teams is bigger than 7 national championships?!?! Only in McFeeble's mind...
ReplyDeleteNCAA basketball has a rediculous amount of teams, so they likely won't get a good following on one appearance.
ReplyDeleteNow, if they somehow made a trip to the Elite 8 or further than maybe, but still I can't see how that would catch them up to the Sioux hockey.
In order for them to catch Sioux hockey they'd have to be from a large conference (Big Ten, Big Twelve) which isn't likely, become a large school (Ohio State, Michigan) which also isn't likely.
Their one hope to catch Sioux hockey is to become the next Gonzaga; a small school who constantly makes the NCAA tournament and also makes many trips deep into the tournament.
These all have to be Grand Forks comments. To say that D1 Hockey, with its 58 teams, can even compare to D1 basketball is ludicrous. If UND wins 10 lacrosse or softball championships, would that be the biggest State sport story ever?
ReplyDeleteD1 hockey is basically a regional sport.
You will agree when the Sioux (or whatever their name is going to be) come out of their transition and be competitive at the D1 basketball level.