The Bobcat Nation

The Jackrabbits invade Bozeman on Jan. 2nd, so I thought I would give you a little update on our program. Here are highlights from a Sioux Falls Argus Leader story that ran today.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 002/SPORTS

SDSU to play Kentucky

Men's basketball team to open against Wildcats

From staff reports

Published: 07/13/05

In the world of men's college basketball, Kentucky is synonymous with great success.

This November, the South Dakota State men's basketball team charges straight into that history and mystique with a season-opener to remember.

The Jacks will open their second season in Division I on Nov. 13 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. They will face the Wildcats, a team that went 28-6 last season, just missing a Final Four berth after a double overtime loss to Michigan State in the Austin Regional final.

"Our players are excited about this," SDSU men's coach Scott Nagy said. "When we told them about the opportunity we had, they were all for it."

However, Nagy isn't sure his team will be entirely ready for what they'll find in Kentucky.

The game is the season-opener for Kentucky as well, and the 23,000-capacity Arena figures to be filled with loud Wildcat fans.

In its first season in Division I, SDSU played strong programs like Marquette and Colorado, but the foray into Lexington will be the Jacks' first game against one of the nation's elite programs.

"I don't know if they understand what it will be like walking in there with 24,000 fans," Nagy said.

"But our basketball team will be a lot better next season. There's that intimidation factor that our kids have to get over."

SDSU's Steve Holdren, who will be a sophomore next season, said he and his teammates will be ready to give Kentucky a game.

"There is no fear in any of us," Holdren said. "We are not scared to play anybody."

The game against Kentucky is the first of two games the Jacks will play in Lexington as part of the Guardians Classic. If the Jacks were to pull the major upset against Kentucky and beat either Wofford (S.C.) or Lipscomb (Tenn.) on Nov. 14, then SDSU could advance to the Guardians Classic final round on Nov. 21-22 in Kansas City, Mo. . . .

Nagy said tough games like Kentucky and the other matchups are what the Jacks need to grow into a solid Division I program.

"That is what kids want to hear when you are in their living rooms," Nagy said.

Nagy said it's possible the Kentucky game will be televised on an ESPN network.

Last season, SDSU's women's basketball team scored its first-ever Division I victory by beating Kentucky last November during the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.



Here is a look at the rest of the 2005-'06 SDSU Men's schedule (tentative)

Nov 13, @ Kentucky (Guardians Classic)
Nov 14, Wofford/Lipscomb @ Lexigton, KY (Guardians Classic)
Nov 18, @ Illinois
Nov 24, Southeast Missouri State
Nov 30, Cal-State Fullerton
Dec 3, Tennesee State
Dec 6, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Dec 8, @ Nebraska
Dec 10, Denver
Dec 12, UMKC
Dec 20, Manhatten, @ Sioux Falls
Dec 23,@ Minnesota
Dec 28, Butler
Jan 2, @ Montana State
Jan 7 Utah Valley State
Jan 14, @NDSU
Jan 16, SW Minnesota State
Jan 25, @ Idaho State
Jan 28, @ Utah State
Feb 2, @ Utah Valley State
Feb 6, IPFW
Feb 11, Texas-Pan American
Feb 18, NDSU
Feb 22, @IPFW
Feb 25, @ Texas-Pan American
Mar 3, @ San Diego State
Mar 5, @ Cal State Fullerton
Plus to be scheduled at Central Florida, and at Marquette.

OK, so tell us about your team. Returnies, recruits, type of system you run. I thought I heard you signed a pretty darn good forward fron the North Dakota School of Science

Minnesota and Illinois arent too shaby either. Damn I wish SDSU was in the Big Sky instead of UNC.

I was on a flight to Denver about a month ago and sat next to a guy who went to school at SDSU. He saw my MSU polo shirt and we instantly struck up a conversation. He was a bigger basketball fan than football, but it sounds like your basketball atmosphere would be the envy of the conference if Fullerton let you guys in.

SDSU is a basketball school. We do ok and like our football, but we live for basketball season.

Quick history - SDSU has won 1 NCAA D-II Championship, 1 NCAA D-II Runner-Up, and 24 NCAA D-II tourney appearences (3rd most all time), 20 NCC Championships (Most all time). We lead the Nation in D-II attendence 6 out of the last 10 years we were in the division. Our last season in D-II, '03-'04, we spent the whole season ranked in the top 20 with several weeks being ranked #1.

Heading into last season ('04-'05) we lost 7 players (5 to graduation, 1 to illness, 1 transfered because he wanted one more shot at a D-II National Championship) so we were very young and some Sr. "role" players were forced into the starting line up. Still we managed to win some games.

We lost three Sr. and two of them "started" but the kids we have to replace them are much better athletes. God bless last years Seniors they tried really hard but they all were brought to SDSU to be role players on a D-II team not starters on a D-I team. It has been reported that the kids that red shirted killed them in practice day after day. This is why most Jackrabbit fans, the media, and the coaching staff feel this years team, although young (no Seniors), will be a much better product.

Our Head Coach Scott Nagy (starting his 11th season at SDSU has a .741% winning percentage 220-77) likes to see the Jackrabbits run on the offensive side and crash the boards on the defensive end of the floor.

Recent signings included:

Jose Frias (free-as), 6-1, 185 Hyde School, Woodstock, Conn who is transferring from Allen Hancock Community College in Santa Monica, Ca. Jose is a native of New York City.
Mohamed Berte (ber-TAY), 6-8, 215, College Adventiste High School, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, who is transferring from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa;
Robert Bilitz, 6-10, 200, West Lutheran HS, from Plymouth, MN;
Mark Engen, 6-10, 200, Red Rock Central HS, from Lamberton, MN;
Cam Hornby (horn-bee), 6-0, 180, Glenlawn Collegiate HS, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

(mslacat, I think the kid from the ND Jr. College went to NDSU, but I am not sure)

Our projected team looks like this:

2005-06 SDSU Men's Basketball Roster





NO. PLAYER POS. HEIGHT WEIGHT YEAR

1. Mackenzie Casey G 6-0 160 So.
2. Cam Hornby G 6-0 180 Fr.
3. Jose Frias G 6-1 185 Jr.
4. James Keller G 6-2 175 Rs/Fr.
5. Blake Yackley G 6-4 180 Fr
6. Andy Kleinjan G 6-3 170 Jr.
7. Matt Cadwell G 6-3 195 Rs/Fr.
8. Andre Gilbert F 6-7 185 Rs/Fr.
9. Ben DeWaard G/F 6-5 180 Jr.
10. Steve Holdren F 6-5 215 So.
11. Mark Engen C 6-10 200 Fr.
12. Robert Bilitz C 6-10 200 Fr.
13. Ben Beran F 6-7 230 Jr.
14. Michael Loney F 6-6 225 So.
15. Mohamed Berte F 6'8 215 Jr.

Here is our home Frost Arena on the campus of SDSU



Frost Arena (Cap. 9,000)

The pic is a little old the floor design is changed, we have Hydra-Rib goals now, and the lower endzone seats now have backs, but it is the best one I have.

Finally if you would like to know more here are a couple of links.

SDSU athletics:

http://www.gojacks.com/

SDSU fan board:

http://diaafootball.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

89rabbit wrote:The Jackrabbits invade Bozeman on Jan. 2nd, so I thought I would give you a little update on our program. Here are highlights from a Sioux Falls Argus Leader story that ran today.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 002/SPORTS

SDSU to play Kentucky

Men's basketball team to open against Wildcats

From staff reports

Published: 07/13/05

In the world of men's college basketball, Kentucky is synonymous with great success.

This November, the South Dakota State men's basketball team charges straight into that history and mystique with a season-opener to remember.

The Jacks will open their second season in Division I on Nov. 13 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. They will face the Wildcats, a team that went 28-6 last season, just missing a Final Four berth after a double overtime loss to Michigan State in the Austin Regional final.

"Our players are excited about this," SDSU men's coach Scott Nagy said. "When we told them about the opportunity we had, they were all for it."

However, Nagy isn't sure his team will be entirely ready for what they'll find in Kentucky.

The game is the season-opener for Kentucky as well, and the 23,000-capacity Arena figures to be filled with loud Wildcat fans.

In its first season in Division I, SDSU played strong programs like Marquette and Colorado, but the foray into Lexington will be the Jacks' first game against one of the nation's elite programs.

"I don't know if they understand what it will be like walking in there with 24,000 fans," Nagy said.

"But our basketball team will be a lot better next season. There's that intimidation factor that our kids have to get over."

SDSU's Steve Holdren, who will be a sophomore next season, said he and his teammates will be ready to give Kentucky a game.

"There is no fear in any of us," Holdren said. "We are not scared to play anybody."

The game against Kentucky is the first of two games the Jacks will play in Lexington as part of the Guardians Classic. If the Jacks were to pull the major upset against Kentucky and beat either Wofford (S.C.) or Lipscomb (Tenn.) on Nov. 14, then SDSU could advance to the Guardians Classic final round on Nov. 21-22 in Kansas City, Mo. . . .

Nagy said tough games like Kentucky and the other matchups are what the Jacks need to grow into a solid Division I program.

"That is what kids want to hear when you are in their living rooms," Nagy said.

Nagy said it's possible the Kentucky game will be televised on an ESPN network.

Last season, SDSU's women's basketball team scored its first-ever Division I victory by beating Kentucky last November during the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.



Here is a look at the rest of the 2005-'06 SDSU Men's schedule (tentative)

Nov 13, @ Kentucky (Guardians Classic)
Nov 14, Wofford/Lipscomb @ Lexigton, KY (Guardians Classic)
Nov 18, @ Illinois
Nov 24, Southeast Missouri State
Nov 30, Cal-State Fullerton
Dec 3, Tennesee State
Dec 6, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Dec 8, @ Nebraska
Dec 10, Denver
Dec 12, UMKC
Dec 20, Manhatten, @ Sioux Falls
Dec 23,@ Minnesota
Dec 28, Butler
Jan 2, @ Montana State
Jan 7 Utah Valley State
Jan 14, @NDSU
Jan 16, SW Minnesota State
Jan 25, @ Idaho State
Jan 28, @ Utah State
Feb 2, @ Utah Valley State
Feb 6, IPFW
Feb 11, Texas-Pan American
Feb 18, NDSU
Feb 22, @IPFW
Feb 25, @ Texas-Pan American
Mar 3, @ San Diego State
Mar 5, @ Cal State Fullerton
Plus to be scheduled at Central Florida, and at Marquette.

That's a great schedule....I'm jealous.

Do you want a medal? You couldn't hold the BSC's jock.

suckitgriz wrote:Do you want a medal? You couldn't hold the BSC's jock.

I guess we will find out on Jan. 2nd won't we.

it must feel like quite an honor to be playing someone in the BSC.

suckitgriz wrote:it must feel like quite an honor to be playing someone in the BSC.

I am glad we are playing both Montana State and Idaho State. I have nothing but respect for the BSC. However, I am not sure I would call it an honor.

Atlantic Sun (Lipscomb/possible Guardians Classic match up)

Big 10 (Illinois & Minnesota)

Big XII (Nebraska)

Big East (Marquette)

Big Sky (Montana State & Idaho State)

Big West (Cal State Fullerton)

C-USA (Central Florida)

Horizon (Butler & UW-Milwaukee)

Mid-Atlantic (Manhattan)

Mid-Con (University of Missouri - Kansas City)

Mountain West (San Diego State)

NCAA D-I Independent (IPFW, NDSU, Texas-Pan Am, and Utah Valley State)

Ohio Valley (SE Missouri State, & Tennesse State)

SEC (Kentucky)

Southern (Wofford/possible Guardians Classic match up)

Sun Belt (Denver)

WAC (Utah State)

Non D-I (Southwest Minnesota State)



Conference RPI Rankings:

http://kenpom.com/confrank.php


Who are some of the big name programs that the Bobcats play this coming season?

suckitgriz wrote:it must feel like quite an honor to be playing someone in the BSC.

Smack board is thatta way ----v Keep this stuff over there please.

This scheduled shows the differance between a coach that wants to build a program and a coach who wants to save his job. Our b-ball scheduled is pathetic and has been for the last 2-3 years. I'm very jealous of the Jackrabbits schedule.

Ponycat wrote:This scheduled shows the differance between a coach that wants to build a program and a coach who wants to save his job. Our b-ball scheduled is pathetic and has been for the last 2-3 years. I'm very jealous of the Jackrabbits schedule.

No kidding, I was thinking the exact same thing. Kudos to SDSU for their schedule, its head and shoulders above MSUs.

suckitgriz wrote:Do you want a medal? You couldn't hold the BSC's jock.

The BSC is a joke as of the last 3-4 years. I'd bet SDSU would finish middle pack and do some damage in the post season tourney.

89rabbit wrote: Here is our home Frost Arena on the campus of SDSU



Frost Arena (Cap. 9,000)

That is something to be jealous over, a packed house! This looks exactly what the guy I flew with was talking about. We sell out one game a year, Cat-Griz, but the atmosphere is average at best versus when I was in school.

Hopefully after NDSU and SDSU are closer to post season eligibility we will get an invite.....

The Field House is just not a basketball building. Even when it is sold out it still feels empty. We do need to get more fans to those games. When I was in Bozeman I never missed a Saturday game, and rarely missed the Thursday games. Unfortunately there were not more fans in Bozeman like me. We need some of that growing football fan support to carry over to the basketball program!

mquast53000 wrote:The Field House is just not a basketball building. Even when it is sold out it still feels empty. We do need to get more fans to those games. When I was in Bozeman I never missed a Saturday game, and rarely missed the Thursday games. Unfortunately there were not more fans in Bozeman like me. We need some of that growing football fan support to carry over to the basketball program!

Great comment on the Field House. I have never been thrilled with that as a hoops venue. I'd much rather have something that seats like 6000, is close to the court, encompasses the entire court not just sidelines and some baseline seating. This would make for a great atmosphere and a loud one at that! Cozy confines are much better for hoops atmosphere than a barn which is sold out once a year.

Actually, I feel the same way about the Field House, however, I go to every game and have a descent time. I do not think Durham gets enough credit- look at some of the players that he has brought in over the years. Players with personality as well as some serious talent. Durham also has been perceptive enough to realize that he may be a little "old school" and that he needed to bring in some fresh coaching talent. Now we are looking at, possibly, one of the most talented teams that we have seen since the Quadre' days. If anyone is to blame, I blame the Athletic Department. The entertainment at the games is not enough to keep the fans in the stands. They need to revamp the whole program...from the mascot to the music. I am sick of looking at the flying wheat montana blimp and unathletic kids shooting hoops. Give me Cheerleaders in skirts and good music- that is a start. Then a little advertising on campus would help. When I was in school, if I would have not been living with a B-ball player, I would have never known when there was a game during the middle of the week. I think this is one way that the A.D. has failed- they do not make it a big event for students to get excited about. Sure football has grown in attendence, but even that could be better and it starts by getting 12,500 undergraduates interested.

mslacat wrote:OK, so tell us about your team. Returnies, recruits, type of system you run. I thought I heard you signed a pretty darn good forward fron the North Dakota School of Science

Actually NDSU was the school that just signed the forward from NDSCS not SDSU. SDSU has been a very solid basketball school in both mens and womens hoops for a while now but NDSU is starting to close the gap. NDSU coach Tim Miles has just put togather two great recruiting classes and seems to have the program back on the right track after all the coaching changes that had happend a few years back (3 coaches in 3 years).

NDSU also announced about a month ago that the BSA is going to be renovated and will looking something like the picture below.


Here's the schedule(tentative)
at Minnesota
at Colorado State
at Idaho State
at Drake tourney (2 games)
at Idaho
at Montana State tourney (2 games)
at Kansas State
at Utah Valley State
at Wisconsin
at UW Green Bay
at South Dakota State
at Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne

HOME:
HAMLINE UNIVERSITY
EASTERN MICHIGAN
MAINE
IDAHO STATE
MANHATTAN
UTAH VALLEY STATE
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
IDAHO
INDIANA PURDUE FORT WAYNE
MAYVILLE STATE
DENVER
MISSOURI - KANSAS CITY

Schedule isn't as solid as SDSU's but it still is pretty good and I see NDSU will be going to Bozeman to take you guys on in late December.

Both NDSU's and SDSU's BBall schedules far surpass ours. Granted, they do not have to play conf. games later on in the season, but our nonconf. schedule doesn't hold a candle to either of theirs...