First Round Matchup: North Dakota State Bison
by rockchalk on Mar 15, 2009 8:54 PM CDT
in Kansas Jayhawk Basketball
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(AP Photo/Eric Landwehr)
This is the first time that North Dakota State has ever made a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Hell, it's the first year they've even been eligible for the Big Dance. They are dangerous, though, too. They are jam-packed with veterans. They knock down the three-pointer with the absolute best of them.
They'll closer to Minneapolis than we are. They have a homecourt advantage. They have the experience factor. They have the motivation.
Enter all NDSU-related thoughts here. Obviously, we'll get more numbers-based, despite Hubert Davis' most convincing of objections, preview content in the coming days prior to Friday's matchup, but for now, just accept the above picture.
That passion, and that kind of stuff, is the number one thing the Bison have over us.
Oh, yeah, they're the Bison. Just like the Bucknell Bison.
I'm officially worried, now. We're going to lose.
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Is there a time
set for Friday yet?
If it’s an early one, I’ll have to get up way early to start drinking. I’m posting 400 on the OGT. Book it.
Where the Devil Don't Stay.
Nope.
I’m eagerly checking and re-checking ESPN.com for the times.
IIRC, though, they don’t come out until tomorrow morning.
Couple of things about NDSU
As a longtime KSU fan, I remember watching the Wildcats go up to NDSU 2-1/2 years ago in Bob Huggins’ only year at KSU. KSU fell down big because the trio of sophomores that NDSU had recruited by saying they would qualify for D-I postseasons their senior years were playing very well together, drawing off an intense fan base that really surprised me with their ferocity. K-state clawed back and won, largely because that team was full of juniors and seniors, but I took note of the young stars for NDSU and always remembered their part in a great game.
Fast forward three years and now those sophomores are seniors and are the three leading scorers for the Bison. Ben Woodside, who balled out when I saw him last, now balls out every night. The seniors who were sold a promise of being able to play in the Big Dance took advantage of that and now have that opportunity. I have to say, as a fan of college basketball, I’m glad they did. As a fan of the Jayhawks, I feel much the opposite. Its going to be a tough game, and Woodside and Co.‘s senior leadership is going to keep it close, but I’m hoping we’ll be too athletic, too well-rested, and too well-coached for it to make a difference. Damn though if we didn’t get the toughest of the 14 seeds. Still, no complaining, its going to be a great test.
by 2.1 seconds left on Mar 15, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions
well hopefully they get food poisoning or somethin
by Danny Satan on Mar 15, 2009 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Really 2.1, this is distressingly complimentary of the Bison.
I was hoping they were all refugees from AL-Qaeda, cleverly figuring they could hide undetected in the northern great plains, and all victories were pick-up games against a Cuban team of Fidel & Raul Castro. The information that they are real americans(and apparently competent ballers) is not good. I’ll sacrifice one for KU by mortgaging my house and betting it all on the Bison, secure in the knowledge my personal bad karma will overwhelm the NDSU competence. At least one victory in the tournament shall be ours.
by hunter s. royal on Mar 15, 2009 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah I know...
It sucks but they just so happen to be one of those teams that just catches your eye and you follow them for a bit, so I probably commiserate with them more than usual. Don’t get me wrong though, we’ll have the advantage at every position (I mean, their best player, Woodside, is matched up against Sherron), and are deeper. But they’re more experienced and they don’t get any coverage because they’re a) in North Dakota and b)new to the D-I scene.
by 2.1 seconds left on Mar 15, 2009 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Damnit!
As if I wasn’t already nervous…..this is set up just like our last upset loss! I’m nervous
by I need more Esteban on Mar 15, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions
To me, NDSU is dangerous.
They’re playing with house money, and that could cause them to play super, super loose. And as fans of a team that won it all last year, you know how important the attitude is to March success.
That said, KU is a better team. Repeat: KANSAS IS A BETTER TEAM THAN NORTH DAKOTA STATE.
If KU plays like that, they win. Period.
My 2009 New Years Resolution: Quit feeding the trolls.
http://www.bisoncentral.com/bison-cooking-health.php?c=67&d=99&a=1056&w=2&r=Y
this stuff looks surprisingly delicious and it has more proteian and few calories than beef
i’m seriously gonna grill one of these up, probably on wednesday
Ted's Montana Grill serves both bison burger & bison pot roast.
Both are excellent. A little dining out in honor or our opponent seems appropriate.
by hunter s. royal on Mar 15, 2009 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Possibly. It's not that uncommon.
If you’re in Lawrence, I know the Local Burger restaurant serves it. I imagine the Merc Mart would have it also.
by hunter s. royal on Mar 15, 2009 11:17 PM CDT reply actions
Most stores that have health food or are Co-ops
have Bison in Kansas. Its good stuff too – way leaner than beef, tastier, and not force fed corn to make it that way.
by 2.1 seconds left on Mar 16, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
well I'm all over it
anything to help our guys out!
by I need more Esteban on Mar 16, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
The bison away from home...
in chronological order by category with (OffEff/DefEff)
WINS
@N Arizona (113/104)
vs. Georgia Southern (129/102)
@IPFW (108/97)
@S Utah (117/82)
@UMKC (97/90)
@SD State (123/109)
@W Illinois (106/90)
@IUPUI (148/112)
@UW-Milwaukee (116/104)
@Centenary (114/101)
@Oral Roberts (115/110)
vs. Centenary (123/114)
vs. S Utah (137/116)
vs. Oakland (112/109)
LOSSES
@Idaho (109/123)
@Minnesota ( 108/128)
vs. Stephen F Austin (123/124)
@USC (84/90)
@Oakland (112/114)
also lost at home once, to S Utah (119/128)
As for their players...
(unlike Pomeroy, these numbers are against D1 competition only)
Woodside initiates most of the offense, scoring 39.5 Pts/100 poss and getting 11 A/100 poss (against 5.6 TO/100). A 41.7% shooter on threes for the year, he only converted 47.1% of two-point attempts. However, he gets to the line a ton (45.8 FT Rate) and made 83% of his free throws.
Winkelman is a worth sidekick, scoring 34 Pts/100 while also playing more than 80% of ND State’s minutes. Undersized (6-6, 220), he’s also the team’s best defensive rebounder* (19.9 DR). Winkelman’s a diverse scorer: 53.1 2PTFG, 37.4 3PTFG% (approximately a quarter of his FGA are threes), 81.7 FT%.
ND State kills teams with role players Nelson (6-4, 185) and Tveidt (6-7, 210) being extremely efficient. Nelson scores 23.1 Pts/100 on 58 2PTFG% and 39 3PTFG. Tveidt scores 22.1 Pts/100 on 61.9 2PTFG and 45.7 3PTFG%. Neither turns the ball over very often either. The Jayhawks won’t get away with helping off either to give Winkelman and Woodside extra attention.
*_Tveidt’s the only ND State regular to record a DR% less than 10. Jayhawk comparison: Collins, Taylor, Morningstar and Reed are all belw 8% on the year_.
thanks a bunch for the info...Hoopinion this is good stuff...
not helping me be any less nervous though :D
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Nor should you be any less nervous
what with getting to play an 11-seed in the first round, and, if they win that likely meeting a good W Virginia team that would be a tough matchup for the Jayhawks even if Aldrich were completely healthy. The committee’s probably done a good job of making me feel disappointed about a season I have no rational reason to feel disappointed about.
It will be interesting to see how this game draws
as Minneapolis is much closer to ND than it is to KS. In case no one knew that already…
The Snozberries taste like Snozberries
Thanks for the geography lesson, haha
Doesn’t KU normally draw pretty well in Minnesota? Seems like I’ve heard that before.
Where the Devil Don't Stay.
Minnesota is driveable from KC...and
Chicago which also has a strong KU alumni base…plus I would assume Minnesota has some as well. We’ll draw fine but always remember at these events the neutral fans become “underdog” fans very quickly so it’s an uphill battle when you get behind.
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Lets just not
get behind. That would best for all involved. Come out like it’s the Tigers in Lawrence.
Where the Devil Don't Stay.
We would be blessed if the team...
brought that intensity to every game…we would likely have lost 3 fewer games this season. (Tech, Umass, Baylor)
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Don't forget
that Cole is from the frigid north and I’ve heard people follow him pretty well up there. Maybe we can drum up some of their support.
by tequilaprophet on Mar 16, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions
There are quite a few Minneapolis
Alums from KU, though, I know many many people from Minneapolis that went to KU so that is one thing we’ve got going.
by I need more Esteban on Mar 17, 2009 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions
They interviewed NDSU's coach on CBSCollege's Bracket Breakdown thing
and he said that when the football team traveled to Minnesota and the Metrodome, 35,000 Bison fans made the trip.
That’s terrible news. Combine that with the other team’s fans no-doubt cheering for the upset, and we should have more of the crowd against us than for us.
KU had a very beneficial early schedule in the Big 12.
Cole Aldrich learned to keep out of foul trouble, Sherron Collins(mostly) quit trying to do everything by himself, Marcus Morris began to consistently play harder, Mario Little began to contribute some off the bench, and they piled up enough wins to gain confidence. Self is obviously a fine coach, and the easy start to the Big 12 gave him time to develop the team.
by hunter s. royal on Mar 16, 2009 7:50 PM CDT reply actions
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