NSU Elite Eight

[goyotes24]

Being an Aberdeen native, I am excited for this great run for NSU. This shows that the state of South Dakota basketball is still a power at the D2 level (i.e. Augustana a couple seasons ago).

I worked at the radio station in Aberdeen which covered Northern games and always enjoyed any correspondence with Don Meyer (Coach Sather was an assistant with the program at the time). Also, USD's assistant SID, Ryan Hilgemann, is an NSU alum.

If I remember correctly, I think NSU's last run to the Elite Eight was in '98 with Ryan Miller leading the team (I believe they beat the Bunnies that year to get into the Elite Eight). Anyway, hoping they can win two more.

[usdcoyote]

You are correct about the last NSU team making it was '98 with Ryan Miller. I watched that game they won at Frost to go to the Elite 8. One of the best games I've ever seen in person. Miller had 45 points and 9 three pointers.

[Coyote Fan]

I have never been a fan of Northern personally but good for them to make the final 4. What many, many people fail to realize is how over rated the NCC was as a men's basketball conference during the last 20 years or so of their existence when all teams were still a part of the conference. NCC teams lost out quite often in the regional not getting to the elite 8 and when they did make the elite 8 lost (I believe) pretty much every time they got there since the beginning of the 90's. The NSIC since the Winona years has had much better success than the old NCC did. The Summit on a national level is by far stronger than the NCC was when comparing the Summit to other mid majors vs the NCC to their close counter parts.

I saw it first hand when the Coyotes in the late 90's had to go against Metro State of Denver. The Road Runners were way too athletic for the Coyotes (and the Jacks for that matter) and neither team was good enough to get by them. I remember when the Coyotes were in the regional in Wayne NE one year when they were looking real good, that is until Metro came calling.

[Yote 53]

So the entire NCC was an overrated conference because they had a hard time with Metro State. Makes sense. Or maybe the NCC was that good compared to other conferences but the Metro State program was just better than all others. Confusing conference strength for team strength. You used to make the same mistake with Grand Valley State and the GLIAC back in the day. GVSU was a good football program, the GLIAC as a conference was weak overall. There can be great teams in weak conferences. In major college football, Florida State and the ACC years ago was a good examples, as was Miami and the Big East. Those conferences stunk, but FSU and the Canes were great programs.

[elcoyote]

If I remember correctly, Metro State was loaded with Australians in their late 20s who were heavily experienced in international competition. Not exactly your typical college player, especially at a D2 level.

[Coyote Fan]

Metro was just one example. The NCC did not have success on a national level regardless of who stood in the way. The NCC was a big but not real athletic conference and the lack of athleticism hurt them on a national stage. The local programs in the Summit cannot rely on local kids and have no choice but to recruit differently than when they were in the NCC. The NCC was a very good national conference in football and women's basketball, just not men's hoops.

[goyotes24]

Now THAT was a fun game to watch. Wow. Congrats to NSU for making it to the national championship game.