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Post by sdyotefan on Mar 10, 2013 1:36:40 GMT -6
Thank-you to the Coyote men's BB team for many great memories this season! What a tough gritty performance tonight against the Summit League co-champs at SF!! A special thanks to Coach Boots for your dedication and continued hard work!! Also many thanks to our seniors--Jueval & Jordan and best wishes to both of you for continued success after your USD BB careers!!! I can't wait to watch the 2013-14 Coyote BB team!!
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Post by canislatrans on Mar 10, 2013 8:39:36 GMT -6
Ditto. Special thanks to the Coyotes Mens BB program. In the context of a developing D1 program, this was a good year. As a fan, this was an enjoyable team to watch, and the promise for future success has been built, look forward to next year!
It was a pleasure to see Juevol Myles play this year, and sorry that it was only one season with the Yotes. However, his performance this year was worth the price of admission. He was a leader, a clutch performer, and last night he put on an awesome display of defense on a great player in Clark.
Jordan Boots, when viewed in his proper role for this team, has been a producer for 4 years. He was a good player off the bench, he provided energy and could hit the three.
I wish them both success in the future, also!
Coach Boots, summed it up very well in his post-game comments. We're close, we've gotten experience in the Summit League ('11-12), taste of the SLT ('12-13), need to work on weaknesses (get in the gym, and work), we're young and anxious to take next step. (These were my words, not direct quotes). Again, I have been impressed with Coach Boots, who has an indisputable level of success at D2 level, and has shown me that he will be able to transfer that success to the D1 level. It's disappointing to be one and done, but I for one am not disappointed in where we are as a program. Next year and years following could be very exciting for Yotes fans. Get those SLT tickets now, especially for the Tuesday night session!
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Post by coyotega on Mar 10, 2013 18:21:21 GMT -6
Bobby Bowden said you build or rebuild a program along this timeline: first you lose big, then you lose close, then you win close, and finally you win big. Hopefully, we are right on schedule.
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Post by azsod73 on Mar 11, 2013 9:46:05 GMT -6
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Post by canislatrans on Mar 11, 2013 10:50:09 GMT -6
JH is spot on, again. That is an accurate assessment of Yotes Mens BB.
Azsod73, it is true that the front line could use some size after Gruis. That is the toughest position to recruit in the Mid-majors, what with the big programs recruiting 7 footers just for practice.
Sparks, is 6'8", though he too looks like a forward.
Of the three redshirts, aside from the point guard, the other two are taller and/or known as good defenders, which should help us at that position. Even though we have good players at guard, adding these 3 will give Coach Boots some great flexibility in match-ups.
JH's commentary about tough losses, makes me think about both the Yotes FB and Mens BB this past season. We really racked up some tough, close, losses. If they indeed are the seeds of future success, we should see some improvements in the years to come!
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Post by Cousin Eddie on Mar 11, 2013 13:54:08 GMT -6
AZ and canislatrans, I was intending to come on here and post nearly the exact statements you did.
What happens when Gruis is gone?
On the one hand, I look at State's roster and they don't necessarily have a "HUGE" guy in the middle. Dykstra is tall (6'8"), but tends to play a little small for his size. Fiegen is "only" 6'7", but definitely plays that banger role.
Now look at our roster next year. Flack is 6'7" but is already very muscular for a frosh and can jump out of the gym. Sparks is listed between 6’6” and 6'8", but can play wing or center from the sound of it. As it stands, we tend to look similar to this year's SDSU roster, but young.
Boots said he was going to try to sign one more guy this season, maybe it will be some more height.
Next year’s roster looks like this:
Bigs: Gruis – 6’10” – we know what we are getting here. Flack – 6’7” – as mentioned above, he will be physical but is also a freak athlete that can jump out of the gym. Shot blocking machine. Needs to work on his finesse. Sparks – 6’7” – TBD, but puts up great rebounding numbers and also seems to shoot very well.
Wings: Thoseby – 6’5” – all indications are that he can shoot the lights out and is also athletic. Rowson – 6’5” – a true slasher; I loved what he did early this season, but he fell off late. Tecker – 6’5” (with hair) – consummate team player and a solid defender. Robertson – 6’8” – needs more bulk, but runs well and can definitely shoot the ball from deep. Does not play like a big man.
Guards: Bos – 6’1” – possibly my favorite Yote in years. Does everything; a true spark plug. Kasperbauer – 6’1” – Crazy shooting ability; only going to improve. Norris – 6’0” – all indications are that he is a TRUE point; wheels and ball skills. Larson – 6’3” – was supposed to start this season. An athlete and lock down defender.
Our depth is truly insane. I don’t know where Boots will find the minutes, especially the way he generally operates. Unless he refines his body, I don’t see Robertson touching the court much. But for his years of experience, I am not sure I see Tecker getting many minutes either – he just isn’t a difference maker.
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Post by Cousin Eddie on Mar 11, 2013 14:00:34 GMT -6
Starters could be something like:
C: Gruis PF: Flack SF: Thoseby SG: Bos PG: Norris
With Larson, Rowson, Kasperbauer, and Sparks as regulars off the bench. Tecker and Robertson as role players.
I liked Myles, but outside of his freakish free throw shooting, I am not sure we will miss him that much.
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Post by yotemeal on Mar 13, 2013 10:16:27 GMT -6
Next year is going to be really interesting. While we have tons of depth and appear to be on our way up, the league loses a lot of good players, most notably Nate Wolters. Jacks fans are high on Bittle and some of their other recruits, but they'll take a step back. Clark and Parks will certainly hurt WIU. Gaines is gone from IPFW. That said, look out for Denver to make an immediate splash. They are well positioned to win what is still a decent WAC conference (They've won 17 of their last 18 games), and they only have one senior on their entire roster.
I think you have to consider NDSU the favorite, and I'm inclined to throw Denver right in the mix. I think Oakland, USD and SDSU round out the upper half. A very early projection.
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Post by jackl on Mar 13, 2013 10:44:17 GMT -6
Next year is going to be really interesting. While we have tons of depth and appear to be on our way up, the league loses a lot of good players, most notably Nate Wolters. Jacks fans are high on Bittle and some of their other recruits, but they'll take a step back. Clark and Parks will certainly hurt WIU. Gaines is gone from IPFW. That said, look out for Denver to make an immediate splash. They are well positioned to win what is still a decent WAC conference (They've won 17 of their last 18 games), and they only have one senior on their entire roster. I think you have to consider NDSU the favorite, and I'm inclined to throw Denver right in the mix. I think Oakland, USD and SDSU round out the upper half. A very early projection. My early picks for next year: NDSU Denver Oakland SDSU WIU USD Omaha Fort Wayne IUPUI
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chuck
Sophomore Member
Posts: 169
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Post by chuck on Mar 13, 2013 15:19:39 GMT -6
As a first timer at the Summit tournament this year, I have to say I got tournament fever from attending in person. I definitely hope to go next year and to see even more red there. A few quick thoughts: Obviously seed matters--it determines who you play, but I didn't realize it also plays a factor in how many of your fans are there to support you. Make no mistake, Jackrabbit fans deserve credit for showing up and making a difference. However, to me, it seemed like a major advantage that Jackrabbit fans had first crack at buying tickets for each game as the tournament progressed. Yes, I know ideally all Coyote fans should be there for all games-- but as a realist I for one wasn't interested in buying tickets and taking off an afternoon of work to watch an NDSU-IPFW semifinal women's game, so I waited to see if we won before I got tickets and made plans. By that time, most of the Monday session was sold out. Bunny fans also knew they were playing in the championship game before we did and could confidently buy tickets before us. I think this led to the lower and middle sections being mostly blue-yellow yesterday, while the Coyote red was primarily in upper rows and on the edges. Again, give credit to Jackrabbit fans, but ideally next year we can be the higher seed and our fan base can have more of an advantage rocking the ticket office so to speak. We have some excellent returning players next year on both of our teams, and with the graduation occurring on some other teams--we can certainly be optimistic about our chances to win multiple games next year. Amazing job by the women's team this year--makes me optimistic for 2013-2014: Joe Glenn's recruits and system become even more prominent in the rebuilding process, breaking ground on a new arena, the return of a strong women's cast (including the Summit League MVP) + our injured five, and adding strong men's transfers to some talented undergraduates. There is reason to be optimistic and that Coyote athletics and fanbase will continue to grow stronger as we move forward in the D1 journey. Go Yotes!
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Post by yotemeal on Mar 13, 2013 15:36:21 GMT -6
Chuck:
What we really need to happen is have more of our fans buying all-session 2014 Tourney packages now. They went on sale at the Arena last week and there was a line 100+ people in length, mostly wearing blue and yellow. Single-session tickets don't go on sale until a few weeks before the tournament. By that time, thousands of all-session passes will have already been sold. Jacks fans get this.
USD ticket folks will tell you that our fans are not good at buying in advance. We're mostly a "walk up" crowd. That won't fly at the SLT, and I hope some folks learned their lessons. I know I did hear of some USD fans trying to buy tickets to sold out sessions. I'm glad I made the investment in an all-session ticket. Jacks fans have made the tournament and their teams a priority. It's marked on their calendars. If our fan base doesn't do the same, expect to see more of the fan ratio we just witnessed.
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Post by yotemeal on Mar 14, 2013 7:37:08 GMT -6
Chuck: What we really need to happen is have more of our fans buying all-session 2014 Tourney packages now. They went on sale at the Arena last week and there was a line 100+ people in length, mostly wearing blue and yellow. Single-session tickets don't go on sale until a few weeks before the tournament. By that time, thousands of all-session passes will have already been sold. Jacks fans get this. USD ticket folks will tell you that our fans are not good at buying in advance. We're mostly a "walk up" crowd. That won't fly at the SLT, and I hope some folks learned their lessons. I know I did hear of some USD fans trying to buy tickets to sold out sessions. I'm glad I made the investment in an all-session ticket. Jacks fans have made the tournament and their teams a priority. It's marked on their calendars. If our fan base doesn't do the same, expect to see more of the fan ratio we just witnessed. Interesting notes from Terry V's blog at the Argus Leader. This year's SLT drew a record-setting 44,868 fans. Paid attendance for the 2014 Tournament has already reached 20,000! Buy. Your. Tickets. Now. Watching the game from your couch is not the support our teams need. There needs to be more red in those Arena seats. Period.
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Post by Yote 53 on Mar 14, 2013 7:53:19 GMT -6
Serious question: Who has the time and flexibility to purchase full passes to the SLT a year in advance? I know I don't have the time to take almost a week off of work to attend this event. Could I take a day here and there to attend Coyote games? Sure, but I need to know what days to take. I suppose I could buy the whole session pass but only attend Coyote games. Seems like quite an investment for a team that won 10 games and backed into a 7 seed.
Bottom line, and this is what I am getting at, look at the demographics of the SDSU fanbase and the USD fanbase. USD puts out mainly professionals who work in offices. SDSU puts out a lot of people with ag degrees. Not too much planting going on in early March. Just saying. Alot of SDSU fans have time on their hands this time of year.
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Post by jacksfan29 on Mar 14, 2013 8:02:03 GMT -6
Or maybe SDSU fans and alumni are more passionate about their school. The SDSU alum association does an awesome job keeping us connected. We also have an awesome beat writer who keeps us informed and a big jump on a transition in D1 which has energized the fan base, bringing old fans back and creating new fans from non-grads. A lot of people from out of state target the tournament on their calendar and travel to Sioux Falls to attend. Not everyone sitting in that crowd Tuesday night was a South Dakota farmer. The sooner USD understands this the better off they will be. Serious question: Who has the time and flexibility to purchase full passes to the SLT a year in advance? I know I don't have the time to take almost a week off of work to attend this event. Could I take a day here and there to attend Coyote games? Sure, but I need to know what days to take. I suppose I could buy the whole session pass but only attend Coyote games. Seems like quite an investment for a team that won 10 games and backed into a 7 seed. Bottom line, and this is what I am getting at, look at the demographics of the SDSU fanbase and the USD fanbase. USD puts out mainly professionals who work in offices. SDSU puts out a lot of people with ag degrees. Not too much planting going on in early March. Just saying. Alot of SDSU fans have time on their hands this time of year.
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Post by yotemeal on Mar 14, 2013 8:11:41 GMT -6
Serious question: Who has the time and flexibility to purchase full passes to the SLT a year in advance? I know I don't have the time to take almost a week off of work to attend this event. Could I take a day here and there to attend Coyote games? Sure, but I need to know what days to take. I suppose I could buy the whole session pass but only attend Coyote games. Seems like quite an investment for a team that won 10 games and backed into a 7 seed. Bottom line, and this is what I am getting at, look at the demographics of the SDSU fanbase and the USD fanbase. USD puts out mainly professionals who work in offices. SDSU puts out a lot of people with ag degrees. Not too much planting going on in early March. Just saying. Alot of SDSU fans have time on their hands this time of year. Yote53, I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. Jacks fans have made this tournament a priority. It's difficult, of course, to quantify how winning and momentum influence their fans' buying habits, but they show up in great numbers. They prepare for it. While we may have a more white-collar tradition, there were plenty of SDSU alumni in the Arena who left offices to be there. Buying the session pass is exactly what you should do. The tournament starts on a Saturday. Assuming USD's men and women both make the tournament, you'll have a rooting interest in at least two sessions during the weekend games. I believe I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $115 for my pass, and I went to three sessions. It was well worth the money.
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