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Post by kiyoat on Mar 28, 2018 9:33:33 GMT -6
With basketball on the wane, I'm staring to pay more attention to other sports. This will be Coach Wagner's 2nd season, and he has done a major overhaul of the roster, with lots of freshmen and transfers, especially from the southwest and west coast.
He has also loaded the non-con schedule with ranked teams. Seems to be a good strategy for exposure/recruiting/growth, even if they take a short-term hit in the W/L column.
Last year they finished 4rth of 7 teams, but only 1.5 games out of first. This year they were picked 3rd behind 5-consecutive-champ NDSU and WIU.
Right now SDSU and NDSU are leading the conference in overall record and RPI, with USD a distant 3rd. However, SDSU's schedule is very weak compared to both NDSU's and USD's. I'm hoping we pull ahead in conference play, and are 2nd by tournament time. Then they will be in a good position to knock off the champs.
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Post by kiyoat on Mar 28, 2018 9:44:54 GMT -6
Here's a comparison of non-conference opponents that are currently ranked in the Coaches Poll (or receiving votes):
NDSU
#8 Arizona State
#13 LSU W
#19 Kentucky L
#15 Baylor LL
#29 Mississippi C
#38 BYU L
USD
#3 UCLA
#8 Arizona State L
#11 Arizona L
#25 Oklahoma State
#28 Nebraska L
#33 Northwestern L
#35 Notre Dame L
SDSU
#28 Nebraska L
W=win
L = loss
C = cancelled
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 5, 2018 10:22:13 GMT -6
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Post by elcoyote on Apr 5, 2018 11:03:04 GMT -6
This is not a good year to be involved in a spring sport on the northern Great Plains.
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 5, 2018 13:32:15 GMT -6
Lost the first game 4-5  Double-header should be still going on, though. |
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 5, 2018 15:15:54 GMT -6
They beat the Jacks 7-0 in the second game! One more tomorrow.
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 11, 2018 9:08:05 GMT -6
Well, we didn't pull off the rubber match with the Jacks. That means they get the point for the Showdown series, too. Bummer. At least there is still plenty of time to position ourselves for a higher seed in the conference tournament.
There is a game vs. Creighton today in Vermillion at 3 PM. I'm sure it's tough to go to a weekday afternoon game, but if you can, there are only four more home games on the schedule. This one and a three-game series with the Bison. The weather is finally cooperating, too, which is nice. It's free admission. Looks like there will be a Coyote gear giveaway as well (just tweet or share a gameday post, I guess) If you live nearby and aren't busy, that's some good free entertainment.
I'll try to listen to the live audio feed available on the website. Baseball (and softball) is one of those games that plays well over the radio IMO. With the slower pace it's easier to follow the game in the background while you are doing other things. (like working, mostly)
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 11, 2018 10:35:28 GMT -6
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 12, 2018 7:03:33 GMT -6
The Yotes lost 6-3, but had bases loaded at the bottom of the 7th Inning. Would have been an epic comeback. Now they are off to Fort Wayne for a weekend 3-game series.
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 13, 2018 11:21:09 GMT -6
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 13, 2018 12:16:08 GMT -6
The bats have come alive early for the Yotes. 4 runs in the first inning.
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 16, 2018 8:17:12 GMT -6
We split the series with Ft Wayne, with the rubber match canceled. Here are the standings heading in to the final conference series (for USD) this weekend, when the Yotes host the Bison:
WIU 6-0 (13-22)
SDSU 5-3 (24-12)
NDSU 2-2 (22-14)
USD 5-6 (15-29)
Omaha 2-6 (14-26)
IPFW 1-4 (15-25)
So many cancelled games this year due to weather plus few conference anyway leads to wonky standings. It's strange that USD has played 11 conference games, and NDSU has only played 4.
While the rest of the conference continue playing each other, we will be on a brutal road trip, playing #28 Oklahoma State, #4 UCLA, #31(RPI) Minnesota, and UMKC.
At least they will have a shot in the Conference Tourney.
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Post by kiyoat on Apr 27, 2018 10:35:08 GMT -6
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Post by yoteforever on Apr 27, 2018 13:20:43 GMT -6
Good for the Coyotes and Coach Wagner. What a great opportunity and privledge to play (2) outstanding teams. I don’t know the man and I’ve never met him, but it seems like this man wants to build a program. That’s awesome. Good luck Yotes. Pull off an upset or two.
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Post by kiyoat on May 7, 2018 7:55:58 GMT -6
Summit League Tournament starts this Wednesday. Coyotes are the #4 seed: www.thesummitleague.org/sports/sball/2017-18/releases/20180506nekjfmSoftball Championship ScheduleWednesday, May 9Game 1: (4) South Dakota vs. (5) Omaha – 3 p.m. Game 2: (3) Western Illinois vs. (6) Fort Wayne – 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10Game 3: (1) North Dakota State vs. Game 1 Winner – Noon Game 4: (2) South Dakota State vs. Game 2 Winner – 2:30 p.m. Game 5: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser – 5 p.m. Friday, May 11Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner – 1 p.m. Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser – 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12Game 8: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner – 1 p.m. *Game 9: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser – 3:30 p.m. *If necessary NOTE: Games 1 & 2 will be single elimination with the remainder of the tournament being double elimination. |
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