North Dakota St. @ Pilots, Dec. 5th (7pm, WCC network)

The second D-1 team from No. Dakota comes to visit Chiles, the Bison from Fargo. Our bit of wintry weather won't bother them as it is forecast to be 3*F in Fargo Monday night.

The Bison are having a rough season. They are 1-8 with their only win over D-III Crown College. One of their losses was at home to UOP, 91-86. Saturday they lost at EWU 78-70. They are not small, their leading scorers are 6'11" and 6'10" forwards and a 6'5" guard. However, the 6'11" F, Grant Nelson, did not play at EWU.

NDSU was 23-10 last year, and qualified for the NCAA tourney the two previous years. Hopefully they do not have an epiphany and start shooting lights out at Chiles like some other recent opponents have. This is another game the Pilots need to win. NDSU is #277 Kenpom. The Pilots dropped to #109 after defeating UND (#315)

You have to stretch a bit to find previous history.

UP has never played them, but a couple of Pilots have.
NDSU played the Eastern Washington Eagles in 2018 in what was Shantay Legans’ 300th game as a coach for EWU. Bobby Suarez and T.J. Lipoid were assistants.

NDSU won 74-67 .

The only current Pilot to play in that game was Jack Perry, who started, played 22 minutes, and had 2 points.

up7587 wrote:However, the 6'11" F, Grant Nelson, did not play at EWU.

Sprained ankle at the end of the Jacksonville State game, which was a week ago today.

Dean Murdoch wrote:

up7587 wrote:However, the 6'11" F, Grant Nelson, did not play at EWU.

Sprained ankle at the end of the Jacksonville State game, which was a week ago today.

I am told Nelson will be back for the UP game...

WTAF

up7587 wrote:Hopefully they do not have an epiphany and start shooting lights out at Chiles like some other recent opponents have.

I mean, they're not shooting lights out, but we're not faring any better.

Can we call this the Chiles curse or something?

It’s Terry Porter Appreciation Night at Chiles

I swear they muffled the crowd noise a tad bit after that very audible GODDAMN after Robertson's missed FT.

Well that really sucked.

That did not look like a team embracing TOD to me.

Post game radio with Legans: https://vocaroo.com/1kQnw5pOV1Ch

Dean Murdoch wrote:It’s Terry Porter Appreciation Night at Chiles

There was a dejavú aspect to the evening.

Don’t want to hear about how we are in imminent danger of loosing our coaching staff soon.

Was this exam week?

Tough loss, but it's a great teaching moment. Coach Legans is absolutely correct when he noted that when you're struggling to shoot the ball you need to ratchet up your defense and stick to the scheme. I have a feeling the UP team that took the court tonight will bare no resemblance to the team that will take the floor Saturday night. Go Pilots!

Geezaldinho wrote:Was this exam week?

They start this coming Monday...

Yes, this was an "exam", and the Pilots flunked it.

I should never go to games during exam time. Reminded me of PSU when we were ranked 25

I didn’t recognize Pilot team last nightand I haven’t left before game finished since the TP era. But I did last night early in second half. If they were going to make a run, that was when it had to happen and it didn’t.
It was sad.
We play down to the level of the competition.
ND state played a fierce defensive game and we couldn’t get our shooters free, and when they were free they couldn’t make the shot. We tried to go downhill but ineffectively.
Legans and coaches have some real work cut out for them, especially on defense and how to free up shooters from a man to man pressure defense.

That was a real bummer of a game last night. I think the several dozen fans in attendance all felt the same. Except the one guy in the NDSU sweatshirt. On the plus side, the small handful of students who showed up (I can’t in good faith refer to what I witnessed as a “student section”) looked comfy in the new plush seats!

NDSU went home and lost to Montana.