Accentuate the Positive: Key Returning Summit League Players

Donate To GopherHole
S

SelectionSunday

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
26,594
Reaction score
7,076
Points
113
These key returning players are staying in the Summit League, so there will be some familiar (productive) players:

Zach Kraft (UND), Jr
Andy Stefonowicz (NDSU), Jr
Grant Stubblefield (Omaha), Sr
Connor Dow (ORU), Sr
Luke Gray (ORU), Jr
Carter Bjerke (UST), Sr
Austin Herro (UST), Jr
Vince Buzelis (USD), So
Josiah Dotzler (USD), So
Trey Buchanan (SDSU), So
Joe Sayler (SDSU), Jr
Alec Squires (SDSU), So
 


Every season will produce new stars. ... who then will chase the bag a season or two later. All the more reason the Tommies need to make the NCAA Tournament soon so they can up their profile and move up the conference ladder (MVC, A-10, etc.) That's the sad reality now unless something drastic changes. Heading into last season I was completely content with being in the Summit, but not any longer. Need to win (championships) and climb ASAP.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Every season will produce new stars. ... who then will chase the bag a season or two later. All the more reason the Tommies need to make the NCAA Tournament soon so they can up their profile and move up the conference ladder (MVC, A-10, etc.) That's the sad reality now unless something drastic changes. Heading into last season I was completely content with being in the Summit, but not any longer. Need to win (championships) and climb ASAP.
Click to expand...

What is the likelihood of that happening? Seems like Summit is slowly falling apart
 




I would say pretty likely. If the Missouri Valley decides to expand, I’d guess St. Thomas will be one of (if not the first) phone call.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I would say pretty likely. If the Missouri Valley decides to expand, I’d guess St. Thomas will be one of (if not the first) phone call.
Click to expand...

Would attendance come into play?

I was surprised that it was roughly only 50% full nightly in a brand new arena for the Tommie,'s first year of NCAA Tournament eligibility.

Maybe 2500/game is comparable in the Mo Valley.
 

Ope3 said:
Would attendance come into play?

I was surprised that it was roughly only 50% full nightly in a brand new arena for the Tommie,'s first year of NCAA Tournament eligibility.

Maybe 2500/game is comparable in the Mo Valley.
Click to expand...
I think size of market, potential growth would be a significant factor. Every MVC expansion discussion I’ve seen from media guys who cover MVC pretty much say St. Thomas would be one of top choices. Omaha is the other one.
 



SelectionSunday said:
I think size of market, potential growth would be a significant factor. Every MVC expansion discussion I’ve seen from media guys who cover MVC pretty much say St. Thomas would be one of top choices. Omaha is the other one.
Click to expand...

Makes sense, especially potential growth. In the short term it would certainly help the cause to get into 3,000s consistently or at the very least not backslide in Year 2.
 

Ope3 said:
Makes sense, especially potential growth. In the short term it would certainly help the cause to get into 3,000s consistently or at the very least not backslide in Year 2.
Click to expand...
3,000 is a good number. That’s about what I expected this past season with the new arena, so attendance was disappointing in my opinion.

And I think attendance likely going down next season in part to general fan frustration of losing your best players (that’s going to be a yearly thing) to the portal. Building toward something is no longer a thing. Transactional now at all levels. Every man for himself. I hate what’s happened to college basketball (basically no rules), but what keeps me going to games is faith in Tauer. He’ll get guys that fit, as I think Niko is/will.
 

You totally described me. I am a 1 year Tommie season ticket holder who did not renew. I loved the new arena and my seats and this year's team. However, I am no longer subscribing to college basketball through no specific fault of St Thomas. For +50 years I have been a season ticket holder and avidly followed the local bb team whereever I lived (just moved to The Cities 2 years ago). I enjoyed seeing players develop and anticipating how they'd grow in future seasons. No more, now the process of watching really good players at the mid-major level means they'll be gone the next year. The same is true st the major level where one could identify players on teams from year to year. I used to build time off around March Madness. Watched only 4 games this year only to hear that every Michigan starter transferred in and typically hear that "this player spent 1 year at x and 2 years at y and now this one year at z." I now watch the NBA.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom