May 2013
23 posts
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Larson leftovers
A few more notes and thoughts on ex-Roosevelt High star and top-100 recruit Cody Larson joining the South Dakota State men’s basketball team:
Would Larson have joined the Jackrabbits if the post-season departure of Taevaunn Prince hadn’t opened up a scholarship? Maybe, said coach Scott Nagy. Because being a walk-on at SDSU would have been much cheaper for Larson than paying...
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Live chat 5/23
So much for the spring slowdown - there’s a ton of legitimately interesting stuff going on in South Dakota State sports right now.
We covered most of it during the weekly live chat. Here’s the replay.
Next week, I’ll have a list of the top 5 moments in Jackrabbits sports from 2012-13. Feel free to weigh in on that in advance in the comments section below.
Terry Vandrovec also...
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Too Much TV: Timberwolves
The NBA Draft Lottery was held Tuesday night and, once again, the Minnesota Timberwolves were not helped by the ping-pong balls.
Still, they’re prepping to host a bunch of NBA prospects for a workout next week - including Nate Wolters, more than likely - and are getting up to speed with new director of basketball op Flip Saunders.
Mark Remme, web editor and reporter at Timberwolves.com,...
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Tuesday Tidbits
Finally saw “Life of Pi” over the weekend. Still not sure which story told at the end was the “true” version:
Former SDSU standout Caleb Thielbar made his MLB debut Monday night just hours after getting called up, working two scoreless innings for the Twins in a 5-1 loss at Atlanta. Did the 26-year-old expect to see such immediate action? He didn’t sound like it...
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Combine leftovers
Last day of coverage of the NBA Draft Combine - I promise:
South Dakota State point guard Nate Wolters will not be attending the multi-team event in Brooklyn this week due to the hip flexor issue that popped up this week, he said Sunday night. However, Wolters claims to be feeling better and instead will return to IMG Academy for the week to get treatments.
It was odd to see Wolters wearing...
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WatchYankton High grad Colton Iverson reflects on Day 2 of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
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The Combine crowd
There’s a saying about the NBA Draft Combine: “Everybody is there.” OK. But who is everybody? As of Thursday, I’m able to expound upon that for you.
First, the logistics: The event is open only to NBA folks and approved media - no fans and no agents. But once you get in the door, things are pretty loose - folks just standing around watching hoops action spread out over as...
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WatchThe word on the street is that people love video. So here’s a piece on South Dakota State All-American guard Nate Wolters from Day 1 of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
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Live chat 5/16
Another live chat in the books - this one focusing on the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Here’s a replay.
More coverage on Nate Wolters and Colton Iverson forthcoming.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Making sense of the NBA Draft Combine
This much we know: It has nothing to do with farm equipment. Beyond that, the NBA Draft Combine is a mystery. Or it’s at least not nearly as familiar to sports fans at the NFL version.
Personally, I think I’ve only watched a couple minutes of it - pretty sure Kemba Walker was sprinting between orange cones. That will change today and Friday when I attend the event in person in...
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Too Much TV: Colton Iverson
The Too Much TV podcast breaks a record this week as Yankton High grad and Colorado State center Colton Iverson becomes the tallest guest in program history. He’s 6-foot-10.5 without shoes, for the record.
That’s one of the things we discuss in this precursor to the upcoming NBA Draft Combine. I’ll be in Chicago for the event on Thursday and Friday with plenty of updates on...
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Tuesday Tidbits
No more home sporting events for SDSU in 2012-13. I kind of like the quiet, summer version of Brookings:
Monster week on deck in Summit League baseball as all six teams play six league games in a matter of five days to end the regular season. SDSU (29-17, 14-6) has a five-game lead in the race for the top seed in the conference tournament and (probably) tourney hosting rights for 2014. The Jacks...
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NCAA revenue report
USA Today recently published its annual list of revenues and expenses for all of the public schools at the NCAA Division I level (some 228), the latest data coming from the 2011-12 school year. Over the weekend, I waded through a chunk of it and pulled out some information that’s (hopefully) either interesting or relevant.
Keep in mind that schools know how to play the book-keeping game,...
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Pentagon peek
Earlier this week, I got a tour of the Pentagon that’s being built at the Sanford Health Sports Complex. No pics or video allowed, but here’s some of the takeaway based on observations and a conversation with general manager Eric Larsen:
The main entry will be at the point of the pentagon shape and modeled loosely after Ralph Engelstad Arena in having brick, wrought-iron gates and a...
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Now what?
Oakland University this week accepted an invitation to the Horizon League, making official its long purported departure from the Summit League. Boom. Done.
Now what for the NCAA Division I conference that houses three schools in the Dakotas and has made Sioux Falls the long-term home of its basketball tournament? It has to do something, if only add an affiliate member for baseball or convince an...
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Too Much TV: Francis speaks out
Oakland women’s basketball coach Beckie Francis was in Sioux Falls over the weekend. But this visit had little to do with hoops.
Instead, Francis spoke at Children’s Home Society and a local church as an advocate of sexual abuse awareness. Why? Because she was a victim, and went public with her story in 2012.
She explains that and more in this week’s Too Much TV podcast. Here’s the link. And...
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Tuesday Tidbits
Fingers crossed for nice weather this week:
The SDSU baseball team has a four-game edge for the top seed in the Summit League tournament at 10-6 after taking 3 of 4 over the weekend at Western Illinois. Omaha is in first place at 12-4, but isn’t eligible for the league tourney. Up next: A busy week. The Jacks drove from Macomb to Brookings late Sunday after the conclusion of the series. On...
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As the transfer turns
Taevaunn Prince bid adieu to South Dakota on Saturday, leaving Brookings for Canada to set the course for the next leg of his basketball career. The sophomore guard said he hopes to land at another NCAA Division I school and has had talks with some already.
One year ago, Prince seemed a better bet to be a key player for the Jacks rather than an outgoing transfer. He said all the right things...
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Spring ball wrap
No, spring football did not go as planned for South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits wound up leaving two practices on the table - of the allowed 15 - in light of co-defensive coordinator Jay Bubak resigning on top of more inhospitable weather. That was after the spring game was canceled and several other workouts were postponed or moved.
Coach John Stiegelmeier’s final assessment of the...
WatchKSFY did a nice piece on my family on Thursday night.
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Live chat 5/2
Is May Day still a thing? Who knows - but the weekly live chat is.
Here’s the replay from the latest edition.
See you all at the Dakota Relays this weekend.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Too Much TV: Herbster
Now that David Herbster is - officially - sitting in the athletic director chair at the University of South Dakota, he gets to deal with all sorts of questions about college sports in general.
That’s what we do this week on Too Much TV: Ask Herbster about the conference shuffle, the prospect of Big Ten schools avoiding Football Championship Subdivision games and his view for the future in...
April 2013
25 posts
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Tuesday Tidbits
We’re track heavy this week in light of the upcoming Dakota Relays on Friday and Saturday at renovated Howard Wood Field:
When SDSU senior Tera Potts recently broke the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Long Beach State Invite, she did so despite the fact that one of the hurdles was too high (the men’s height) for the first six laps, coach Rod DeHaven said. ...
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Draft reflections
The NFL Draft came and went over the weekend with - for the 13th time in 14 years - nobody from South Dakota State being selected. That wasn’t surprising - nobody was projected to go.
But then free agency started Saturday evening and no news of any signings. Same with Sunday.
If nobody gets picked up, and there’s still time for that to happen, this will end a five-year run for the...
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Bubak moves on
The new football assistant at South Dakota State will be better than the old one.
That’s what outgoing co-defensive coordinator Jay Bubak said Thursday after resigning to find a job more suited to raising five children. He wasn’t being sarcastic or self-depricting, either - he was being sincere, one of the words coach John Stiegelmeier used to describe Bubak.
In his opinion,...
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Live chat 4/25
Here’s the replay from this week’s live chat - still plenty to discuss despite the crummy weather.
Enjoy the upward trend on that front.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Too Much TV: NFL Draft week
Getting a spot in the NFL is hard enough, but trying to do so as a kicker and coming from a small school is perhaps triply tricky.
Pro hopeful Braden Wieking from the University of Sioux Falls by way of Sioux Falls Christian takes us through that process leading up to this week’s NFL Draft.
Here’s the link. And another.
Also, stop back here Thursday for the weekly live chat.
...
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Tuesday Tidbits
I hate this weather:
SDSU women’s basketball coach Aaron Johnston said his team is planning to play in a tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, over Thanksgiving. Pairings haven’t been released yet. Also, following up something a reader asked recently, Johnston said it’s too early to know where incoming freshman Tiffaney Flaata will be for the 2013-14 season. The forward from...
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Spring ball update 4/22
Here’s the latest from South Dakota State spring football practices, which trudges on:
The Jackrabbits worked out twice Saturday at Bob Young Field, home to the University of Sioux Falls. The second session ended with a 45-minute scrimmage that wound up in an unofficial draw in that the offense didn’t score and the defense didn’t force any turnovers. There weren’t many...
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Spring ball update 4/19
Here’s the latest from South Dakota State football spring practices:
The Jackrabbits will practice at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at Harrisburg High School - weather permitting. That will bring their total to 13, leaving room for two practices next week.
Remember when true freshman Tom Peitz was switched from LB to RB due to a need at that position and then wound up making the travel roster?...
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Live chat 4/18
Another weekly live chat is in the books.
Here is a link to the replay. Stop back here Friday for a “spring” football update. Yes, spring now needs quotation marks.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Too Much TV: Boston Marathon
This week on the Too Much TV podcast, Sioux Falls optometrist (and longtime friend) Justin Schweitzer on finishing his first Boston Marathon on Monday and surviving the explosions that shook the event.
We had planned to talk about running - and still do. But we also get into the stunning events of the day, too.
Here’s the link. And another.
Also, stop back here at 2 p.m. Thursday for...
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WatchSkyforce staffers emptied player apartments Tuesday.
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Tuesday Tidbits
Boston is on our minds again today:
SDSU has entries into a couple of national wrestling events later this week. Jackrabbits assistant Andrew Sorenson is seeded 10th at 163 lbs. in the freestyle division of the U.S. Open, while 184-lb. freshman Trey Hable is in the Asics Junior National Championships. Both are in Las Vegas.
The SDSU softball team swept Oakland in a three-game series played in...
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Spring ball update 4/15
Here’s the latest news and notes from South Dakota State spring football practice:
The weather continues to complicate things to the point that some allowed practices may not get completed. The Jackrabbits came to Sioux Falls on Saturday for a two-hour practice at the new Sanford Fieldhouse. It was the 8th workout of 15 allowed. Coach John Stiegelmeier said he’d like to return, but...
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WatchSDSU held a spring practice at the Sanford Fieldhouse on Saturday.
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Spring ball update 4/12
Technically, spring ball is ongoing at South Dakota State. So here’s an update on what is (and isn’t) happening:
As you might expect, the practice schedule has been blown up by this April storm. A weekend trip to Rapid City is off along with every previous plan. The staff plans to meet this morning to discuss options, but it’s unlikely the spring game will be moved from April 20...
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Live chat 4/11
The weekly live chat is really rolling now - two in a row. Impressive, I know.
Here is a link to the replay.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Too Much TV: Skyforce wrap
Another NBA D-League season is in the books for the Skyforce, the club missing out on the playoffs for the third year in a row - this time by the narrowest of margins.
Team president Mike Heineman stops by the Too Much TV podcast to recap the season and look ahead to the future in terms of players, coaches, affiliations and facilities.
Here’s the link. And another.
Also, stop back here...
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Tuesday Tidbits
Spent some time in Brookings on Sunday. There was football, soccer and baseball all going on at the same time on the same block. Who says spring is slow?
Spring RPIs are coming out regularly now. SDSU is No. 167 in baseball, second in the Summit League behind No. 137 Western Illinois. The Jacks softball squad is No. 243 in softball - second-to-last in the conference. Newcomer Omaha is tops at No....
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Bono brings back gold
On Sunday in sultry Central America, the planned resurgence of the South Dakota State wrestling program moved forward: Jackrabbits coach Chris Bono coached Team USA to first place out of 18 nations in the freestyle division at the Senior Pan-American Championships in Panama City.
Bono made no bones about the fact that he went down there repping the red, white, blue and yellow.
“You get to...
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Final Four familiarity
Pittsburgh knows the Final Four. While the Panthers haven’t been there since 1941, they played - and lost to - every team in this year’s field: Louisville, Wichita State, Michigan and Syracuse.
South Dakota State isn’t that strongly connected to the semifinalists of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, but it’s not a stranger, either, having scrimmaged...
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Live chat 4/4
So the weekly live chat make a sneaky return Thursday. I forgot to announce it ahead of time (because I forgot it was happening). And then I spent most of the hour ranting about conference movement. Oy.
Here’s the replay, if you feel up to it.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
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Spring ball update 4/4
Here’s the first in a series of online updates from South Dakota State spring football practice:
As expected, the list of players who are out for some or all of the spring is substantial. They are: QB Austin Sumner, WR Trevor Tiefenthaler, RB Reggie Gandy, LBs Charles Elmore and Robbie Jelsma, S Drew Kreutzfeldt, WR Connor Landberg, TE Shayne Gottlob and long snapper Matt Peitz. However,...
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Too Much TV: Final Four
This week on the Too Much TV podcast, Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com gives us a preview of the Final Four in Atlanta.
You probably know Norlander as one of the first national media members to hop on the Nate Wolters bandwagon. But that was merely an indication of what he does - monitoring all things college hoops for the excellent Night Court segment and mediating the Eye on College Basketball...
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Tuesday Tidbits
Spring is in full swing with football practice and baseball games:
SDSU All-American point guard Nate Wolters received an offer to play in the Portsmouth Invitational, one of the most longstanding pre-draft camps for NBA prospects. But he turned it down, saying he was advised to instead concentrate on getting ready for a series of individual workouts with teams. Wolters has yet to chose an agent....
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TV ratings and such
Being in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament yields more publicity than not. That much is certain. (Where else can you get that kind of insight?)
It’s especially true this year as television ratings have been stronger than usual and digital viewership has risen exponentially (thanks in large part to the fantastic March Madness Live app, which puts the Olympic version to...
March 2013
24 posts
3 tags
Coaching search circus
It didn’t take long for one of South Dakota State’s basketball coaches to garner an interview - men’s coach Scott Nagy landed one (or something like it) at Ball State on Thursday, just one week after being bounced from the NCAA Division I tournament. A few musings on this:
Jackrabbits athletic director Justin Sell seems to have a sound approach to all of this, which he explained...
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Tourney wrap
A few final notes and thoughts from South Dakota State’s latest NCAA Division I men’s and women’s tournament appearances:
SDSU senior forward Tony Fiegen went 6 of 6 from the floor in a loss to Michigan, reaching double figures for the fifth consecutive game - the second-longest streak of his career. His career numbers in the NCAA tournament: 14 points, 7 rebounds and six...
