Woof….that was my reaction after the NDSU Bison men’s team came out of the gate 0-3 and seemed to have no identity on offense, didn’t shoot the ball well and turned the ball over at a very un-NDSU like rate. The freshman players looked like freshmen in the first 3 games, sloppy turnovers, getting lost on defense at times and just looking like they were a little behind the speed of the game at the D1 level. The one positive from the first 3 games was the rebounding, NDSU did come out of the opening week with a combined plus 25 rebounding edge over their opponents.
But what a difference a week can make. NDSU took the floor again on Saturday against the number 7 team in the country in Kansas and gave them everything they could handle. NDSU led most of the way and everything that went wrong in the first 3 games took a big swing back to a positive direction and they were a couple of shots in the paint not falling from pulling one of the biggest upsets in program history.
What was evident in the first 3 games is that the talent was there, the problem was getting everybody comfortable in their role and operating the offense with only one true PG on the current roster until Donald Carter III returns from injury. At Kansas both Grant Nelson and Desmond McKinney had easily their best games as Bison players and looked significantly more comfortable. The offense moved better, players were able to create mismatches and take advantage, they had their lowest turnover total of the young season and although the shooting definitely wasn’t where this team hopes it will be this season, it was definitely improved from the first three outings. The one thing the Bison didn’t do as well at Kansas, which likely cost them the upset in the end was being able to keep the Jayhawks off the offensive glass. Kansas had 16 offensive rebounds and led the rebounding category by 11 over the Bison. The second chance points allowed Kansas to keep it close and kept the Bison from pulling away when they had their opportunity to do so.
The effort displayed against the Jayhawks however gives this team some momentum and the fans some hope that the wins should start rolling in soon. If this team can continue to improve at the rate they did from week 1 to week 2 they should be well ahead of schedule to be playing their best basketball by March. The road doesn’t get any easier for the next game though, the Bison will head to Sioux Falls for the Dakota Showcase where they will play the SDSU Jackrabbits who have been nothing but impressive to start the season. Tip time is set for 8pm Thursday night for what should be another great showdown between these two programs and the first of 3 for the regular season. Let’s Go Bison!