Leaderboard

Ugh, it's like a broken record year after year, a loss to one of these teams in the semifinals, and this game wasn't even close from start to finish, and so, where does this leave ORU women's basketball? Even though the record looks decent overall at 18-13 it can't take away from the fact that it's another exit from the conference tournament without winning it all, and another season of not winning a regular-season conference title. Sad for the seniors (and the entire team, of course) to once again finish out of the running for regular season or conference tournament glory. Who knows, maybe there will be an invitation to the Women's Basketball Invitational after the NCAA and WNIT bids are announced, although it's not likely, so the team will get to experience postseason play at some level. Will things ever change? Will this program ever make it to the top of the conference again? I would think that in year seven of this head coach and with goals in place with the coaching staff that the program would be better overall and would be competing better at the top of the conference. I don't understand how coaches can recruit to Brookings and Vermillion and not to Tulsa, and even though ORU is still considered a faith-based University, coaches have been able to recruit successfully to ORU in the past. It's easy to be frustrated after losses like this, and it's only natural to be, but I'm concerned that more progress hasn't been made to establish this program as one of the best, if not the best, in the Summit, and to have the program be in the conversation when it comes to mid-majors, so again, it points to the coaching staff and to what might be going on with athletics overall, although I don't know if anything is going on within the program or within the athletic department that we as fans should be concerned or worried about. I don't see the drive coming down from the top to win, since the results aren't there, and they haven't been for a few years now across the board in almost every sport, except for baseball, and even baseball hasn't been successful when it comes to the NCAAs. It's just been mentioned recently, by myself and others, that the athletic program is mediocre at best, if not below average when it comes to results on the court and on the field. It's sad and discouraging and frustrating to see, and to go through as a fan and as an alum who cares. Just my two cents.

Excellent post, BlueGold. At least the women got a W in the post season, which is great. But you look back on the overall record of our current coach staff and it points to the same problem the whole athletic department is having. The faith-based university thing is no excuse for coaches. Our teams just haven’t been able to compete at a high level in the summit for many years now. And we keep pointing to baseball as our shining light, but when was the last time they won a meaningful game in the Tourney, let alone made any sort of noise. Sad sad time to be a fan of oru athletics.

Quote of the Game "We were the youngest team in this league by a wide margin in regards to minutes continuity. It was good for us to be in this kind of experience. We are obviously disappointed in the outcome but I am proud of the guys in the locker room." – ORU Head Coach Paul Mills What? How many times are you going to use that excuse? He didn't play Jurgens and Ahmedic. Allowed North Dakota to get back in the game with 24-11 edge, and stopped playing the five that got him in front in the game. Then he took out Lacis who was having a great game and it seemed that Eman was still playing hurt and not himself. Played the two guards Malone and Saunders together which is a NO and no time outs at critical times. This was so hard to watch, I turned it off and I love ORU but something must be done from the top and I mean top like AD. We are losing on every level in D1 Sports except baseball and even there we lost a sweep to Dallas Baptist. It is time for a change! I am totally frustrated! I guess I should tell you how I really feel.

60+ games into the new regime, it should have been by now. Tonight was a litmus test: winnable game against a familiar opponent without as much talent. Result: 13-point loss in yet another game that was seemingly over 10 minutes into the second half. Grade? Failing.

This is Suttonesque by Mills....refusing to call a timeout to settle his team EDIT: Finally!!!!