Hansel
August 31st, 2006, 02:29 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2567348
Mid-Con affiliation is next big step for NDSUBy Jeff Shelman
Special to ESPN.com
Northern exposure
In many ways, it's fairly amazing that North Dakota State athletic director Gene Taylor didn't spend his April looking for a new men's basketball coach.
Generally speaking, coaches at many low-major programs are looking for that next job, that next opportunity. Win a bunch of games, pull off an eye-popping upset or two and create a little buzz. Do that, and the window of opportunity opens for a gig where there are better facilities, a bigger budget, more exposure and more cash.
And when those opportunities present themselves, coaches are all but required to take them. After all, there are few guarantees in the business of coaching. The low-major coach who passes on an opportunity to move up the food chain does so realizing there might never be that kind of opportunity again.
That brings us to NDSU coach Tim Miles. When last season began, the expectations for the Bison were quite low. It was the first season in which the former Division II school would play a full Division I schedule. Throw in the fact that the Bison would be extremely young -- Miles would spend much of the season starting four freshmen -- and it seemed as if victories would be difficult to obtain.
With a healthy hand, Ben Woodside could be even better as a sophomore for Miles' Bison.
So what happened? Not only did the Bison win 16 games, they picked up some quality victories in the process. First were late December victories at Montana State and over Northern Illinois to win the Holiday Stores GranTree Inn tournament. Then came the road shocker at Big Ten heavyweight Wisconsin.
Mid-Con affiliation is next big step for NDSUBy Jeff Shelman
Special to ESPN.com
Northern exposure
In many ways, it's fairly amazing that North Dakota State athletic director Gene Taylor didn't spend his April looking for a new men's basketball coach.
Generally speaking, coaches at many low-major programs are looking for that next job, that next opportunity. Win a bunch of games, pull off an eye-popping upset or two and create a little buzz. Do that, and the window of opportunity opens for a gig where there are better facilities, a bigger budget, more exposure and more cash.
And when those opportunities present themselves, coaches are all but required to take them. After all, there are few guarantees in the business of coaching. The low-major coach who passes on an opportunity to move up the food chain does so realizing there might never be that kind of opportunity again.
That brings us to NDSU coach Tim Miles. When last season began, the expectations for the Bison were quite low. It was the first season in which the former Division II school would play a full Division I schedule. Throw in the fact that the Bison would be extremely young -- Miles would spend much of the season starting four freshmen -- and it seemed as if victories would be difficult to obtain.
With a healthy hand, Ben Woodside could be even better as a sophomore for Miles' Bison.
So what happened? Not only did the Bison win 16 games, they picked up some quality victories in the process. First were late December victories at Montana State and over Northern Illinois to win the Holiday Stores GranTree Inn tournament. Then came the road shocker at Big Ten heavyweight Wisconsin.