NDSU dominates at BSA, improves on road
The road was a lot kinder to the Bison this season than last.
After posting a road-record of 4-12 last season, NDSU’s 7-7 record away from home this season was a big improvement.
Despite a monumental upset at Wisconsin last season, the Bison lost on the road to teams they routinely beat at home.
NDSU finishes its season Saturday at home against IPFW.
Despite posting a .500 mark on the road this season, the Bison have also garnered a 10-1 home record that has turned the Bison Sports Arena into a tough environment for road teams to play in. The only loss came to Big 12 Conference team Kansas State.
The Bison are glad to be done traveling for the season, but know they have made large strides on the road since last season.
“In our second year, we have what it takes to win on the road,” sophomore Mike Nelson said.
Early in the season, the Bison went through ups and downs on the road.
NDSU lost a heartbreaker against Texas Tech by four points in a tough game against Bobby Knight’s well-coached team.
NDSU also performed poorly in Minneapolis against a struggling University of Minnesota team.
The season’s only victory over a ranked opponent came when the Bison once again beat a ranked-Wisconsin team, the then No. 8-ranked Marquette, with a 64-60 win on the road.
“Our team can go out and be competitive with anyone in the country,” NDSU coach Tim Miles said. “We can shoot the ball well offensively and play tough defense from time to time which makes us really competitive.”
The Bison followed their huge road win with three straight road losses to mid-major Division I teams that included an average margin of seven points.
After starting the road season 3-5, the Bison were able to pull out a 4-2 road record against the Division I Independents.
Next season as a Mid-Continent Conference member, NDSU will get their first taste of conference membership and rivalries on the road since the 2003-2004 season.
Consistent hostile crowds next season will add to an already tough conference road schedule.
Next season’s games will require the team to sometimes travel five days of week, leaving little time for class work.
“Being on the road is definitely challenging to keep up on our schoolwork,” sophomore Brett Winkelman said. “We can’t attend lectures but have to learn right out of the book.”
The team thinks the steady improvement and experience of the young Bison squad on the road will help next season.