The NEW Official Thread of the Augustana Vikings

[MrAugustana]

Augie Basketball media day video:

https://youtu.be/7Y9qvRvJxUU

Not a long portion for either the men's or women's coaches, but Billeter was highly complimentary of the North Division—specifically Duluth and Moorhead—which I'm sure Moorhead123 appreciates.

Coach Billeter also mentioned that Isaac Fink hurt his knee in June and hasn't resumed playing yet. Hopefully he's fully healthy soon, seeing as he's our only returning starter—and one of our only returning players who actually played key minutes—from last year.

[MrAugustana]

Augie Basketball media day video:

https://youtu.be/7Y9qvRvJxUU

Not a long portion for either the men's or women's coaches, but Billeter was highly complimentary of the North Division—specifically Duluth and Moorhead—which I'm sure Moorhead123 appreciates.

[Moorhead123]

Very smart kid to take mental health seriously. Hope he is able to get back to basketball at some point, if that is what he wants to do.

Hopefully, our leaders/politicians (all parties) can stop using innocent citizens as pawns in their sick games, which is a large part of the cause of the mental health epidemic happening around the world.

[MrAugustana]

What is going on with McDonald apparently transferring from Augie?

Hadn't heard about that. Looks like it's a mental health thing:

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[Moorhead123]

What is going on with McDonald apparently transferring from Augie?

[MrAugustana]

A few more of these little social media videos that Augie fans may enjoy:

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[MrAugustana]

Moorhead been trying to schedule game or scrimmage against ndsu for years. Ndsu only willing to scrimmage Concordia Moorhead.

If it makes you feel any better, it sounds like it's a closed scrimmage, so I don't know that there will be much be much fun or publicity or anything like that that comes out of it, regardless of how it goes.

[Moorhead123]

Just saw on the NDSU forum that the Vikings have a scrimmage scheduled with the Bison in Sioux Falls on Oct. 22. Wish it were an exhibition game instead.

Moorhead been trying to schedule game or scrimmage against ndsu for years. Ndsu only willing to scrimmage Concordia Moorhead.

[MrAugustana]

Just saw on the NDSU forum that the Vikings have a scrimmage scheduled with the Bison in Sioux Falls on Oct. 22. Wish it were an exhibition game instead.

[Augieholic]

Fine-looking group. Oddly excited for the season, given that there really is no reason for high expectations.

Curious which freshmen play and how many minutes they get. Also curious whether my rosy prediction for Zac Johnson comes to fruition.

Looks like new uniforms to boot.

I share your sentiments across the board. New blood up and down the roster with an intriguing mix of an experienced, not necessarily at D2, back court and an inexperienced, but athletically promising, front court.

The closest comparison for this team in the Billeter Era to me is the '13-14 squad when Dan and Casey were sophomores. That team was 5-5 vs D2 competition at Xmas break, that seems like a good baseline to use with this squad.

[MrAugustana]

Fun little social media feature on Isaac Fink to get ready for the season:

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[MrAugustana]

I hope you're right, and I agree that Augie is a special place. But recent history shows even Augie isn't immune to this trend.

Look at the players who left, for a variety of reasons, in just the past couple of years:

Plitzuweit
Cartwright
Schaefer
Todd
Wheelock
Winkel
Eze

A mixed bag, to be sure. It just shows you never know how recruits will pan out, both on and off the court.

I didn't include Trevor Hanson, who had to give up the game because of foot injuries, which is a shame, because I believe he would have gone down as one of the best big men, at least on the offensive end, in Augie history. He could flat-out shoot the ball.

Your not fully functional quote makes it look like I'm the one that thinks 80% of Augie's 2022 and 2023 classes will stay. While I am hopeful, I'm not quite as confident as vikingfaithful.

That list of transfers is always in my head. I have a hard time not playing the "what if" game, much to Augieholic's and others' annoyance, I'm sure. Plitzuweit is the biggest loss in that group to me by far. Cartwright and Schaefer are tough because it makes you wonder if we could've gone all the way last year with both of them adding to the depth we were lacking, particularly Schaefer in the frontcourt. That being said, NWMSU would've been tough whether we had a stronger bench or not.

That being said, I can't complain too much because last year was a special group. Maybe Cartwright, Schaefer, and Todd leaving helped with chemistry or something. Who knows? I know LeBrun was pretty intent on shutting Cartwright down from the sound of things, so there seemed to be no love lost there.

Either way, if we can at least get 2-3 seasons out of the majority of our 2022 and 2023 classes, I'll consider that in and of itself a win.

[vikingfaithful]

Yes, Trevor Hanson loss to injury was a shame, could shoot the ball like a guard. Cartwright and Schaefer hurt as they took lateral moves to other D2 schools. We have benefitted from at least 1 transfer from Mankato in Mike Busack 2016/2017 who tore it up as a Grad transfer. He still has AU BB pictured on his twitter acct.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

[QUOTE=vikingfaithful;n702599]

Maybe I'm naive, but I'd like to think that winning and Augustana being a special place would be enough to keep at least 80% of 2022 and 2023 recruits.

I hope you're right, and I agree that Augie is a special place. But recent history shows even Augie isn't immune to this trend.

Look at the players who left, for a variety of reasons, in just the past couple of years:

Plitzuweit
Cartwright
Schaefer
Todd
Wheelock
Winkel
Eze

A mixed bag, to be sure. It just shows you never know how recruits will pan out, both on and off the court.

I didn't include Trevor Hanson, who had to give up the game because of foot injuries, which is a shame, because I believe he would have gone down as one of the best big men, at least on the offensive end, in Augie history. He could flat-out shoot the ball.

[vikingfaithful]

[QUOTE=MrAugustana;n702491]

Truth. Would be awesome if they all committed to staying and winning at Augie though. Assuming they win. I'd like to think they will.

Maybe I'm naive, but I'd like to think that winning and Augustana being a special place would be enough to keep at least 80% of 2022 and 2023 recruits.