I feel good about where we are, and the direction we're headed.

When the news broke about UCD joining the MW in all sports but football (except those the MW doesn't sponsor) and with an option to join the MW in football, my memory is that most of the contributors to this site were positive, regardless of what Sac State was doing, or attempting to do at the time..

That was followed by a facilities plan designed to benefit several sports in addition to football. Again, my memory is that most everyone here on AST were pretty pleased. Critiques were mostly quibbles about things in the concept drawings that posters felt could be improved.

Rocko DeLucca and Gary May were pretty universally lauded for moving in the right direction and in a well thought out manner to elevate the whole athletic program.

What's changed? Sac State moving to the MAC? NDSU moving to the MW?

Sac State seems that maybe, after shooting themselves in the foot for several months, they MIGHT actually get to FBS. Which is no more than they said they wanted from the get go. Few of us here at AST thought the Hornets going FBS was a bad thing for them or us. We mostly questioned their approach, as contrasted with ours. Additionally, Sac State is paying a lot more for a whole lot less, all things considered. Few of us here seem to think the MAC is on a level with the MW or PAC 2.0, which were Sac's original "sure things". For another, UCD will be receiving media money for a few years while Sac won't. And, if the MAC doesn't work, they'll probably have a hefty exit fee to move somewhere else. Finally, Sac will have the same problem with the Big West that UCD had. DeLucca talked about it at one point and a couple of people here have mentioned it. Except for Cal Poly, Sac will be the only BW school that has to support a football program. And an FBS program eats even more resources than an FCS program. At all the other schools, resources that Sac devotes to football can support basketball, soccer, baseball, etc. Worse, the other schools AND the conference don't consider football and its need in their decision making. Are we really envious?

NDSU going FBS is a shoe that has been waiting to drop for a long time. In addition to winning 10 of the last 15 FCS championships, the Bison have 5 D2 championships and 3 "small college" national titles. NDSU has been a big dog forever; the surprise is that it's taken them so long to go FBS. Doing so, as many here have noted helps our chances for a national championship in the short term. Longterm, it likely improves the MW as a football conference, which may make the conference more viable, and more desirable, if and when UCD goes FBS.

As Sailorgabe keeps pointing out, the world of college athletics isn't done changing. There's obviously plan in place, one that probably was well considered, and which I assume will be under continual review as the changes keep taking place.

So, yeah, I still feel good.

I've gotten increasingly concerned as the season's progressed about the effect of the big minutes all the starers are playing. Tired legs really affect shooting, which is why I think Ryann and Avery, particularly, have struggled with consistency since we've gotten into the middle portion of conference play. Megan, in addition to the minutes, has been wearing theraputic tape one one or both hamstrings all season - and more recently a leg sleeve. So her legs have never been 100%. It's amazing that she's having the season she is.

Nya's grown into a scoring role this year and has the advantage of having played in the upper 20 minutes for the previous 2 seasons. Her shooting has always been a little streaky, and that hasn't changed. I'm wondering if Vic will get more time on the court after last night. Tegan Young has improved her stats from her time at Manhattan, in what she's admitted is a faster-paced league that she's still adjusting to. But she hasn't impacted games the way Vic has.

Not that Gross has many options for minutes off the bench: due injuries and inexperience, she's got a short 2nd unit to work with. I don't want to say "...and weak 2nd unit" as Lentfer, Ersdala, and Davis are all freshmen, and Tsami might as well be. There's only so much most freshmen can contribute; they've all had moments, particularly Lentfer and Ersdala. The upside is that at least Lentfer and Ersdala should be more prepared for next year. Tagging onto that, 2026 recruit Anna Bassett has beeb on campus since the start of Winter quarter, so she's also getting a head start on next season, which is all to the good.

Thanks for that vignette. Those snapshots give great insight to the team culture. I think I've seen more of that individual moment thing this year than in past years, from Mia Gallo and Vickie Baugh as well as Terramoto and Klemin.

At least the Aggies made ESPN's NCAAW page in the highlights. No mention of Norris's big game on the boards. though. :sad:

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47915869

TY!

I didn’t make it last night. First day feeling normal after a bout with an intestinal bug. Thought it best to stay home. My wife said missing the game would probably mean a great win! Every little bit helps.

I hope the women have enough left in the tank to take down the Beach on the road.

Can only be termed aan "escape from SLO".

I don't see that happening.

When interviewed after the 2025 Causeway Classic. DeLucca seemed very clear that until Sac State was stable, we wouldn't be scheduling them. At this point, our games with an FBS opponent is a big payday for the athletic program. Somehow I don't see Sac State being willing to give UCD that kind of money in the near future, if ever. Davis isn't where they will need to spend their money to make this move - if/when it happens - work.

Plus, due to Big Sky roster limits, Davis is going to have fewer bodies that FBS teams, which is a disadvantage - or at least that's how DeLucca framed it. He, and probably Plough, want to limit those situations.

Finally, for purposes of ranking, our non-conference dates - again limited by Big Sky requiring more conference games - will need to thread the needle: be challenging but reasonably winnable.

If Sac State is desperate enough to make an offer of $10 million plus no media revenue for a year up front, I bet there’s a counter offer from any conference that’s actually considering letting them in. The conference has all the leverage, which I’m sure the realize. This like a mark going looking for a conman.

Pretty much the same story - in this case, Megan Norris has the off scoring night, and no one was able to step up and fill the void.

My wife - a data nerd - says a better explanation might be that the major programs probably have more good shooters, so there are fewer misses to rebound.

A corollary might be that at major programs, it's more likely that centers are good 3-pt shooters, so they're less likely to be in position to rebound. Also correlates with your observation about offensive styles.

Carol Rische 1978-83 holds the WBB rebounding record at 1028. Rische (1980) also holds the top spot in season rebound per game at 11.3, while Lisa Jo Kellog (1991) has the most rebounds in a season at 301.

After today, Norris is at 924 career rebounds, averaging 12.3 rpg., 270 for the season thus far. The way she's been playing, Megan could own all three records by the end of the season.

Not sure what the Big West records are since the record book hasn't been updated since July 2022. That's pretty lame.

Fullerton just squeaked past UCSB, 62-60. Second straight loss for the Gauchos. Big game for the Aggies at the Thunderdome on Thursday

Langhi came from Mitty, which definitely produces some outstanding players. But it isn't a share-the-ball, relationship based program, like Gross runs here at UCD. I think she expected to be an immediate impact player. I thought that her social media posts showed some immaturity as well.

Bennett and Sussex were also from top programs, where they were each the featured player, which Langhi wasn't at Mitty - probably the 3rd or 4th option there. Ryann and Avery have made / are making the adjustment and continue to evolve together. Sussex and Langhi had similar freshman year experiences. Sussex embraced the challenge, while Langhi seemed frustrated by the expectation to share the ball, play team defense and grow into her role. whatever that might become. At least that's how it seemed from the stands.

Langhi's stats on 2 weak teams at CUSB kind of bear out that she hasn't become the kind of player that she thought she was coming out of high school. Had she adapted and stayed, who knows what she might have been.

That’s okay, Russ. We’ve reached the age where confusion happens occasionally. LOL!

Very complimentary piece.y

Winnable games at home next week. Hopefully we can build some momentum prior to Central Coast road trip.

Ground out a needed W!

His Hudl page says he's 6'4" 225lb OG / DE; 81" wingspan; 9" hands; 17 years old. Older brother is a RS Sophomore OL at Utah - 6'4" 300lb. Sounds like he could grow/fill out quite a bit.

I agree that having an Equestrian team fit with the UCD heritage/culture, and I would love to have it continue.

Unfortunately, I also understand that Equestrian is an expensive sport to operate. In addition to the cost of scholarships, uniforms, coaching and support staff salaries, general equipment similar to all other varsity sports there are equine-athlete costs and facility costs. Just feeding one horse, depending on the price of hay, can $5,000 or more a month. There's also another $1500/month per horse for routine veterinary and farrier care. And there's no skipping on any of this if you want the horses ready for competition.

So I can easily see that the savings by replacing Equestrian with Stunt will be significant.

Australian Anna Bassett, a member of the Aggies' 2026 recruiting class, was on the bench last night dressed like the players currently out with injuries. I wonder if she's just making a visit, or if she'd en early enrollee? If she's enrolled, she can practice with the team, which would put her ahead come next season.

I wonder if there's any chance that fellow Aussie 2026 recruit, Rebecca Donnelly, might join her?

Rough shooting night! 15% from 3; 29% from the field. Looks like everyone has lost confidence in their shot. And we miss soooo many layups. It’s an issue my wife and I scratch our heads over every year. Do we not practice layups? That alone cost us the game tonight.

Just really choppy play, no flow on offense. Norris doubled or tripled in the post every touch…they were grabbing at the ball, but Megan was getting called for offensive fouls. While knockdowns of Bennet and Baker not called. Monster night rebounding.