GRAND FORKS — On Saturday, the UND men’s basketball team defeated Kansas City to end a six-game losing run.
This game could prove to be a turning moment for the 9-10 team that has been struggling. It was also the Hawks’ first victory in the Summit League this year.
“We left with a different perspective. We competed even if we didn’t play flawlessly, according to UND coach Paul Sather. “I believed that we were in a committed relationship. That night, we played with a lot more purpose and urgency.
The Hawks’ mentality from the victory against Kansas City must translate to this weekend’s games against Denver at noon on Saturday and Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. on Thursday at UND.
With two victories this weekend, UND, which is presently placed eighth in the conference, may move up into the middle of the pack.
“I had the impression that the guys were eager to play. Every time we set foot on the floor, we must realize that it will be quite difficult. Are we willing to take on the difficult tasks? Said Sather. Basketball is a game of runs, so when things aren’t going our way, let’s work harder at the difficult stuff. There must be a little Pepto Bismol in each of us. At some point throughout the game, we have to stop the runs. It’s a runs game, and you will give away leads if you don’t stop the runs. That, I believe, is what transpired with us prior to the Kansas City game. With that, we need to be more stern.
The Hawks have no talent shortage. Treysen Eaglestaff and B.J. Omot, with respective averages of 16.4 and 14.1 points per game, are in the conference’s top 10.
Eaglestaff is third in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.375) and leads the league in three-pointers made per game (averaging 2.7).
Amar Kuljuhovic leads the league in rebounds on defense with an average of 6.6 boards per game.
As a team, “we have to realize that every guy has an individual responsibility to show up and compete at a level that they can,” stated Sather. Sometimes it really is that easy. Are you doing everything you can to support this team in being its best?
“We made progress in Kansas City, I believe. But wonderful, you do it once. Every time you set foot on the floor, you have to perform this action. We’re missing that consistency at the moment, but it exists.