Fargo Filler

The Jackrabbit basketball teams are headed north to the one of the Dakotas (although January Jones wouldn't be able to tell you which one) Friday and Saturday for some important matchups with the NDSU Bison.

As seems to be the theme for the second half of the season, both squads will try to earn back victories that were lost earlier in the season at Frost Arena. I'm a believer that both teams can earn wins but it really depends on which teams show up at the Bison Sports Arena. Will the men and women defend the respective areas that cost them in the first meeting (for the men: rebounding, for the women: defending the Bison guards)? Can the men snap the long-standing streak that is in their way? Does any of the momentum from recent wins carry over into the rivalry game?

I can't answer any of those but I will give you one definite answer to this question: Will I be in Fargo Friday for the NDSU-SDSU men's showdown? Magic 8-Ball says YES!

That leads to this: an awesome preview video that has an terrific opening at The Collegian's sports page. Also, stay tuned with this blog and that Collegian page next week when we go all out from Sioux Falls for the Summit League tournament. 

Shoutout Time

• Congrats to the Centenary men, who picked up their first win of the season against Western Illinois Thursday. It has been a long road for the Gentlemen (1-28), who have taken some flak on a national level and most of it has not been warranted. They'll move down to Division III and I respect them even more that they have Division III kids playing a Division I schedule.

• Some people get rowdy about NBA's trading deadline and I'm not one of them. It will be interesting to see what comes of the new collective bargaining agreement, because teams like the Heat, Knicks, Lakers, with groups of high-priced talent coming together might be coming to an end. (P.S: Just when you think things couldn't get anymore weird in Utah with Jerry Sloan leaving, the foundation is traded to New Jersey.)

• David Kahn will keep you guessing.  It is weird to see the T-Wolves linked to Steve Nash. In any manner.

• Brookings, S.D. is a deceptively cold place. I will stay with my statement from last year saying this is the windiest place on Earth, as well.

• The NFL Scouting Combine. Late winter's mirage that football is near again.

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