GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- At about the halfway point of their first NCAA Division I season, both the University of North Dakota men's and women's basketball programs had a chance to assess where things are at today in a press conference. Each Wednesday, FightingSioux.com will now have weekly press conferences of basketball coaches and players.
Brian Jones, the head coach of the men's program, said after the first half of the year, UND is right where they want to be.
"Our team is a team of character," Jones said. "They find ways to win. Maybe it's not by the margin fans want us to win by, but, bottom line, it's a win."
Jones said the key to the transition is getting wins and building the foundation for future years.
"I think we've learned a great deal," Jones said. "Travel is a big thing we've learned the most about ... Strength has been an issue. We knew it would be. But actually going up against those type of bodies, re-emphasizes that."
"A third would be just understanding the ups and downs," Jones said. "One night you're playing a Northern Iowa, the next night a DAC-10. That's not easy."
The men's basketball team is back in action next Monday at 7 p.m. at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
For Roebuck and the women's basketball team, travel has been the biggest issue.
"Games, they're just regular basketball games," Roebuck said, "and I thought we competed well in a lot of games."
Roebuck said the most disappointing thing is that the Sioux had chances to win a number of those games.
"I don't think we were out-talented in a lot of those games," Roebuck said. "We just didn't play well in some spurts."
UND has a had a tough mix of Division I games on the road, many of them on the same long road trips. A few weeks ago, for instance, UND flew to Albany, N.Y., bused to Vermont for a game, flew to Houston, Texas, for a game before coming home.
The women's team is back in action next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
Full video of the press conference are available FREE through the links at the top of this page.
