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The one-loss, number 3 ranked Dragons men's basketball had it's first losing weekend of the season. They first dropped their chance at 18 in Winona a night before their top-5 clash with Mankato. Not to speak for them but they wouldn't be the first team in history to overlook an opponent because of the future schedule, if indeed that was in their minds. In the second game of the weekend they had chances to win it late but instead got another dose of humble pie toward continuing improvement. With eight games left before the conference tournament the margin is getting thin but there is a real possibility that they won't lose again before taking to Sioux Falls.

They already handled their business against fourth place Duluth but will need to do the same against Minot State when the Beavers come to Moorhead Thursday Feb. 8. It will likely be the difference between the second and third seeds at the conference tourney.

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From the playing surface to the press release, BisoNation got the news that seemed inevitable when Tim Polacek was named head coach. No, Tyler Roehl didn't join Northwestern, Kansas State or any of the other higher profile outfits. But he did do what was expected and opt for an opportunity elsewhere to start gaining the sort of experience that put coach P over the top. Tennessee St. isn't the sort of place that would be better for the current NDSU players so few, if any, will follow him and so far none have chosen to portal at all.

Despite that the coaching staff increased this week wth Devin Klieman joining from K-State as the safeties coach and Will Johnson taking the cornerbacks job after a stint with Southern Cal.. It hasn't been made official but coach P also reportedly poached the recently hired OC from Grand Forks.

So all told, there will be even more of a different flavor to next Fall than was assured by the change at HC!

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As for the hottest team in the area, the Force are up to a gaudy 31-5-2 record and are up at least 11 points on the rest of the League.

It would take an epic collapse for them to not finish with home ice!

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NDSU's women's basketball team is also trending toward a very good spot in the bracket with a nine-point loss to ORU being the only blemish in conference action ahead of SDSU's visit Thursday.

With the queen of the D1 era leading the way they are well on their way to making memories as well!

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The same could be said about Concordia's ladies who were riding a six-game winning streak into Hamline. A 42-22 halftime score put a halt to their streak, just the second conference loss with the first being to unbeaten Gustavus.

They could get a measure of revenge February 7 but will need help along the way to take it from being a very good season to a special one.

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It was also a big week for the baseball fans as Minnesota legend Joe Mauer was chosen for induction into Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility. He will always have his detractors but in the wake of the "steroid era" his selection could be as much about the signaling to younger players as anything. Because one thing that can't be justifiably disputed is that he was a stand-up guy going all the way back! As much as the numbers matter, reinforcing the value of actions by the good guys is a smart move.

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It's something that the basketball team could benefit from learning as they've hit a swoon in the season and are starting to display some of the old, undesirable traits from lost seasons of old.

As possible Finals contenders they will need to pull it together with less than half of the season remaining. With the trade deadline a week and a half away it will be interesting to see how Tim Connelly goes about tweaking the roster for the stretch run, because it does seem necessary.

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Quite a week for the Fargo area sports scene