The North Dakota of 2016-17 is almost completely detached from the Fighting Hawks of today.
Thus far, the course has been choppy and disappointing for UND. The once-proud, 22-10, conference reigning Hawks have taken a major statistical tumble since winning their first Big Sky title last season.
The lack of an imposing under-the-rim presence has been a major impairment. Forward Drick Bernstine’s departure to Washington State after last season and the loss of guard Quinton Hooker, who often laid it all out to collect a ball bounced astray, has excessively clipped the wings on UND’s hopes of repeating.