North Dakota lost ... now what?

When you walk along the streets of Vermillion, the local South Dakota fans have one thought - the only REAL test is beating their archrival, North Dakota.  North Dakota, the two-seed in the regional tourney being held at the University of South Dakota, will join the Coyotes next season in a move up to D-I.  'Round these parts, it is expected that the regional title will be a showdown between North Dakota and South Dakota.

Only one thing, though - Wayne State, the seven-seed, just upset North Dakota 85-78.  What now?  And for our selfish concerns as ThunderWolf fans, what about our chances?

The North Dakota loss has South Dakota no doubt feeling pretty good.  What they see as their chief competition is now out of the tourney altogether.  This could either help or hurt the ThunderWolves.

South Dakota will either focus everything on that North Dakota-less regional championship and look past the ThunderWolves, or they will realize that a trip to the Elite 8 with North Dakota out of the picture is now all the easier, and they will focus that much harder on CSU-Pueblo.

Of course, if the Pack has its way, all this is a moot point en route to a CSU-Pueblo regional title!