Brian Kimmes

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have joined with five other schools to form a schedule alliance. SDSU, North Dakota State University, Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Texas-Pan American and Utah Valley State have joined together to form the United Basketball Conference. The main reason behind forming the alliance was to make scheduling easier. South Dakota State Athletic Director Fred Oien said all independent schools face the same scheduling problem during the months of January and February when schools in conferences play their conference schedule. Independent schools are working together to lessen the burden of scheduling games. With the new alliance, all the teams involved will be guaranteed ten games. The new alliance will allow for home and away games for all the schools that are members, and ten games a year for all of the schools.”The biggest part it helps us with is scheduling, especially in January and February,” said Men’s Basketball Head Coach Scott Nagy.Women’s Basketball Head Coach Aaron Johnston said, “I am really pleased.” Johnston said the move will be good for the players because it will give players individual recognition, like player of the week. Along with the player recognition, the confernce will help current players because it will guarantee a set home-away schedule and eliminate the long road trips the team currently faces.Johnston thinks the new alliance will benefit recruits and fans. “It will make it easier for fans and recruits because they will know who we play,” he said.