FARGO -- Because of a scheduling conflict, North Dakota State will take a one-year break from playing the University of Minnesota in men's basketball next season.
NDSU, which has played the Gophers the last four years, had a date set to play in Minneapolis next season. But according to Bison head coach Saul Phillips, the Gophers had to bump the date because of a nationally televised game they scheduled.
"Our schedule is pieced together pretty neatly," Phillips said. "So we agreed to take a break and resume the series immediately the following season.
"If I thought it was the end of the relationship, I would feel disappointed. But taking a break is just fine with me."
Phillips said the Gophers game will be replaced with a game at another high-major opponent. Phillips would not comment on who the opponent will be until the schedule is finalized, adding that the schedule will also include another high major and what he described as a "very notable 2-for-1 series" with another opponent.
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Phillips did confirm that next season's home schedule will include games with Horizon League teams Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wisconsin-Green Bay plus Western Athletic Conference team Idaho.
"We'll have the best pre-January home schedule since I've been here," said Phillips, who has been at NDSU since 2004 -- three years as an assistant and the last two as the head coach.
It has been reported that the Bison will also play at Gonzaga -- a perennial power that reached the Sweet 16 of this year's NCAA tournament.
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