Sports

When it comes to Minor League Basketball, Bismarck, North Dakota could make an argument for the 'Title Town' nickname. Championships in the IBA, CBA and NBA D-League...all from the Dakota Wizards, who open up the D-League season tonight, but open it up...with a few questions. "(Rory White:) If you look at our team, we are young and very thin and very athletic...so we are going to have to be an up-tempo team. Usually, the rebuilding happens the first season... but for Rory White, it is in his SECOND season as the Dakota Wizards Head Coach. (Rory White:) Last year, I was very fortunate to have half of the team coming back and this year, I'm not...so it is going to take a lot of work. His 10 man roster includes eight newcomers...and just TWO returners. His staff also includes a new face, former NBA Assistant Coach Bernard Smith, who will serve in that same role now with the Wizards. (Bernard Smith:) As a coach, you never stop learning and once you are at a point where you think you know it all, that is not good and I think I can learn a lot from Coach White and even some of these Developmental Players and you can learn from anybody on any level. What all the Wizards are learning is Coach White is no-nonsense. (Rory White:) My defense is always going to be top priorty and we are just going to try and boost the tempo and get steals and get quick baskets and take it from there. The Wizards might be rebuilding...but that doesn't mean they are retreating. They've reached the playoffs in all four of their D-League seasons, and they are on a 'drive for five' this season. (Chris Johnson:) There is a lot of talent on this team and we are gelling pretty good and just hanging out with guys and building up a comraderie - it is pretty good right now. (Darren Cooper:) Its definetly some chemistry that you can see and it is a lot of energy too, which is easy to work with because now, with energy, you can slowly coach them to where 'this is where you slow down.' There won't be much time to rest... the Wizards have three games in the next four nights...starting tonight. (Rory White:) These guys, they have to learn on the fly and we have a very young team, most of the guys haven't been through this experience before, so I have to be a little bit more patient with them and try to help them work through this process and on the other hand, we have to keep going forward because that game is coming, getting closer and closer. " How close is it? Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m. central time at the Bismarck Civic Center as the Wizards will host Iowa.