This year, the Augustana College Men's and Women's Basketball teams will play their double headers at the Sioux Falls Arena.


Augustana College is trying to do a couple of things with the move to the Arena in my opinion.

First, I think it's a effort to do something new, something different that may create a new buzz around the program and it offers the fans something different for a home game.

Now that is one way to look at it and the other is that I believe it may be a challenge from the College and its Athletic Department to its boosters and supporters that if they want a permanent home on campus, then they being the boosters, need to dig into their pocket books ASAP and starting writing large checks to build a new facility that rivals the splendid football and baseball stadiums.

In addition, it may be a way of getting some normalcy as well for playing at the Arena while maybe behind the scenes something may be in the works to get the ball rolling to get such a facility in place.

Augustana College has always had GREAT support from the city of Sioux Falls and its alums.  I don't see this being a big challenge and in fact it will be neat to watch some Augie Basketball at the Arena, but ideally I would like to see a new facility built and the permanent home be on campus.

** YOU CAN EMAIL JEFF THURN AT JT@ESPN991.COM AND FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @JTESPN991

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