Tuesday Tidbits: Dykstra signs; new track to be blue

Where did July go?:

Former South Dakota State standout forward Jordan Dykstra on Sunday signed a deal to join BK Inter Bratislava in the Slovak Extraliga. He mentioned that one of the appeals to the club was its relative central location to possible future career destinations in Hungary and the Czech Republic.
His club was the best in Slovakia last year, and has done well with players from this region before. Among them: Former Wisconsin forward Alando Tucker and Martin Rancik, a former Iowa State standout from suburban MInneapolis.

SDSU men's basketball coach Scott Nagy said that the game at St. Louis came about after a potential deal with Vanderbilt fell through. As for the way the conference portion was constructed, he's not thrilled with opening at Denver and at North Dakota State. Then again, a win or two could boost a young squad.
"You can put yourself in a good post," he said. "The other thing that can come true is you lose them and you lose your confidence, and it can affect you the whole conference season. Those two will tell a lot."

Athletic director Justin Sell said that the track portion of the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex should begin construction around Aug. 1. It'll be eight lanes, 300 meters and ... blue. Yes, the surface will be blue. It'll match the painted rafters.

The Jacks filled 1 of 2 vacant coaching spots Monday by putting Tennessee assistant Casey VanDamme in charge of the golf program. He was in Houston when the news broke, and said that several colleagues were surprised by it.
"I think two years from now, three years from now they're going to be shaking their heads – 'Why didn't I see the potential?'" he said.
During a visit to Brookings for an interview, VanDamme drove every hole at Brookings Country Club and picked the brains of Average Joes at the grocery store. The answers fit the bill in terms of what he was seeking in his first head coaching job.
"I love the idea of a small town with big-time athletics," VanDamme said.
Nonetheless, the fact that SDSU is going to get him a full-time assistant was key to sealing the deal. Former coach Jared Baszler only had a graduate assistant.

Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.