GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple (DOO'-puhl) says the league will begin evaluating the University of North Dakota for possible membership.
The league had said it would not consider UND until the school had resolved the dispute over its Fighting Sioux nickname. The state Board of Higher Education has since directed UND to begin retiring the nickname, and Douple says presidents of schools in the Summit are satisfied with that direction.
UND just completed its second season of competition in NCAA Division I athletics. The school currently competes in the Great West Conference in most sports. But that league doesn't advance an automatic qualifier to postseason tournaments.
The 10-member Summit League has automatic qualifying status and would reunite UND with former North Central Conference rivals North Dakota State, South Dakota State and South Dakota.
