News
For the Week of January 15
1. South Dakota State (4-0)
Beat Oral Roberts 78-75 Beat Denver 94-72
The Jackrabbits stay the consensus #1 amongst our grey matter challenged group with a close win and a blowout at home.
The Jacks keep making shots. Thru 4 league games SDSU is at 54% FG, 42% 3FG, 88% FT and 90 PPG.
Reed Tellinghuisen came up big with 24 against Oral Roberts. Mike Daum and David Jenkins, Jr. combined for 61 against Denver.
Daum is averaging 31.3 thru 4 Summit contests and has made 37/38 at the FT line.
SDSU backup point guard Brandon Key had 11 assists and 2 TO in 35 minutes in the 2 wins.
“Undefeated and not showing any signs of letting up.” – Stemen
“Had to gut it out against ORU.” – Elsen
“Does this team ever not score 90? Does Daum ever not have 30 points?” – Newitt
“Tellinghuisen is having big senior year and gives Jacks consistent second scoring option.” – Shawn
2. South Dakota (3-1)
Won at Fort Wayne 68-58
The Coyotes move up one spot this week. They sit at 3-1 in the league and now have a bad home loss (NDSU) and a good road win (Fort Wayne).
USD is not shooting it well right now (41%) but they are holding everybody else to that same number AND giving up a league low 66 PPG.
The Yotes have taken and made more FT than anybody else in league games so far, but could improve a bit on their 70% accuracy.
“Road win in comfortable fashion at Fort Wayne, proves they still have mettle to compete for a league title.” – Stemen
“Great bounce back effort at Fort Wayne.” – Elsen
“Defense has been rock solid! Winning without Mooney playing his best.” - Newitt
“Best defensive team in the league... Holding Fort Wayne under 60 in their home gym is impressive.” – Shawn
3. North Dakota State (2-2)
Lost Denver 67-61 Beat Oral Roberts 82-64
The Bison move up from #4 after another up and down (actually, down then up) weekend.
It was a rocky offensive performance in the loss to Denver, but then buckets and balance in the win over Oral Roberts.
Paul Miller stays warm with 20 in each game. Cam Hunter has been the Human Thermometer for NDSU. He has scored 52 in the two Bison wins so far and 18 in the two losses.
NDSU steps out of conference but stays in state with a game at home against North Dakota on Tuesday night.
“Impressive bounce back win over ORU after disappointing home loss to Denver.” – Stemen
“Weekend split at home prevents them from moving up to number 2.” – Elsen
“They are up, they are down, reminds me of a stock market index. They look great when the 3pt shot is going in, terrible when it isn't.” – Newitt
“Bison have had some good wins and a head-scratching loss. Inconsistency has been plaguing the Bison.” – Shawn
“Cam Hunter is good and his dad is one of my favorite Kansas Jayhawks ever.” - Nieman
4. Oral Roberts (3-2)
Lost at South Dakota State 78-75 Lost at North Dakota State 82-64
The Golden Eagles fall from #2 to #4. They started league play 3-0 but the Dakota road trip took its toll.
ORU led most of the first half at South Dakota State and cut a 12-point Jacks lead in the second half down to 1 with 2:30 to play before SDSU pulled it out. The ORU bigs were solid, but the starting guard shot just 6/22 overall and 1/10 on threes.
Emmanuel Nzekwesi had 23 at North Dakota State but didn’t get a lot of offensive help and the Bison shot it lights out.
Austin Ruder returned to the lineup for ORU after missing 10 games. He shot 5/16 on threes in the two games as he works his shot back into form.
The Golden Eagles return to South Dakota on Wednesday to take on USD in Vermillion.
“Competitive road loss at SDSU and impressive talent level across the board.” - Stemen
“Impressed by the way they battled SDSU in Frost; looked a little gassed against NDSU.” – Elsen
“0-2 in the Dakota's with one more to go this week. Look like a team that will give a lot of people trouble in Tulsa.” – Newitt
“Best front court in the conference. Starting four sophomores and freshman is scary for the future.” – Shawn
5. Fort Wayne (2-2)
Lost to South Dakota 68-58 Beat Omaha 82-78
A Division One men’s team should never shoot 3/20 in a game on 3-pointers but it happens. Fort Wayne did against South Dakota and dropped a league game at home.
The Dons did come back two nights later and go 13/32 in the win over Omaha.
Bryson Scott had 26 in both games. Scott is the national leader at the moment in FT made with 142 in 21 games.
John Konchar is in a bit of a scoring funk with just 8 and 6 in the last two games but is still a bada$$ on the boards averaging 10.5/game in league play.
“Talent level allows them chance to win any league game. Inconsistency hurts them.” – Stemen
“Need to get Konchar more involved offensively.” – Elsen
“Have got to score it to win and haven't been shooting it well enough from 3.” – Newitt
“They go as Bryson Scott goes...” - Shawn
6. Denver (1-3)
Won at North Dakota State 67-61 Lost at South Dakota State 94-72
As discussed last week, Denver is still a mystery. An enigma with an Amigo.
They shot it just well enough, won the board battle and had 17 assists and just 9 turnovers to get a good win at North Dakota State. Daniel Amigo lost his starting spot but came off the bench with 13 points and 9 rebounds to go with 15/6 for Joe Rosga.
They hit the wall and ran into a buzz saw at the same time, however, on Saturday at South Dakota State. Amigo subbed in again with 17/9, but the Pioneers allowed another big number and they need to turn that around.
Thru four league games Denver is scoring 68 and giving up 80 per game.
“Impressive road win in Fargo. Amigo responds to benching with offensive spark.” – Stemen
“Great road win in Fargo.” – Elsen
“When Amigo and company want to play they are a top 4 team as evidenced by the win at NDSU.” – Newitt
“Say it with me and it will make you smile: A-meeeeeee-goooooo!!” - Nieman
7. Omaha (1-3)
Won at Western Illinois 87-66 Lost at Fort Wayne 82-78
The Mavericks get their first league win by cranking up that Omaha O at Western Illinois. Lamar Wofford-Humphrey and Zach Jackson with 18 each. Daniel Norl and J.T. Gibson with 16 each.
Norl is 2nd in the league in assists/game (4.5) and all five starters were in double digits at Fort Wayne as Omaha almost pulled off the road sweep.
Do the Mavs have a little mo going as they go home to face Denver on Thursday?
“Pounded Western on their home floor.” – Stemen
“Good showing in weekend split at WIU and Fort Wayne.” – Elsen
“Need things to go just right to win games, slim margin for error.” – Newitt
“Still searching for inside scoring. Relies heavily on two players to carry offense.” – Shawn
8. Western Illinois (0-3)
Lost to Omaha 87-66
Western is on a scoring skid to start the Summit season. 24% three point shooting and 61 PPG are both league lows right now.
Freshman Kobe Webster continues to impress averaging 18 points and 4 assists in three league games.
Talented guard Dalan Ancrum had 25 against Oral Roberts last week but only 2 in the loss to Omaha.
We will see if the Leathernecks can find some consistency and defend the home floor this weekend against Fort Wayne and South Dakota State.
“Still think they’re improved, but Webster and Gilbeck need more help.” – Elsen
“It's been a struggle, but Leathernecks at times can defend.” – Shawn
“Because there's only 8 teams.” – Stemen
“Sentence fragment.” - Nieman
HUGE GAME(S) OF THE WEEK
Oral Roberts at South Dakota on Wednesday
USD needs to hold home floor after already dropping one at their place
ORU needs a W to prevent a 3-game skid after starting 3-0
North Dakota State at Fort Wayne on Saturday
Bison already with one great road win at South Dakota. Fort Wayne has already dropped one at home to USD. Circle of Life continues.