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2019 Summit Conference Tournament Odds: South Dakota St Heavily Favored

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in College Basketball

Updated Apr 8, 2020 · 3:49 PM PDT

SDSU big man Mike Daum driving to the hoop.
Will Mike Daum lead SDSU to its fourth straight Summit League title? Photo by Twitter user @ESPNStatsInfo.
  • South Dakota State has represented the Summit League in the last three NCAA Tournaments
  • The Jackrabbits are heavy favorites to do so again in 2019
  • But Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota State, and South Dakota are all +900 or shorter

Are those Jackrabbits from South Dakota State about to run off with a fourth straight Summit League title?

The oddsmakers most certainly think that to be the case. Oddsmakers have pegged South Dakota State as overwhelming favorite to win the league tournament, which begins Saturday (Mar. 9th) with quarterfinal play. All games will be at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

2019 Summit League: Odds To Win

Team Odds to Win 2019 Summit League(as of Mar. 6)
South Dakota State -300
Nebraska Omaha +500
South Dakota +800
North Dakota State +900
IPFW +1400
North Dakota +2800
Oral Roberts +6600
Western Illinois +15000

Off to a Jackrabbit Start

South Dakota State has won five of the last seven Summit League titles. Sizing up the competition, it’s difficult to make a case for any team other than South Dakota State ascending to the summit of the Summit League.

The Jackrabbits own the best conference record (14-2) and the best overall record (24-7). Coming into the tournament, they’ve won four straight, nine of their last 10, and 13 of 14.

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South Dakota State scored the most points in conference play (85.5 points per game) and only North Dakota State (73.1 ppg) displayed a better defensive game than the Jackrabbits (74.1).

When adjusted for opponent and tempo, the Jackrabbits actually led the conference on defense, as well, sitting 187th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings.

Individually, Jackrabbits forward Mike Daum leads the conference in scoring (25.1 ppg) and rebounds per game (11.7). He’s the only player in the conference to average over 20 points per game and double digits in boards. His senior season was the cherry on top of a fantastic college career

South Dakota State guard Tevin King is second in the conference in assists per game (4.35) and steals per game (1.77).

Team-wise, they top the league in field-goal percentage (50.5), three-point field-goal percentage (41.4), free-throw percentage (78.1), and rebounds per game (38.2).

When the other team has the ball, South Dakota State holds opponents to league lows in field-goal percentage (41.7) and three-point field-goal percentage (34.1).

Quite a Run at the Summit

The Jackrabbits launched their dominance of the conference with back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

After a two-year reign by North Dakota State, the Jackrabbits revved up again and ran off three titles in a row beginning with 2016, not coincidentally Daum’s first year at the program.

They’ve proven to be the masters of never giving up come tournament time, making a name for themselves as a squad that overcomes double-digit deficits to win in the playoffs.

This season, South Dakota State has dominated in conference play. The Jackrabbits suffered both of their setbacks on the road, dropping a 101-84 decision at Purdue-Fort Wayne on Jan. 3rd and an 85-84 setback at Nebraska Omaha on Feb. 14th.

YouTube video

Ten of their 14 victories have been fashioned via double-digit margins. The Jackrabbits even earned a rare Summit League highlight package on ESPN SportsCenter after pouring in 90 first-half points en route to a 139-72 rout of Savannah State.

Is There a Tortoise Capable of Beating This Hare?

Seeking out a school capable of causing an upset and attaining the Summit League title, you might want to take a gander at South Dakota State’s cross-state rivals.

The 7-9 South Dakota Coyotes aren’t a fashionable choice as the No. 6 seed, but after splitting two games with IPFW, they are given better odds of winning it all than the third-seeded Mastodons. Entering the tournament the Yotes are playing their best basketball of the season and have won four of five.

IPFW guard John Konchar leads the conference in assists (5.3) and steals (1.93) per game.

For either of these teams to win, they must outgun South Dakota State in second-round play.

It’s not going to happen. In this tale, bet on the Jackrabbits. This is no fable. It’s for real.

SBD’s NCAA conference tournament coverage:

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