Originally published in USA Today Sports Weekly’s College Basketball Season Preview issue.
By RYAN McDONOUGH
After finishing as co-Summit League Regular Season Champion at 12-4 in conference play, South Dakota State emerged victorious in the Summit League Tournament Finals and danced in March. Behind standout sophomore Mike Daum, SDSU sits as an early favorite to repeat such success. Daum’s 15.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 55.3 percent shot percentage earned him several accolades in his freshman campaign.
Right up there with SDSU is Fort Wayne, which shared the regular season trophy last season. John Konchar burst on the scene last season during his freshman campaign, earning first team all-conference and all-newcomer nods. The dual threat posted 14 double-doubles as he averaged 13.0 ppg and a conference-best 9.2 rpg. They look to replace player of the year and Associated Press All-American Max Landis.
North Dakota State knocked Fort Wayne out in the Summit League tournament, with a thrilling 69-68 victory. The Bison return four starters, including last year’s leading scorer Paul Miller (15.3 ppg). NDSU will move to a new home this year, the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.
Two starters return for IUPUI, their top two scorers in 2015-16. Second Team All-Conference and All-Newcomer Darrell Combs finished with 16.3 ppg, and Matt O’Leary contributed 10.3 ppg. Tra-Deon Hollins returns as the floor general for Omaha. The First Team All-Conference Hollis scored 12.5 ppg and a conference-best 6.1 assists per game.
The Denver Pioneers bring back most of their 2015-16 roster, including four starters. Sophomore guard Joe Rosga played a team-high 33.1 minutes per game with 12.7 ppg. Oral Roberts brings back three starters, including Albert Owens (9.9 ppg). Newcomers and redshirt freshmen will step in to help make up for the loss of the conference’s 2015-16 leading scorer, Obi Emegano.
South Dakota lost its top scorers from 2015-16 and will have five freshmen and five sophomores in rotation. Western Illinois brings back its leading scorer in Garret Covington (17.9 ppg) as it looks to improve upon a last-place finish in 2015-16.
Projected Order of Finish
Team 2015-16 Record
South Dakota State 26-8 (12-4)
Fort Wayne 24-10 (12-4)
North Dakota State 20-13 (8-8)
IUPUI 13-19 (9-7)
Omaha 18-14 (10-6)
Denver 16-15 (7-9)
Oral Roberts 14-17 (6-10)
Western Illinois 10-17 (3-13)
South Dakota 14-18 (5-11)
Player of the Year
Mike Daum, F, South Dakota State
Rookie of the Year
Dezmond McDaniel, G 5-11, 173 Oral Roberts
All-Conference Team
Mike Daum F 6-9, 245 So., South Dakota State
John Konchar G 6-5, 207 R-So., Fort Wayne
Tra-Deon Hollins G 6-2, 195 Sr., Omaha
Darrell Combs G 6-2, 195 Sr., IUPUI
Garret Covington G 6-5, 195 Sr., Western Illinois
Don’t-Miss Games
North Dakota State at South Dakota State
Dec. 28- The inter-state rivals meet for their respective conference openers to rematch the conference championship game, which has been the title matchup two years in a row. Both teams have one conference win in the last two years, with South Dakota State coming out on top, 67-59, in 2015-16.
Omaha at Fort Wayne
Feb. 11- As Omaha looks to enter the upper-echelon of the conference, this late-season matchup at Fort Wayne could be a test before tournament time. Featured in this game are standout guards in Fort Wayne’s John Konchar and Omaha’s Tra-Deon Hollins.
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