By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Baylor Scheierman and Douglas Wilson talk about favorite memories of NCAA Tournaments past. Both South Dakota State Jackrabbits mention last-minute shots from distance.
Scheierman recalls the Mario Chalmers 3-pointer at the end of regulation in the 2008 NCAA championship game that forced overtime when Kansas went on to win the national title. For Wilson, its Northern Iowa’s Ali Faokhmanesh and the shot that eliminated Kansas from the 2010 tournament.
No coincidence that Scheierman and Wilson pace a South Dakota State squad that leads the nation in 3-point shooting.
Six different South Dakota State players have connected five or more times from behind the 3-point arc in an individual game this season.
If the Jackrabbits are to play at least one more contest, they will need an 11th such occurrence on Thursday afternoon.
This time, though, it will need to happen in the NCAA Tournament against fourth-seeded Providence in Midwest Region opening-round action at the KeyBank Center.
South Dakota State (30-4) will put its three-point attack on the line against Providence (25-5) when the 2022 NCAA Tournament tips off.
“Obviously, we’re super excited to be here,” SDSU head coach Eric Henderson said during Wednesday’s media session. “This time of year when you’re still playing, that means something, and especially for programs like ours and to have the opportunity to play against Providence, the Big East Champs, we’re certainly excited.”
The Jackrabbits rank first in the nation in 3-point percentage at 44.9 and second in overall field-goal percentage (52.5).
Scheierman and Wilson score 16-plus point apiece per game for an SDSU offense that has five players averaging 7.9 points or more per game.
“Being able to have a lot of people that can shoot on the perimeter, the defense can’t help as much, and so that opens up more gaps for us to drive, and then also for our post players to, you know, have one-on-one match-ups,” said Scheierman who had a 6-for-6 shooting performance against Omaha either this season as well as 5-for-10 performance against Kansas City. “We really like that, and I think that’s a big advantage for us.”
Noah Friedel has hits five 3-pointers three times this year while Zeke Mayo has accomplished the feat twice. Charlie Easley went 5-for-7 against Wester Illinois and Matt Mims was 5-for-7 against Denver.
“It makes us harder to guard having about four or all five of us being able to shoot out on the perimeter,” Scheierman said.
Against Providence, SDSU will face a defense that ranks 57th in the nation allowing opponents to hit 31.2 percent of the time.
“Coach has done an incredible job with keeping them simple,” Providence’s Ed Cooley said of the Jackrabbits. “They know who they are. Very, very simple. I don’t think they take bad shots. I think they know their personnel. You can see they have a lot of offensive synergy and continuity. I think what makes them good is how simple they are. Very, very hard to guard.”
Scheierman knows the Jackrabbits’ offense feeds off the play on the other end of the floor.
“It all starts with defense and getting stops. If we’re taking the ball out of bounds on their made baskets, it’s going to be hard to play it the way we want to, so it all starts on the defensive end.”
And in Providence, SDSU will face an offense that looks to do its work in the paint. The Friars average 7.3 made 3-pointers per game (outside the top 150 in the nation). Graduate center Nate Watson scores 13.8 points per game without attempting a 3-point shot.
“If a team has ever taken on their personality as a coach, it’s certainly Providence,” SDSU head coach Eric Henderson said of the Friars Ed Cooley. “Obviously, Coach Cooley does a terrific job, and their size with Watson and (Noah) Horchler and just their positional size is something we’ve talked about as a staff. We certainly understand who we are, but we have to do a good job of protecting the paint.
“One of their biggest strengths is on the glass, and we have to make sure we’re limiting to one shot and do a really, really good job. It’s going to have to be all five guys because we’re going to be tangled up in there a little bit. It’s certainly things we’ve talked about, but I know — I know it will have to be a team effort to protect the paint. There’s no doubt.”
A 12:40 p.m. tip time is scheduled. The game will be televised on truTv.
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