Busting Brackets
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Summit League basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament preview

By Nolan Schmidt

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: Mike Daum is the best player in the Summit League, and one of the best players overall in the country. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: Mike Daum is the best player in the Summit League, and one of the best players overall in the country. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Craig Smith of the South Dakota Coyotes reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 96-80. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Craig Smith of the South Dakota Coyotes reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 96-80. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Key Teams in Tournament

The Favorite: South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Only one less stood between South Dakota State and Summit League perfection this year. They did lose to South Dakota in their first match-up against one another, but have not lost since then. To be perfectly honest with you, very few teams can hang with the Jackrabbits for a full 40 minutes. They just feature far too many weapons for even the best Summit League teams to keep up. Not only does that make them the favorite in this tournament, but it also gives them great odds to upset a team in the NCAA Tournament.

Team most likely to upset SDSU: South Dakota Coyotes

The Summit League has only had one team that has beaten the Jackrabbits this season. That team was South Dakota. Their latest game against one another saw South Dakota State win by four points though. Despite splitting the season series, South Dakota possesses the right assets to defeat Mike Daum and company. Their stifling and swarming defense allows them to turn teams over at a high rate. That asset alone can shift the outcome of a game in March.

Dark Horse team: Denver Pioneers

Outside of South Dakota State, Denver comes into this weekend as the hottest team in the Summit League. They have won their last four games and have been quite convincing in those four victories. The Pioneers are also one of only three teams to beat South Dakota, demolishing the Coyotes by 16 points in late January. Denver may only be 14-14 overall, but they could just be the team to make a magical run through this tournament.