NCAA Basketball: South Dakota State’s Mike Daum nearing history
South Dakota State Jackrabbits star Mike Daum is nearing another milestone. How much longer until he reaches the 3000-point milestone?
South Dakota State senior Mike Daum keeps climbing up the NCAA scoring ladder and is far from being done. The 6-foot-9 forward pumped in 31 points on 10-for-22 shooting from the floor in the Jackrabbits 78-77 victory over rival North Dakota State (Feb. 16) to move past former Loyola (Ill.) star Alfredrick Hughes and into 12th place on the list. With 2,943 career points, he needs just eight more points to move past No. 11 Danny Manning and 30 to become one of the top-10 scorers of all-time by surpassing Oscar Robertson.
Daum has gone from an unheralded recruit, who was bypassed by all the major programs, to one of the best players in the game today. He always could shoot, but the 23-year-old has become an elite rebounder and quality rim-protector while also improving as a ball-handler.
Daum, who redshirted his first year in Brookings, began his collegiate career as a role player off the bench during the 2015-16 season. However, he credits his 23-point performance against IUPUI on Jan. 7, 2016 as the turning point of his career despite the game being just his 18th game and first start ever.
“Felt like that kind of help shifted in my mind that, you know I could be more than just kind of a role guy for this team,” Daum told Sean Bower of Keloland Media Group.
Since that game against IUPUI, the Kimball (Neb.) native has compiled 50 double-doubles and has twice been named the Summit League Player of the Year. He has averaged at least 23 points, eight rebounds, and 2.3 three-pointers in each of his last two years.
The Kimball High school product is currently enjoying the best season of his career. Daum is averaging 25.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.6 steals a game this year. He is on pace to set career highs in all five of those categories. While Daum is shooting a solid 50.8% from the floor, he is shooting a personal-low 35.9% from beyond the arc.
Daum, who is one of two players nationally averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, has 18 double-doubles on the campaign — including two 20-20 games. The 2018-19 pre-season All-American has scored 40 or more in two games this season and has reached the 30-point mark in eight contests. Daum has also pulled down 15 or more rebounds in seven games.
Daum will finish his college career as arguably, although there is not much of an argument against him, the best player to suit up for the Jackrabbits and one of the top players to ever to play in the Summit League. He currently and/or will hold several program and conference records.
Predicting when Daum hits 3,000 points
Daum has three regular season games left to tally the 57 points that he needs to become the 10th Division I player to reach 3,000 points. When he does accomplish the feat, he will be just the fourth player to register 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Lionel Simmons, Harry Kelly, and Doug McDermott are the other players to reach those numbers.
Daum and South Dakota State (21-7) will finish the regular season without having to leave campus. The Jackrabbits, who are tied with Omaha atop of the league’s standings (11-2), will host Purdue-Fort Wayne on Feb. 21. They then will face South Dakota (Feb. 23) and Western Illinois (March 2).
Daum has been better at Frost Arena throughout his career than on the road, scoring 213 more points there than on the road despite playing one fewer home game than away games. Overall, he is averaging 24.4 points as he shoots 53.1% from the floor and 40.2% from long- range there.
He has also thrived against Fort Wayne, compiling 28.7 points and 4.5 treys on 49.6% percent shooting from the field and 44.4% from long distance. Daum has produced 20.4 points and just 18.5 points against South Dakota and Western Illinois, respectively. Daum went for 29 points in the first meeting against Fort Wayne; however, he was held to 15 by Western Illinois and a season-low four points by South Dakota. He is averaging 26.4 points through 12 contests in 2019.
It appears that Daum will reach the 3,000-point plateau sometime during the game against Western Illinois although it is conceivable that he does not reach the milestone until the postseason tournament.
Not only has Daum had individual success, but he has also led Jackrabbits to unprecedented heights in their program. South Dakota State is 97-38 thus far during the past four years, which includes three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, three Summit League Tournament crowns, and two regular season championships.
South Dakota St. is by far a one-man team. The Jackrabbits are one of the best offensive teams in the nation and rank among the top-130 teams defensively. Three of SDSU’s top-four players are seniors with second-leading scorer David Jenkins Jr. is just a sophomore. Skyler Flatten and Tevin King are the team’s other talented players.
The Jackrabbits will likely enter the conference tournaments as the favorites, but they may have to win out to garner the No. 1 seed. The Jackrabbits, who are 11-1 at home this season, is 2-1 this year against the three remaining opponents. The loss came against Fort Wayne (104-88). They will need to capture the Summit League conference title to earn an NCAA Tournament bid in 2019.
NBA prospect
Daum is definitely an NBA prospect. Daum has a strong 250-pound frame and an impressive 7-foot-3 wingspan. While his shooting makes him an intriguing stretch big man, he is an outstanding defensive rebounder who has improved as an offensive rebounder.
Athleticism is also a concern about Daum as is his ability to defend NBA big men in the post. He also doesn’t possess much quickness, explosiveness, or ability to cover ground.
Daum is unlikely to be selected in the NBA draft this season. There is also a good chance that he doesn’t start the season in the Association, although he will get a look and may earn either a two-way contract or be assigned by an NBA team to their G-league affiliate.
If he decides the NBA is not the way to go, Daum will undoubtedly make a quality living playing in Europe.