Busting Brackets
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Summit League Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Jason Burgess

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - FEBRUARY 16: A general view shows a game between the North Dakota State Bison and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Scheels Center on February 16, 2019 in Fargo, North Dakota. The Jackrabbits defeated the Bison 78-77. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - FEBRUARY 16: A general view shows a game between the North Dakota State Bison and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Scheels Center on February 16, 2019 in Fargo, North Dakota. The Jackrabbits defeated the Bison 78-77. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – DECEMBER 18: Stanley Umude #0 of the South Dakota Coyotes (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – DECEMBER 18: Stanley Umude #0 of the South Dakota Coyotes (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Players to watch 

JR – Douglas Wilson – South Dakota State

2019-20 stats: 18.6 pts, 6.4 rebs, 62.8% FG%

The second-seeded Jackrabbits are a top-10 in the country in terms of field-goal percentage and a big reason why is because of the 62.8% senior forward Douglas Wilson and the 63.6% of forward Matt Dentlinger shoot from the field, both numbers are in the top-10 nationally. Wilson leads the team in both scoring and rebounding with 18.6 and 6.4 respectively. Over the final month of the season, Wilson has been a real force for the Jackrabbits averaging 19 points per game over his final seven.

SR – Emmanuel Nzekwesi – Oral Roberts

2019-20 stats: 17.1 pts, 10.2 rebs

Oral Roberts is the No. 4 seed but they boast wins over three of the four teams ahead of them in the Summit League, they also boast someone who is averaging a double-double on the season, senior forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi. The 6-8 native of Texas is scoring a team-high 17.1 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Golden Eagles. It is a good bet that the South Dakota schools are not looking forward to potentially seeing Nzekwesi for a third time, as he has averaged 20 points and 12 points in the four games against them this season.

SR – Tyson Ward – North Dakota State

2019-20 stats: 16.5 pts, 7.1 rebs, 2.8 asts

The top-seeded Bison have a senior star of their own in 6-6 guard Tyson Ward who is second on the team in scoring (16.5) and assists (2.8) while leading them in rebounding with 7.1. A rarity in today’s game, Ward is a mid-sized forward who likes to do the bulk of his work inside the three-point arc, attempting only 64 on the season, but he is efficient in the work he does shooting 54.3% from the field and 75.7% from the free-throw line.

Jr – Stanley Umude – South Dakota

2019-20 stats: 16.7 pts, 6.3 rebs, 2.1 asts

After making the Summit League final in 2018, the Coyotes are looking to get back there, and if they do a big reason why will be because of a guy who only leads the team in blocks, but fills up the stat sheet everywhere else, Stanley Umude. The junior guard is netting 16.7 points, pulling down 6.3 rebounds and dishing out 2.1 assists to go along with his 1.4 blocks. Even though he may not be the first name that comes to mind when one thinks of the South Dakota offense, but Umude has led the team in either points, rebounds or assists in 19 of the team’s 31 games.