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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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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Baylor Scheierman #3 looks on as Douglas Wilson #35 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Baylor Scheierman #3 looks on as Douglas Wilson #35 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Semifinals

No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 4 Oral Roberts

North Dakota State will take on No. 4 Oral Roberts in the first semifinal, in the rubber match of a season series where each team earned a win on their home floor. Oral Roberts handed the No. 1 seed their first league loss with a 79-73 win in Tulsa. In that game, Tulsa shot over 52% from the field, got 20-point games from both Max Abmas and Deondre Burns, and forced 15 North Dakota State turnovers, five more than their season average.

In the Bison’s home win, they had five players in double figures led by Shahid’s 31, but they again committed 15 turnovers and Oral Roberts was without their leading scorer Emmanuel Nzekwesi who missed the game with an injury. Here is where we will see the first upset of the tournament, with the Golden Eagles heading to the title game.

Prediction: Oral Roberts 77, North Dakota State 75

No. 2 South Dakota State vs. No. 3 South Dakota

The battle of South Dakota takes place in the other semifinal with the No. 2 SDSU Jackrabbits taking on in-state rival No. 3 South Dakota Coyotes. Like the other semifinal, these two teams split the season series, each winning on their home floor. South Dakota absolutely shot the lights out in a 15-point win with four players in double figures, but as a team shot 64% from the field and 60% from deep while turning the ball over just six times, winning 99-84.

The Jackrabbits didn’t play poorly, shooting over 53% from the field and beyond the arc, the Coyotes just couldn’t miss. In the return engagement, the shooting levels for both teams leveled out and South Dakota State squeaked out an 85-80 win thanks to 20 points from Wilson who didn’t play in the first game. The third meeting will likely be another high-scoring affair and will likely be a tight back-and-forth tilt, I think South Dakota State shoots over 45% from three-point land to move on to the final.

Prediction: South Dakota State 84, South Dakota 80

Finals

No.  2 South Dakota State vs. No. 4 Oral Roberts

With a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line No. 2 South Dakota State will battle No. 4 Oral Roberts, in the title game. Oral Roberts will be attempting to knock off the Jackrabbits for the first time this season, as South Dakota State won both meetings easily, 96-79 at home and 76-61 in Tulsa. This game should be closer than the first two as Oral Roberts has some momentum, having won four of their last five entering the tournament, but with South Dakota State, you sometimes don’t even have to look at their opponent.

Next. Ranking all 32 conference tournaments for 2019-20. dark

If the Jackrabbits shoot at least 50% from the field and 40% from three-point land as they did in the first two games against the Golden Eagles, they will win and I think they will do so and earn the conference’s automatic bid.

Prediction: South Dakota State 78, Oral Roberts 65