2019 Summit Conference Tournament Odds: South Dakota St Heavily Favored

• South Dakota State has represented the Summit League in the last three NCAA Tournaments
• The Jackrabbits are heavy favorites to do so again in 2019
• But Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota State, and South Dakota are all +900 or shorter

Are those Jackrabbits from South Dakota State about to run off with a fourth straight Summit League title?

Getting @GoJacksWBB & @GoJacksMBB ready to #UnleashChaos at the Summit League Tournament! #WeWill #GoJacks 🐰🏀 pic.twitter.com/AyBx2qEisc

— Jackrabbits Game Ops & Facilities (@GoJacksGameOps) March 5, 2019

The oddsmakers most certainly think that to be the case. Oddsmakers have pegged South Dakota State as overwhelming favorite to win the league tournament, which begins Saturday (Mar. 9th) with quarterfinal play. All games will be at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

2019 Summit League: Odds To Win

Off to a Jackrabbit Start

South Dakota State has won five of the last seven Summit League titles. Sizing up the competition, it’s difficult to make a case for any team other than South Dakota State ascending to the summit of the Summit League.

Skyler Flatten's 31 points led @GoJacksMBB to an 86-66 win vs. Western Illinois on Senior Day, as the Jacks clinched their second-consecutive Summit League regular season title. #GoJacks #NextStephttps://t.co/OcSu0bWucB

— #GoJacks 🐰 (@GoJacksSDSU) March 3, 2019

The Jackrabbits own the best conference record (14-2) and the best overall record (24-7). Coming into the tournament, they’ve won four straight, nine of their last 10, and 13 of 14.

South Dakota State scored the most points in conference play (85.5 points per game) and only North Dakota State (73.1 ppg) displayed a better defensive game than the Jackrabbits (74.1).

When adjusted for opponent and tempo, the Jackrabbits actually led the conference on defense, as well, sitting 187th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings.

Your 2019 Summit League outright regular season champions, South Dakota State! #GoJacks pic.twitter.com/xuoujZWIsY

— Jackrabbit Men’s Basketball (@GoJacksMBB) March 3, 2019

Individually, Jackrabbits forward Mike Daum leads the conference in scoring (25.1 ppg) and rebounds per game (11.7). He’s the only player in the conference to average over 20 points per game and double digits in boards. His senior season was the cherry on top of a fantastic college career

MIKE DAUM (@dauminator24) BECOMES THE 10TH PLAYER IN NCAA HISTORY WITH 3000 POINTS!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/4ppsVuCVft

— Barstool SDSU #BlueState (@HobosBarstool) February 23, 2019

South Dakota State guard Tevin King is second in the conference in assists per game (4.35) and steals per game (1.77).

Team-wise, they top the league in field-goal percentage (50.5), three-point field-goal percentage (41.4), free-throw percentage (78.1), and rebounds per game (38.2).

Here's the alley-oop from King to Flatten before the end of the half! pic.twitter.com/qqergsp6Db

— Jackrabbit Men’s Basketball (@GoJacksMBB) March 2, 2019

When the other team has the ball, South Dakota State holds opponents to league lows in field-goal percentage (41.7) and three-point field-goal percentage (34.1).

Quite a Run at the Summit

The Jackrabbits launched their dominance of the conference with back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

2012 #SummitFlashback
The first for @GoJacksMBB was oh so sweet. Down 12 in the second half to Western Illinois, the Jacks rallied for a 52-50 overtime victory. pic.twitter.com/6fT9cQ2wcb

— #GoJacks 🐰 (@GoJacksSDSU) March 3, 2019

After a two-year reign by North Dakota State, the Jackrabbits revved up again and ran off three titles in a row beginning with 2016, not coincidentally Daum’s first year at the program.

2016 #SummitFlashback@GoJacksMBB trailed Oral Roberts by 15 and Denver by 13, but two miraculous rallies led to a title tilt with North Dakota State. Four scored in double figures to give SDSU its third crown. pic.twitter.com/UPrh2dX522

— #GoJacks 🐰 (@GoJacksSDSU) March 5, 2019

They’ve proven to be the masters of never giving up come tournament time, making a name for themselves as a squad that overcomes double-digit deficits to win in the playoffs.

This season, South Dakota State has dominated in conference play. The Jackrabbits suffered both of their setbacks on the road, dropping a 101-84 decision at Purdue-Fort Wayne on Jan. 3rd and an 85-84 setback at Nebraska Omaha on Feb. 14th.

Ten of their 14 victories have been fashioned via double-digit margins. The Jackrabbits even earned a rare Summit League highlight package on ESPN SportsCenter after pouring in 90 first-half points en route to a 139-72 rout of Savannah State.

Is There a Tortoise Capable of Beating This Hare?

Seeking out a school capable of causing an upset and attaining the Summit League title, you might want to take a gander at South Dakota State’s cross-state rivals.

Throwin' it down for #TournamentSZN 💪 #GoYotes #WeAreSouthDakota pic.twitter.com/nuqn3w0LYV

— South Dakota Men's Basketball (@SDCoyotesMBB) March 6, 2019

The 7-9 South Dakota Coyotes aren’t a fashionable choice as the No. 6 seed, but after splitting two games with IPFW, they are given better odds of winning it all than the third-seeded Mastodons. Entering the tournament the Yotes are playing their best basketball of the season and have won four of five.

IPFW guard John Konchar leads the conference in assists (5.3) and steals (1.93) per game.

#DarkHorseInCollege

How many players in @ncaa D1 history have put up 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, and 200 steals in their careers?

Just one: the original #DarkHorse player – 2014 John Konchar (West Chicago HS, IL). Congratulations, John! https://t.co/ofjc20fiNJ

— Dark Horse Recruits (@dhrecruits) March 1, 2019

For either of these teams to win, they must outgun South Dakota State in second-round play.

It’s not going to happen. In this tale, bet on the Jackrabbits. This is no fable. It’s for real.

SBD’s NCAA conference tournament coverage:

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