SIOUX FALLS The Summit League Tournament will be different this year as the conference decided to change when it is played.
For the past 16 years the championship game of the two tournaments have been played on a Tuesday. This year, the championship games will be played on Sunday.
Up until two years ago the tournament always began on Saturday. The quarterfinals were split between Saturday and Sunday and then the semifinals were played on Monday.
Two years ago the conference decided to allow all of the teams to make the tournament. The Summit League had 10 teams in 2022 so the bottom four teams played on Friday. Western Illinois then left the Summit League so now the bottom two teams play on the first day of the tournament.
This year the tournament will begin on Wednesday with Omaha and Denver playing on the womens side and Kansas City and Oral Roberts opening the mens tournament.
The Jackrabbit women will kick things off for South Dakota State on Thursday. The Jackrabbits are the No. 1 seed and will face the winner of Omaha and Denver at approximately 2:30 p.m.
SDSU has won 12 of the past 16 tournaments and the Jacks have won their opening game of the conference tournament all but one time since becoming Division I postseason eligible in 2009.
That means the Jacks have made it to the semifinals of the tournament 15 times in the past 16 years. SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said there are pros and cons to moving the dates of the tournament.
I think having a little more time to prepare for the tournament after the regular season is really helpful, Johnston said. Just to get everybody fresh. Everybody is playing their best basketball. Just a little bit more time to rest as well. I think [playing the championship on a Tuesday], when you have so many other big tournaments going on, was more of a showcase. On the flipside now, being able to present whoever plays in the semifinals between the men and the women on Saturday and Sunday really opens the door for potentially bigger crowds that couldnt make it on a Monday or Tuesday.
I think there will be some pros and cons and were going to have to get through it and see how it feels and what those crowds look like. If we exchange a bigger championship crowd for smaller Thursday or Friday crowds then its kind of a wash. So, well have to see how that plays out. But the opportunity to really have a lot of eyes, a lot of attention and a lot of people in the building on Saturday and Sunday for mens and womens games is appealing, and if that pays off it will make for a great event for sure.
The Jackrabbit men will play their first game on Friday night as they are the No. 3 seed. SDSU will take on No. 6 seeded North Dakota at approximately 8:30 p.m. This will be the first time since 2017 that the Jacks dont have a top-two seed and will have to win three games in three days to win the title.
SDSU head coach Eric Henderson echoed Johnston in that there are both good and bad things with moving the tournament up.
[The tournament] comes fast. Maybe a little faster than, obviously faster than the past. Theres a quick turnaround for some of these teams. Obviously I think for the fans and planning and to be able to work around their work schedules with the semifinals and championship on the weekend, that probably helps that part of it. Its a quick turnaround for some of these schools, Henderson said.
The advantage that the top two seeds get in the Summit League is a day off between the quarterfinals and semifinals. The Jackrabbit women have been a top-two seed in the tournament in 14 of the past 16 seasons. Johnston said theres definitely some advantage of having that day off if you win in the quarterfinals, but you have to win that first game to reap the reward.
… I think having that extra day can be good because you can regroup and adjust and get ready for the next one, but you still have to go out there and play. Its still going to come down to the talent on the floor, the people and how they perform. It just is, and whether you get a day off or a day where you dont have a game or not, if we use that to our advantage it can be good, but if we dont play well it wont matter all that much, Johnston said.
The SDSU men wont have the benefit of getting a day off. However, history may be in the Jacks favor as the last time they werent a top-two seed they won the tournament in 2017. Henderson talked about the advantage of being a top-two seed and what it takes to win the tournament if youre not in that position.
I think they give the first and second seed that day off on purpose if they happen to win because it rewards them for their regular season. Do I think its beneficial? I think its beneficial. How beneficial? Its probably in the eye of the beholder. I know this year were excited and hopefully we can play three games in three days. I think [doing that] is probably a bigger challenge mentally than it is physically. Just to not have a break and be on for three days, its not easy and it doesnt happen often. Were looking forward to that challenge if were able to make it happen, Henderson said.
You can watch the quarterfinal games on Midco Sports Network or the Midco Sports Plus app. The womens semifinal games will be televised on Midco as well, while the mens games will be on CBS Sports Network. Both championship games will be on CBS Sports Network.
Leave a Reply