BROOKINGS It took awhile for South Dakota State to hear its name called on Sunday, but the Jackrabbits were named a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will be playing No. 7 seeded Oklahoma State in the first round on Saturday in Storrs, Connecticut.
SDSU was the last team called on Sunday. Heading into the Selection Sunday, the Jackrabbits were projected to be an eight or nine seed. Instead they were chosen to be a 10 seed despite having a 29-3 record.
Jackrabbit head coach Aaron Johnston said he felt his team could have been a higher seed, but a lot of teams that were around them had similar resumes.
A 10 seed, this year I really thought seven through 10, even the six [seeds], theres just not much difference this year between any of those teams. So, Im sure it just came down to a few deciding factors. I think we could have been ahead of that, but I am understanding why we are a 10. Playing Oklahoma State, we havent played them in awhile, so it will be getting comfortable with them and what they do. But thats part of the tournament. Hopefully playing a team thats playing well, like you, and hopefully a new face that you havent seen in awhile to really make it seem like a national tournament, Johnston said.
Oklahoma State is 25-6 overall and went 14-4 in the Big 12. The Cowgirls were the three-seed in the Big 12 Tournament and lost 84-74 in overtime to Baylor in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament.
The Jackrabbits and Cowgirls have one common opponent from this season in Oral Roberts. OSU beat ORU 89-68 on Nov. 7, while SDSU beat the Golden Eagles 81-76 on Jan. 2 and 89-71 on Feb. 8. The Jacks also beat ORU 84-68 in the championship game of the Summit League Tournament.
Jaycie Hoyt is the head coach of the Cowgirls and she coached against SDSU for two seasons as she was at Kansas City before moving to Oklahoma State. Johnston said he thinks Hoyt may have a bit of an advantage because the Jackrabbits have not changed much since she left the Summit League and he thinks she has changed things up at OSU.
Im not super familiar with Oklahoma State. Ive watched them on TV and am somewhat comfortable with them. But well dive into them and its certainly a matchup that should be balanced and an even matchup. From what I have seen of [Oklahoma State] since [Hoyt] left [Kansas City], theyre doing so many different things than what they did there. Theyre probably more familiar with us because we havent changed a whole lot, Johnston said.
This is the 13th time in the past 17 seasons that SDSU has made the NCAA Tournament. The Jacks are looking to win their sixth NCAA Tournament game. Johnston said that every tournament experience is different and this one will be just as special as the rest.
Its always exciting. For me as a coach, [making the NCAA Tournament], you see it through the eyes of your team. You dont see it through my eyes. This is this teams first time doing it. We have a few players that havent been to the NCAA Tournament before. Theres a few that have, but this group hasnt done this. I always see it through their eyes. This was something that they were working on for a long time, so I see it how they see it and Im excited, Johnston said.
SDSU has four seniors in Paige Meyer, Mesa Byom, Kallie Theisen and Madysen Vlastuin. Byom said shes excited to end her career with a tournament berth and thinks the Jacks, who have won 19-straight games, are playing their best basketball at the right time.
I think weve been playing really great and confidently lately. Thats the perfect way to go into the tournament and hopefully keep it going. I think theres no better way to end my career than being at the big dance and being able to do it with my best friends. Im super excited, Byom said.
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