Introduction to South Dakota State and NCAA Tournament
South Dakota State, or SDSU, is a public university located in Brookings, South Dakota. Established in 1881, the university is the state’s largest, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 students. SDSU has been an NCAA Division I school since the early 1960s and is a member of the Summit League. The school is most well-known for its Jackrabbits basketball program, which has been a perennial powerhouse in the Summit League since joining in 2007. The Jackrabbits have won eight regular season titles and five Summit League Tournament championships, and have made several appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
South Dakota State’s History with NCAA Tournament
The Jackrabbits have made several appearances in the NCAA Tournament, first appearing in 1962 as a Division II school when they lost in the first round to New Mexico. They would go on to make the tournament another three times as a Division II team before making the jump to Division I in the early 2000s. South Dakota State has now made the NCAA Tournament five times as a Division I program, most recently in 2020 when they won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game with a victory over Ohio.
Jackrabbits as Summit League Champs
The Jackrabbits have been a dominant force in the Summit League since joining in 2007. They have won eight regular season titles and five Summit League Tournament championships, and have made numerous NCAA tournament appearances. In 2020, the Jackrabbits won their first-ever Summit League Tournament championship and made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time.
2020 NCAA Tournament
In the 2020 NCAA Tournament, the Jackrabbits had a Cinderella-like run as they became the first Summit League team to ever win an NCAA Tournament game. They defeated the sixth-seeded Ohio Bobcats 79-72 in the first round before falling to the third-seeded Houston Cougars in the second round. Despite their loss, the Jackrabbits had a historic run and became the first Summit League team to ever win an NCAA Tournament game.
Impact of 2020 NCAA Tournament Run
The 2020 NCAA Tournament run had an immense impact on the SDSU basketball program and the Summit League as a whole. The Jackrabbits’ victory over Ohio was the first-ever NCAA Tournament win for a Summit League team, and the first-ever NCAA Tournament win for a South Dakota school. The win also brought national attention to the Summit League, which was seen as a mid-major conference prior to the Jackrabbits’ run.
SDSU in the Rankings
The Jackrabbits’ 2020 NCAA Tournament run also had an impact on their rankings. After the tournament, the Jackrabbits finished the season ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll, the highest ranking in program history. The team was also ranked No. 24 in the final USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the final RPI rankings, both of which were the highest rankings in program history.
The Rise of David Jenkins Jr.
The Jackrabbits’ 2020 NCAA Tournament run was led by guard David Jenkins Jr., who was one of the best players in the Summit League during the 2019-20 season. Jenkins Jr. finished the season as the leading scorer in the Summit League and was named the Summit League Player of the Year. He was also named an AP Honorable Mention All-American and was selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.
Future of South Dakota State Basketball
The Jackrabbits have established themselves as one of the top mid-major programs in the nation, and their future looks bright. With Jenkins Jr. moving on to the NBA and several other key contributors returning for the 2021-22 season, the Jackrabbits have the potential to make another deep NCAA Tournament run in the near future.
Conclusion
South Dakota State has established itself as a mid-major powerhouse in recent years, and their 2020 NCAA Tournament run was a testament to that. The Jackrabbits became the first Summit League team to ever win an NCAA Tournament game and finished the season ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll, the highest ranking in program history. With several key contributors returning for the 2021-22 season, the Jackrabbits have the potential to make another deep NCAA Tournament run and continue to build on the success they have had in recent years.
Keywords: South Dakota State, NCAA Tournament, Summit League, Jackrabbits, David Jenkins Jr., 2020 NCAA Tournament run