Possible Bracketbuster Matchup For USD

Next week is National Signing Day, and while football will dominate the talk, there’s also a forthcoming basketball announcement.

Next Monday, Jan. 30, ESPN will release the matchups for its annual men’s Bracketbusters event. Local fans will be following the games, as both the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State will host games.

First, some background: ESPN Bracketbuster is a 3-day event that pits potential NCAA Tournament teams against each other. There will be 142 teams across six leagues represented, and 13 of those games will be televised nationally.

Matchups will be based on the latest RPI rankings.

In the case of the USD, let’s examine some potential opponents for the Coyotes, who will host their game Feb. 18. (Note: Pairings are geographically based whenever possible, especially in the lower-tier matchups, as will be the case with USD).

Right now, the USD men have an RPI ranking of 278.

Bracketbusters teams that will play road games in the event and have an RPI slightly higher than the Coyotes include:
** Marist (276)
** Presbyterian (270)
** Southeast Missouri State (268)
** Winthrop (266)
** Central Arkansas (265)

Teams that have an RPI slightly lower than USD include:
** San Jose State (280)
** Idaho State (282)
** Toledo (287)
** Illinois Chicago (291)
** Loyola Chicago (294)
** High Point (298)

If you’re talking about a bus trip for this game, the Coyotes will likely see one of the Midwest-based schools.

With two games between now and next Monday, it’s unlikely that USD would slide up or down significantly. So as it stands right now, the 268 range is about where the Coyotes will find themselves when the pairings are announced.

Either way, it’s a neat opportunity for USD and its fans to see an opponent they probably will never see again.

Coyote Men Trying To Right The Ship

BY JEREMY HOECK
jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net

Right now, the frustrations are numerous and the struggles are collective for the USD men’s basketball team.

Last weekend did nothing but shine a regional spotlight on what has become a significant concern for the Coyotes — lack of offense.

First came a 30-point loss at South Dakota State last Thursday. Two days later, it was a 23-point setback at North Dakota State in Fargo.

Naturally, not many USD folks were happy with those results, or the 56 and 59 points scored.

“We have to bring our program up to these levels,” head coach Dave Boots said after the NDSU loss. “Both State (SDSU) and the Bison are at a way different stage, and we have a lot of catching up to do, that’s the bottom line.

“Will it take five years to do that? I hope not.”

Those kinds of quotes have become commonplace this season, as the Coyotes (6-11, 1-7) weave their way through Year One in the Summit League.

Sure, USD has been competitive in a handful of those conference losses, but three of the last four have been especially brutal. The Coyotes have been held to fewer than 60 points three times in the last four games — the lone exception being a 76-point outburst at UMKC on Jan. 7.

Beyond that: USD has averaged 63 points over its last six games.

Still, those involved haven’t been happy with the defensive end, either.

“We haven’t been playing solid on the offensive end, but you have to get stops at the right time on defense,” senior Charlie Westbrook said. “We’re just getting into this league, so we’re going through it right now.

“We just have to keep working hard and get to where these guys are.”

Where is that?

No doubt, a perennial contender for the Summit League championship, and NCAA Tournament berth. Teams like Oakland and Oral Roberts, and now SDSU, have developed their programs to the point where they can compete with — and beat — high-major schools.

Naturally, it takes strong recruiting classes year to year, as well as the development of players in house.

“We’re no different than some of the other schools that went ahead of us went through,” Boots said. “There are tough times in this transition, but you need to stay the course with it.

“Basketball is one sport where you can get better quickly,” he added. “If you add the right two or three kids, you can improve your team drastically.”

Can the Coyotes do that?

So far, USD’s recruiting class for 2012 includes a sharpshooting guard (Casey Kasperbauer) and a 6-7 wing (Tyler Flack), with the possibility of 1-2 more players in the spring.

Until then, it’s up to the current players to work on some of those lingering issues.

“We just have to believe in ourselves, and correct some things in our defense,” senior Ricardo Andreotti said. “We need to really get back to work.”

MEN: USD at NDSU

Videos from Saturday night’s University of South Dakota men’s basketball game at North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D.

First Half

Second Half

WOMEN: USD at NDSU

I’m in Fargo, N.D. today for a Summit League basketball doubleheader between the University of South Dakota and North Dakota State.

I’ll post videos throughout the evening.

Here are some early videos from the women’s game.

Pre-Game

Early First Half Highlights

Head Coach Ryun Williams

State-U: Post-game videos

Here are the interviews from the post-game press conferences after Thursday night’s SDSU-USD men’s basketball game in Brookings.

head coach Dave Boots

sophomore Trevor Gruis and senior Louie Krogman