The basketball court in the middle of the spacious DakotaDome will get quite a workout this weekend, as the University of South Dakota men’s & women’s basketball teams conclude regular season action with 3 Great West Conference games in 4 days.
Tonight (Thursday), USD hosts Texas-Pan American for a doubleheader at 6 & 8 p.m. Then Saturday, the Coyotes will face Houston Baptist, followed by a doubleheader Sunday night against New Jersey Tech.
That’s a lot of basketball.
But there will be a lot on the line for the Coyote men.
USD (17-9 overall) sits in first place with an 8-1 record in Great West action, a half-game ahead of Houston Baptist (9-19, 8-2 GWC).
The Coyotes could clinch a share of the title Thursday with a win over Texas-Pan American, coupled with a Houston Baptist loss at North Dakota.
But the more important “if” game is Saturday. If USD beats the Huskies again — Coyotes won 92-70 on Jan. 28 — it would secure the league title and the No. 1 seed for next week’s postseason tournament.
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On the women’s side, USD will look to climb the league standings this weekend.
The Coyotes (12-14 overall) are 4-5 in conference play, good for fifth place. A three-game sweep would vault USD to 7-5 — which would likely mean a tie for second place.
But first thing’s first.
Tonight (Thursday), the Coyotes host a Texas-Pan American (11-15, 7-3) team that beat them 60-57 back on Jan. 30. Then Saturday, USD plays last-place Houston Baptist (3-22, 1-9), whose only league win game against the Coyotes.
The USD women then close out regular season action Sunday night against New Jersey Tech (11-14, 6-3), which also beat the Coyotes in the first meeting.
Call it a weekend of revenge for the Coyotes.
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Quick programming note: I will not be covering the USD men’s game tonight, as I’ll be in Brandon with the Yankton Gazelles for a district playoff game. Press & Dakotan correspondent Keith Brockberg will handle double duty tonight. But I’ll be in Vermillion for both weekend men’s games.
Press & Dakotan Staff Blog 