National Tournaments

[jackrabit1]

While our attention has been focused on SDSU's and USD's teams making the Summit League tournament, it's safe to say that college basketball in South Dakota has had a pretty amazing season....

In addition to Augie's men and USF's women moving on to the D-II national tournaments, several other teams punched their tickets to the NAIA national tournaments. DWU made history by qualifying both its men's women's teams for nationals in the same season. Mount Marty women also qualified, while Dakota State's men punched their ticket as well...

No matter your allegiance, I think it's safe to say it's been an outstanding year for basketball in the State of South Dakota!

[MrAugustana]

Re: National Tournaments

While our attention has been focused on SDSU's and USD's teams making the Summit League tournament, it's safe to say that college basketball in South Dakota has had a pretty amazing season....

In addition to Augie's men and USF's women moving on to the D-II national tournaments, several other teams punched their tickets to the NAIA national tournaments. DWU made history by qualifying both its men's women's teams for nationals in the same season. Mount Marty women also qualified, while Dakota State's men punched their ticket as well...

No matter your allegiance, I think it's safe to say it's been an outstanding year for basketball in the State of South Dakota!

Just to follow up on this, Augie did end up winning the Regional Championship last night over the team that knocked them out last year, Northwest Missouri State, meaning the Vikes move on to Frisco, Texas, for the Elite Eight next week. This year they did a re-seeding of the Elite Eight teams in an attempt to prevent the National Championship from essentially being played in the Elite Eight or Final Four rounds, and Augie was given the 2-seed. Unfortunately, that draw means they play Tarleton State, a Texas team that's only a two-hour drive from Frisco. Needless to say, it won't quite be the same 3,000+ fan hometown crowds the Vikes have enjoyed the past few weeks at the Pentagon.

Either way, exciting for the Vikes to make it to the big stage (D2-wise), and it should be fun to see if they're able to continue their success down in Frisco.

[Nidaros]

Re: National Tournaments

Just to follow up on this, Augie did end up winning the Regional Championship last night over the team that knocked them out last year, Northwest Missouri State, meaning the Vikes move on to Frisco, Texas, for the Elite Eight next week. This year they did a re-seeding of the Elite Eight teams in an attempt to prevent the National Championship from essentially being played in the Elite Eight or Final Four rounds, and Augie was given the 2-seed. Unfortunately, that draw means they play Tarleton State, a Texas team that's only a two-hour drive from Frisco. Needless to say, it won't quite be the same 3,000+ fan hometown crowds the Vikes have enjoyed the past few weeks at the Pentagon.

Either way, exciting for the Vikes to make it to the big stage (D2-wise), and it should be fun to see if they're able to continue their success down in Frisco.

Are going to Frisco? If so you might check in with Bisonville. They own that town.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: National Tournaments

Are going to Frisco? If so you might check in with Bisonville. They own that town.

Some of them may have houses there you could rent for a week.

[MrAugustana]

Re: National Tournaments

Are going to Frisco? If so you might check in with Bisonville. They own that town.

Unfortunately, Frisco is a no-go for me. I will be watching from afar. But I'm hoping it's a fun week for the people that go. It's spring break for Augie, so I've heard some students may make Texas their spring break destination. Should be a good time either way.

[BigGoosie13]

Re: National Tournaments

To toss a little more local flavor on the D2 Elite Eight, Saginaw Valley State is coached by Alpena native and Dakota Wesleyan alum Randy Baruth. He has coached under Don Meyer at Northern and Tim Miles at NDSU.

[Kemo]

Re: National Tournaments

To toss a little more local flavor on the D2 Elite Eight, Saginaw Valley State is coached by Alpena native and Dakota Wesleyan alum Randy Baruth. He has coached under Don Meyer at Northern and Tim Miles at NDSU.

Sticking with the "local flavor" theme in post season tournaments, the NJCAA (JuCo) DIII national championship was won by Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL), who is coached by Alcester, SD native Craig Doty. It was his 2nd National Championship in 3 years and 3rd straight trip to the title game.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: National Tournaments

On the DII women's side the University of Alaska Anchorage qualified for the elite eight that will be played at the Pentagon. Connor Devine's sister Alysha is on the team and was named West Regional MVP.

A side note. There has been a lot of discussion about DII teams competing with DI teams. This UAA team finished 2nd in the Alaska Shootout beating Peppardine (RPI 266) and losing to George Mason (RPI 170). They also dropped a game to UNLV - RPI 211 (was an exhibition for UAA but not for UNLV). Small sample size but it stands to reason that even the best teams in DII would likely have an RPI in the 200's.

[RochJack69]

Re: National Tournaments

Sticking with the "local flavor" theme in post season tournaments, the NJCAA (JuCo) DIII national championship was won by Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL), who is coached by Alcester, SD native Craig Doty. It was his 2nd National Championship in 3 years and 3rd straight trip to the title game.

That's great. Watched a little bit of the game on-line. They beat my Rochester CTC who have been to the NJCAA DIII tournament quite a few times also, were in finals 3 times in last 7 years (?), but just could not get over the hump.

[jacks1]

Re: National Tournaments

Kelly Pfeifer is reffing the collegeinsider.com title game right now.

[bigticket1]

Re: National Tournaments

Kelly Pfeifer is reffing the collegeinsider.com title game right now.

Did he get blamed for calling any technicals that he actually had nothing to do with ?

[jacks1]

Re: National Tournaments

Did he get blamed for calling any technicals that he actually had nothing to do with ?

Interestingly enough, the losing team did get called for a technical towards the end of the game...but Kelly didn't pull the trigger on this one either. 😉

[UWMandSDSU]

Re: National Tournaments

Interestingly enough, the losing team did get called for a technical towards the end of the game...but Kelly didn't pull the trigger on this one either. 😉

But it probably caused a 5 point swing, not a 2 point swing.

[yote4life]

Re: National Tournaments

20 years after the greatest game ever played northern state is trying to return to the elite 8, right now. In a dogfight with Mankato st. No way the game lives up to the one in Frost 20 years ago.

[BigGoosie13]

Re: National Tournaments

20 years after the greatest game ever played northern state is trying to return to the elite 8, right now. In a dogfight with Mankato st. No way the game lives up to the one in Frost 20 years ago.

Northern State men won 90-83 tonight to advance to the Elite 8 in the Pentagon next week. Doyle finished with 21 points and 7 rebounds tonight. The Dakota Wesleyan women smacked Concordia-Nebraska 82-59 to claim the NAIA National Championship. Good night of BB for SD teams.