Weekend preview: Kansas City and South Dakota
Full disclosure: This whole mirror scheduling thing is messing with the sense of rhythm that had developed in the last five years of covering Summit League hoops. So please bear with me as I try out some things in an attempt to get it right.
In this potentially recurring segment, I preview the weekend opponents for the SDSU men’s and women’s basketball teams. On a related note, I’ll have live coverage from Brookings on Thursday, Vermillion on Saturday and Brookings on Sunday:
Men (10-5, 1-1)
Thursday at Kansas City (4-10, 1-2), 7 p.m.
Sagarin says: Jacks by 6
Streaks and such: Kansas City has lost six in a row overall this season and has lost 6 of the last 7 meetings against the Jacks
Of note: The game will be played downtown at venerable Municipal Auditorium, one of three contests there for the Roos this season. … Kansas City gave nationally ranked Kansas State a run last week then got handled by Summit rookie Omaha the next time out. … SDSU is No. 16 in the latest mid-major poll, down three spots from last week. … The game will be televised in the Kansas City area on KSMO.
Saturday at USD (6-9, 2-1), 4 p.m.
Sagarin says: Pick ‘em
Streaks and such: The Coyotes won the only D-I meeting between the two in the DakotaDome last year, riding a hot start
Of note: USD hosts NDSU on Thursday night. … Of the five USD players who have double digit starts, only one - post Trevor Gruis - faced SDSU last year when the teams split two meetings, each winning at home. … The Coyotes needed nine games last year to get their second Summit League win compared to three this year. … The contest will air live on Midco Sports Net.
Women (9-5, 1-0)
Thursday vs. Kansas City (4-10, 0-1), 7 p.m.
Sagarin says: Jacks by 24
Streaks and such: SDSU is 11-1 in the series, while the Roos have lost six in a row this season
Of note: The Roos are expected to be without injured standout post Kim Nezianya for the eigth game in a row … Kansas City has a new coach in Marsha Frese – sister of Maryland coach Brenda Frese. … This is a rematch of last year’s Summit League tournament final, in which SDSU rallied from a 17-point deficit to prevail in overtime in Sioux Falls.
Sunday vs. USD (6-8, 1-0), 2 p.m.
Sagarin says: Jacks by 15
Streaks and such: SDSU has won 17 in a row in this series in Brookings
Of note: SDSU is No. 20 in the last mid-major poll, up two spots from last week. … Reserved tickets are sold out, but general admission remains available. … This will be the first game in the rivalry for first-year USD coach Amy Williams. … The Coyotes have lost five players to season-ending injuries. … USD visits North Dakota State on Thursday. … The game will air on Midco Sports Net. … These are the last two teams without a Summit loss.
Terry Vandrovec also posts regular updates on his Twitter page.
