November is over, which means approximately one-quarter of the regular season is over. We felt that made sense to grade the first quarter for each Summit League team. Yes, we are grading on a curve. It will be based on preseason expectations, Kenpom ranking to start and now. Take into account injuries a little bit but also know they are part of the game. We will give you at least a couple of good and bad things so far this season.
Denver
November Record: 3-5
Best Win: Houston Baptist
Worst Loss: Texas A&M CC
Preseason Kenpom: 345
Current Kenpom: 331
Grade: B-
The Pioneers will be graded on a more challenging curve in the second quarter. They are getting the benefit of a B- because partially because the mess the team was last season. It’s frankly just nice to see a prepared, competing and competent Denver team after the two previous seasons. Also in their 5 losses they have a 1 point loss to Air Force and an overtime loss to Utah Valley who is currently that is 166 in Kenpom and beat a ranked BYU team in their next game after playing Denver. The Pioneers added a potential all-league player in KJ Hunt along with veteran leadership from Hunt and Mikey Henn. Freshmen Coban Porter and Tevin Smith show that the Pioneers have a bright future also. Stay tuned for the Pioneers 2nd quarter grade. Can they continue the momentum.
Kansas City
November record: 3-4
Best win: Missouri
Worst Loss: Arkansas State
Preseason Kenpom: 248
Current Kenpom: 221
Grade: C+
It’s sort of hard to decide what exactly the grade for the Roos should be. The win against Missouri was nice and the Roos put together a challenging schedule. They also couldn’t pull off a victory playing Morehead State and Arkansas State. A win in one of those two games and it’s probably a solid B. Evan Gilyard has been a revalation and the team still has not had Arkel Lamar all season. Josiah Allick has struggled with foul trouble and therefore been ineffective. There’s a chance with Lamar returning and Allick returning to form that it is proven we were very unfair with our grade for Kansas City.
North Dakota
November Record: 3-5
Best Win: Montana
Worst Loss: Tennessee Martin
Preseason Kenpom: 316
Current Kenpom: 330
Grade: C-
There was a major roster overhaul for the Fighting Hawks this season. However, the did return several veterans and frankly the veteran returners are the players that haven’t taken the next step this season. The win against Montana was a really nice win but the losses to Tennessee Martin, Milwaukee, and FIU hurt. Getting at least one of those changes this grade dramatically. Freshman Paul Bruns has shown immediately he belongs and Caleb Nero and Mitchell Seuker have had moments of success. If Ethan Igbanugo and Bentiu Panoam can find some of last year’s magic, then next quarter’s grade will be better.
North Dakota State
November record: 4-3
Best win: Tarleton State
Worst Loss: UNLV
Preseason Kenpom: 125
Current Kenpom: 164
Grade: C
There will be some argument with this grade. However, with a drop in Kenpom, the loss to UNLV isn’t a good one and in the major challenges (Arizona, Creighton) the losses were bad. This is a preseason Kenpom 125 team and they should compete better in those games. The Sam Griesel injury/illness keeps this grade at a C, but the Bison need to find a way to get Rocky Kreuser and Grant Nelson making things happen down low and have really struggled to get them the ball in spots where they can succeed. Griesel is likely out for at least a couple more weeks so it will be interesting to see the adjustments North Dakota State makes as they continue to play without Griesel.
Omaha
November record: 1-6
Best win: only win vs a non D1.
Worst loss: SUI Edwardsville
Preseason Kenpom: 320
Current Kenpom: 333
Grade: F
The expectations weren’t very high to begin with, so maybe a failing grade is unfair. However with your only win being against a non D1 and getting blown out by Montana and first-half blowouts against Ball State and SIU-E, before storming back, there’s just not a lot of positives. La’Mel Robinson is out for the year with a knee injury and his loss is just crushing. Omaha is also currently without Isaiah Poor bear-Chandler for the time being with injury. Omaha is in a desperate search for an identity as they approach conference play.
Oral Roberts
November record: 4-3
Best win: Tulsa
Worst loss: Central Arkansas
Preseason Kenpom: 157
Current Kenpom: 173
Grade: C-
This is another grade that will likely have some dispute. The arguments for the grade being better are the Tulsa win and the overtime loss to Oklahoma State. Here’s the thing without the win against Tulsa this grade is probably only better than Omaha’s in the league. The Golden Eagles have shown flashes, but 3 of their 4 wins have been against non-division 1 competition, so in spite of the fact we are a month into the season, we still don’t know what we have in this year’s version of the Golden Eagles. Max Abmas continues to sparkle and Isaac McBride seems to be a nice addition. Deshang Weaver, Carlos Jurgens, and Francis Lacis are giving similar contributions to last year. There is still a lot to be desired down low for ORU this season though.
South Dakota
November Record: 4-3
Best win: Air Force
Worst Loss: San Jose State
Preseason Kenpom: 186
Current Kenpom: 236
Grade: C
Personally felt the preseason Kenpom was a bit high and the Coyotes have likely landed more where they belong. Their worst loss was to a similar Kenpom team and for the most part, their games have gone as the Kenpom site would have predicted. So a C seems accurate. Nothing to move them up, nothing to move their grade down. South Dakota continues to defend and play with energy but also remains on a constant search for replacements on the offensive end to what they lost from last year’s team.
South Dakota State
November record: 7-2
Best win: Nevada
Worst loss: Washington
Preseason Kenpom: 89
Current Kenpom: 77
Grade: A-
The dominant win against Nevada was the crowning moment of the Jackrabbits first month. For the most part in the first quarter the Jacks took care of business. Their only real hiccup (a loss to Alabama isn’t a hiccup) was in a semi-home game against Washington. Many will say, wait how is a loss to a Pac 12 team a hiccup? Washington is 146 in Kenpom and the game was in Sioux Falls. It also Alwill give South Dakota State fans memories of Sioux Falls fails in a tournament format in the past. All that said the Jacks look like the most complete team in the Summit and Noah Freidel and Douglas Wilson look healthy and ready to continue contributing at a high level.
St. Thomas
November record: 3-4
Best win: Niagara
Worst loss: Chicago State
Preseason Kenpom: 339
Current Kenpom: 308
Grade: B+
As we said we’re grading on a curve and now that we know a little more about St. Thomas as a division 1 team the curve will treat them a bit harsher. However, 3 division 1 wins is an accomplishment even the most optimistic Tommie fans were probably not predicting. There are only 2 division 1 teams with a worse Kenpom than Chicago State, so after the Tommies lost in their opening Division 1 game to Chicago State, things looked bleak. However, St. Thomas bounced back and certainly showed they belong at the Division 1 level. The Tommies have been led all season by the D3 Big 3 (Sam Goaley patent pending) of Anders Nelson, Riley Miller, and Parker Bjorklund.
Western Illinois
November record: 5-2
Best win: Nebraska
Worst loss: Eastern Michigan
Preseason Kenpom: 242
Current Kenpom: 183
Grade: A
The Leathernecks earn the best first quarter grade. It’s interesting to see that the Leathernecks beat the team with the best Kenpom on their schedule so far and lost to the team with the worst Kenpom. One cannot ignore a 60 point improvement in Kenpom in a month of play. New additions Trenton Massner, George Dixon, and Luka Barisic, join returning player Will Carius, and Colten Sandage to form a dangerous Summit League team.