As we approach the halfway point of conference play, the Jackrabbit men find themselves at the top of the standings. In a wild Summit League season where nothing is predictable, the Jacks are in for an unpredictable end of the season. Several crucial factors will determine the Jacks’ success moving forward, and will lead to an exciting run in Sioux Falls.
The Jacks’s offensive prowess is well-known when they are firing on all cylinders. However, their defensive capabilities arguably make them the standout team in the conference. When it comes to on guard defenders there may not be a better duo than Charlie Easley and Matt Mims. Meanwhile, in shot blocking there are a lot of teams that think twice about going to the rim when William Kyle III is patrolling the paint. These three could be the key to the men’s success not just down the stretch but also come their time in Sioux Falls. While Easley, MIms, and Kyle are already household names expected to play strong on defense, there are three other names that aren’t getting the recognition they deserve.
Zeke Mayo consistently averages g a steal per game and is leading the team in rebounds. He will never be asked to be the main on ball defender due to his offensive usage he is expected to produce. But when it comes down to it he is able to cause a lot of issues for the other team. Nate Barnhart is also averaging about as many blocks a game as William Kyle, he may not get the chatter of the other three players but he has produced value down low when Kyle is off the court. Lastly , Kalen Garry may not have the defensive stats as the others mentioned but as a redshirt freshman he has carried a lot of responsibilities as an on ball defender. He has been the main defender in key situations this year, shown in standout moments against Weber St, and St Thomas
Offensively, the Jacks have the potential to be one of the best teams in the conference. Although consistency has eluded them this season on that end of the court, whether its the USD game where they dominated the paint or the Montana State game where they shot 42% from 3 and 69% from the field – we have seen the Jacks do it in multiple ways. Few teams in the conference can match the Jacks for a full game in the paint, which can lead to open shots behind the three point line.
The road to the Summit League crown will be a windy one down the stretch and especially in Sioux Falls. For the Jackrabbit men to be there in the end, the defense must be the cornerstone. No team can match what the Jacks can throw at teams defensively and some of their best defenders also come through on the offensive side as well. When the defense is leading the way, the Jackrabbits can dominate almost any team in the Summit. In Sioux Falls, defense can lead to a lot of wins when the offense isn’t there.