In today’s college basketball there is more roster turnover and uncertainty than ever before. Even die-hard fans aren’t certain who the rotation will be. Heck, even coaches will be tinkering with lineups more than ever before. That said, your favorite Summit League website and podcast should still do predictions you should be able to go back to later and say I told you so. Here is my predicted order of finish along with the good and the uncertain for each team. Also who I think the team MVP will be and a potential X-factor for each team.
- Kansas City Roos
The Good
The Roos return the biggest chunk of their roster from the team that finished 2nd last season. Marvin Menzies last year’s coach of the year with the continuity that returns from last season is a good combination. The Roos have also proven to be able to fill holes during Menzies tenure. Also The amount of roster turnover with the rest of the league may help the Roos. “““““““““““““““““
The Uncertain
Point guard and post have holes to be filled. Have the Roos successfully filled those holes? If they have filled those holes the Roos will battle for the league title.
Team MVP
Jamar Brown
Brown was an all league player last year and would seem logical that he will contend for player of the year honors this year.
X-Factor
G Anderson Kopp
Two injury-filled years for Kopp. Both season-ending injuries. If Kopp returns to his 40% shooting form behind the arc from 2 years ago, the Roos will be extremely dangerous.
2. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
The Good
In reality, the Jackrabbits always win. So while there is plenty of uncertainty heading into this season, Summit League fans should just trust the program to produce results because they always do. Remember a few years ago when little know Baylor Scheierman burst on the scene? There just always is a Baylor Scheierman
The Uncertain
The biggest thing is a roster filled with freshmen. 7 freshman on the roster. This is what this me to them in second and not to win the league. Early results are encouraging but their will be hiccups. Overall the entire roster is either newcomers or players being asked to do way more this year.
Team MVP
F Oscar Cluff
Sometimes power 5 transfer big men show up and don’t do much at this level. However, Cluff put up solid numbers at Washington State and that is likely to transfer to big things. Plus he has looked really good early on for the Jacks. Summit League teams will have a tough time finding a matchup for him.
X-Factor
G Joe Saylor
Maybe thee biggest indicator of the continued strength of the South Dakota State program is a player like Saylor is willing to redshirt. The young man seems like a straight up sharpshooter and I would imagine he would have been able to step right in last year but knew playing time would be limited so sat out a year and stepped right into the starting lineup.
3. North Dakota State
The Good
Last year was a down year for the Bison, we kept waiting for things to turn around and they just never did. That said they bring back a trio of rotation players from last year and an encouraging group of transfers. North Dakota State is another program that gets the benefit of the doubt
The Uncertain
Was last year an anomaly? History would say it was. However, if there are still lingering issues the returning group didn’t win last year. Most of the transfer class is moving up a level so will that product translate at this level?
Team MVP
G Jacari White
The top returning scorer from last year’s team. Conventional wisdom would say this becomes his team. Averaged 10 a game last year, while I will say this is a tricky pick, White seems the most likely.
X-Factor
F Jackson Moni
Moni put up impressive numbers at the division 2 level and has an intriguing skill set at 6’10 with the ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot from outside, and impressive athleticism. Has a skill set that could translate to all league considerations.
4. North Dakota
The good
Things seemed to finally click last season and a trio of starters returned from last year’s squad. Treyson Eaglestaff seems on the verge of being a star this season and Amar Kuljuhovic is an all-league type player.
The Uncertain
There’s plenty of production to replace with BJ Omot and Tyree Ihenacho leaving. The coaching staff is excited about the additions, ut things seemed to really turn around last year when Ihenacho was deemed eligible and he’s no longer on the squad.
Team MVP
G Treyson Eaglestaff
A double-digit scorer who showed he can be a great scorer in the Summit League. It seems logical that Eaglestaff would be handed the keys this season.
X-Factor
G Meir Panoam
Panoam was a highly-ranked recruit who went to Tulane last year but played limited minutes there. In our brief exposure this year, Panoam seems to have a smooth skill set that will translate to this level.
5. St. Thomas
The Good
The Tommies have been a solid Summit League squad since their first year in the league. Well coached, play together. The Tommies seem year after year to produce a quality product. So while, on paper there are concerns, to some extent the Tommies get the benefit of the doubt as a top-half squad. They do return two starters in Kendall Blue and Drake Dobbs.
The Uncertain
The Tommies are replacing a lot, especially in the frontcourt. Brooks Allen and Parker Bjorklund are not easy pieces to replace. In the backcourt Raheem Anthony who was a revelation in his jump from Division 3 to Division 1 basketball. It remains to be seen how the Tommies replace this huge amount of production.
Team MVP
G Kendall Blue
There were signs of growth in his sophomore season. Now opportunity is wide open for Blue. I think it’s a fair statement that Blue is the most talented player on the roster. The ability to shoot from the outside combined with size and a skill set not possessed by the others in the St. Thomas backcourt.
X-Factor
G Miles Barnstable
The Tommies struck gold in their last Division 3 transfer, Raheem Anthony. Through two games one has to wonder if they did again in Barnstable. He leads the team in scoring early in the season and has made an immediate impact. (close second F Carter Bjerke)
6. Omaha
The Good
The Mavericks return 4 contributors from last year’s team that went 7-9 in the Summit. They have the feeling of a team I might be underrating. The also add Lance Waddles from North Dakota State who is likely to have an immediate impact. One has to wonder if Omaha is going to take the next step forward in year 3 of Chris Crutchfield.
The Unknown
How do they replace Frankie Fidler. Fidler is one of the most talented players to come through the Summit recently. Replacing him is no easy task. However, as stated above there is still some talent in Omaha and they are hopeful some of the newcomers can contribute right away.
Team MVP
F Marquel Sutton
There is real potential for Sutton to take a big league in production this year. I had him as a preseason first-team type player. In order to replace some of Fidler’s production the Mavericks need Sutton to take a lead in production.
X-Factor
G Tony Osburn
Osburn has had some nice moments in the Summit League. Osburn is a tough, quick, sharp-shooting guard, who at times last year looked like he might take the next step and never quite did. Is this his year where he can stay healthy and be a consistent high-level performer? If he does, good things are coming for the Mavericks.
7. Oral Roberts
The Good
It all starts with all-league guard Isaac McBride returning for his last season in Tulsa. Any team with McBride can when every game it plays in, especially in league play. In year 2 Coach Russell Springman should have a better handle on the day-to-day of leading a team and has started to form a roster of his players.
The Uncertain
The wheels sort of came off at the end of last year. Was that indicative of the mix that was together last year or a talent issue that will bleed into this year? Sir Isaac Herron who was to be a big piece this season, will miss the season with an injury. While Oral Roberts typically has some decent resources to bring in talent will it come together
Team MVP
G Isaac McBride
McBride was voted preseason player of the year and the award is deserved. Strictly off of his on-court performance, he will put himself in the conversation. It will likely come down to whether the Golden Eagles win enough games for McBride to be considered. A special player that Summit League fans are lucky enough to see finish his career in the league.
X Factor
F Sam Alajiki
Oral Roberts will need someone to shoulder the two and three scorer roes behind McBride and Alajiki seems a likely candidate for one of those two spots. He should combine with Josh Jones to form a formidable frontcourt. The question is does Oral Roberts have enough help for McBride and Alajiki should help answer that.
8. South Dakota
The Good
Kaleb Stewart leads the group of returners for the Coyotes. Stewart along with the Bruns brothers forms a nice returning backcourt for the Coyotes. They are also excited about transfer Chase Forte who they feel could be a key cog this season. The talent base in Vermillion seems to be the strongest Eric Peterson has had since becoming head coach.
The Uncertain
It seems fitting Oral Roberts and South Dakota are next to each other in the predictions in this season of roster turnover in the Summit. To some extent it’s less about roster talent because that is so unknown and more about the need to prove it before those teams are moved up.
Team MVP
G Kaleb Stewart
Stewart averaged over 15 points a game last year and comes into this year the team leader for the Coyotes. I will say this years group of Coyotes seems rich in backcourt talent so there is a chance Stewart isn’t asked to score as much as he was last year. It still seems the most likely scenario is Stewart is the team leader for the Coyotes this year
X-Factor
G Chase Forte
Forte came into this season as a transfer from Northwestern State with a career stat line very similar to former North Dakota, James Madison, and North Dakota guard Tyree Ihenacho. A big point guard who does a bit of everything and early in the season he looks like a great fit and a pest on the defensive end.
9. Denver
The Good
Coach Jeff Wulbrun has had a heck of time keeping a roster together in Denver. The good news is he does have DeAndre Craig, Pedro Lopez San Vicente, and Isaiah Carr returning. So a solid foundation. We also know that Wulbrun has had a knack of hitting on newcomers, both transfers and freshmen. So some of the newcomers are likely to contribute right away.
The Uncertain
Tommy Bruner finished second in the NCAA in scoring and is no longer eligible. Bruner was a player who won games by himself. So while Denver moving to 6 league wins and a trip to the Summit League championship is encouraging, there is a lot of uncertainty in Denver this year.
Team MVP
G DeAndre Craig
Craig started really coming into his own at the end of last year especially so in the Summit League tournament run. The Pioneers are counting on more of that continuing this year. If Craig seen at the end of last season returns this season that is a great start for this year.
X-Factor
G Sebastian Akins
When Coach Wulbrun begins the season talking about a freshmen, that player is usually someone we are talking about 10 games into the season. Akins is that player this season. A highly rated player out of North Carolina, Akins has been given the green light early in the season and will likely see his role continue to increase throughout the year.