Count Me in for "First Four" in Sioux Falls

It was announced Tuesday that Sioux Falls will be placing a bid to host the "First Four" for the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament in 2017 and 2018.

For those of you who have been living under a boulder for the past few years, the "First Four" is the name for the two play in games for the NCAA Tournament (or the first round, but I refuse to call it that). Four teams, two 16 seeds and two other lower seeds are chosen for these games.

The event would be hosted at the Danny Sanford Premier Event Center. The NCAA recently dropped its required attendance capacity to 10,000. The arena will hold 12,000.

Sioux Falls would be a great location for this event. It's a decent size city and its success hosting The Summit League Men's & Women's Basketball Championships since 2009 will strengthen its bid. The city is already getting big time programs to come play neutral court match ups, albeit those have been at Sanford Pentagon. But still, it should only helps its case.

Count me in for Sioux Falls hosting the "First Four". It's drive able (call me selfish), and they've already proven that they can host a quality tournament.

Schedule Check: South Dakota Coyotes

Non-Conference Outlook

Nov 14: @ Utah Valley
UVU won the WAC but missed the dance. They lost to Cal in the 1st round of the NIT.
Grade: C

Nov 16: @ Stanford
Stanford upended Kansas in the dance. Solid road game.
Grade: B+

Nov 21: Sam Houston State (Bridgeport, CT)
SHSU is usually towards the top of the Southland standings.
Grade: C

Nov 22: Wofford (Bridgeport, CT)
Another team that has been finishing towards the top of it's conference (Southern).
Grade: C

Nov 23: @ Fairfield
Fairfield was a lowly 7-25 last season.
Grade: D-

Nov 26: Wayne State (NE)
First home game is a D2 opponent.
Grade: F

Nov 30: @ CSU-Bakersfield
Finished second to last in the WAC.
Grade: D-

Dec 2: @ CSU-Northridge
Middle of the pack Big West team that finished at 17-18. Yotes nipped them by one last year.
Grade: C-

Dec 5: Youngstown State
Decent home game vs Horizon opponent.
Grade: C

Dec 9: @ Creighton
Interesting to see how far the Jays fall without Doug McDermott.
Grade: A-

Dec 13: UNLV (Sioux Falls)
Very solid "neutral" court game vs the Runnin Rebels. UNLV finished 3rd at 20-13 in the Mountain West.
Grade: A

Dec 18: Montana State
Nice to see the Dakotas playing the Montana schools
Grade: C

Dec 21: @ Montana
Montana should be challenging Weber State for Big Sky supremacy.
Grade: C+

Dec 28: Milwaukee
Milwaukee made the dance last season despite finishing at 7-9 in the Horizon.
Grade: C

Feb 17:  Avila
NAIA squad who went 7-21 in 2013/2014.
Grade: F

Full Schedule

Final Thoughts:
Nice looking schedule. 3 of the 5 home games are DI. Add in a semi home game in UNLV that is very impressive. It's a solid slate for a team that could have a breakout 2014/2015 season in the Summit League.

Final Grade: B-

Image Courtesy Of

Schedule Check: IUPUI

It's time to evaluate the Jaguars OOC schedule...

Nov 14: Indiana State
ISU had a solid season last year but just came short of the NCAAs.
Grade: B

Nov 16: @ Purdue
The Boiler Makers were the worst team in the Big Ten last season, but still a tough one for the Jags.
Grade: B+

Nov 19: @ Milwaukee
Miwaukee ended up 5th in the Horizon, but made a nice run in the conference tournament to make the dance.
Grade: C

Nov 22: Ball State
Ball State was the worst team in the MAC last season and only won 5 games.
Grade: D+

Nov 25: @ Drake
Drake was 15-16 overall in the MVC but they seem to be on the up and up.
Grade: C

Nov 29: Georgia State
Ron Hunter makes his way back to IUPUI. GSU is a very talented squad and should be the favorite in the Sun Belt
Grade: C+

Dec 6: @ Evansville
The Aces finished tied with Drake at 6-12, but were still pretty competitive.
Grade: C

Dec 9: @ Xavier
Xavier was solid in its first season in the new Big East, but faltered a bit down the stretch and lost in the 1st round to NC State.
Grade: B+

Dec 13: Eastern Kentucky
EKU went 24-10 and gave Kansas a scare in the 1st round losing 80-69.
Grade: C

Dec 15: @ Howard
Howard was awful in the MEAC finishing with an 8-25 record.
Grade: D-

Dec 20: South Alabama
USA went 5-13 and 11-20 overall in the Sun Belt.
Grade: D

Dec 27: @ Richmond
Middle of the Pack A10 team is a nice, challenging road game.
Grade: B-

Dec 29: @ NC Central
The Eagles made the dance and lost a total of only 6 times last season, but played in the MEAC.
Grade: C

Full Schedule

Final Thoughts:
Jason Gardner seems to have this team on the right track bringing in some decent transfers and a solid schedule. This may not be the year for the Jags, but I believe at some point he'll have them back on track like the days of Ron Hunter.

Final Grade: B-

2015 Summit League Basketball Tournament Ticket Info

The Sioux Falls Sports Authority announced today the ticket info for the 2015 Summit League Basketball championships. Tickets will go on sale .n three phases from August 20-22

• Phase 1 Presale
  • 2014 Summit League Baseball Championship ticket purchasers
  • Begins on August 20, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Ends on August 21, 2014 at 10:00 p.m.
• Phase 2 Presale
  • Previous Summit League Basketball Championships ticket purchasers (2009-2014) Begins on August 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Ends on August 21, 2014 at 10:00 p.m.
• Phase 3 General Sale
• Begins on August 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m

For more info visit: http://sfsportsauthority.org/2014/08/2015-summit-league-basketball-championships-ticket-update/

Schedule Check: South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Continuing my grading of the Summit League's non-conference schedules, it's time to check out the Jacks of South Dakota State.

Non-Conference Outlook

Nov 14: @Buffalo
Tough early road game. The Bulls finished 1st in the MAC East but we're upended early in the conference tourney by Eastern Michigan.
Grade: C+

Nov 17: @ Idaho
Idaho makes its way to the Big Sky after finishing 7-9 and 16-18 overall in the WAC.
Grade: C-

Nov. 21: North Dakota
I think it's important for the Summit Dakota teams to get UND on the schedule every year.
Grade: D+

Nov 24: Chadron State
I know it's tough to get quality home games. Chadron St finished 11-15 in D2 last season.
Grade: F

Nov 30: Florida Gulf Coast
Very quality home game that will be played in Sioux Falls. FGCU should have a good shot at winning the Atlantic Sun again.
Grade: C+

Dec 3: Wayne State (NE)
Wayne St had a tough season going 9-19 overall in the NSIC.
Grade: F

Dec 6: UMKC
Former Summit foe heads back to Brookings.
Grade: D

Dec 9: @ Saint Louis
A dangerous team the past few years, the Billikens will be a big test for the Jacks.
Grade: B+

Dec 13: Idaho
Second time these two will face each other. It's always nice to get a DI home game.
Grade: C-

Dec 18: Idaho State (Logan, UT)
One of the bottom dwellers in the Big Sky, finishing 8-12 and 11-18.
Grade: D-

Dec 19: CSU-Bakersfield (Logan, UT)
Bakersfield finished tied for last in the WAC, but notched an upset win over Chicago St. in the WAC Tourney.
Grade: D-

Dec 20: @ Utah State
A tough mid-major game that is probably one of the harder places to win.
Grade: B

Dec 23: @ Utah
Utah is on the upswing in the Pac 12. They lost in the 1st round of the NIT last season.
Grade: B

Dec 28: @ Northern Iowa
SDSU will no doubt be ready heading into Denver after this three game stretch.
Grade: B

Full Schedule

Final Thoughts:
Four DI home games isn't bad at all. I wanted to give them a B-, but they're not playing any true power team this season, but I love some of their mid-major games.

Final Grade: C+

Schedule Check: Omaha Mavericks

It's that time of year where official schedules are starting to roll out. Let's look at Omaha's non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2014-2015 season.

Non-Conference

Nov 16: Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas went 8-21 last season and finished 11/14 in the Southland Conference.
Grade: D-

Nov 19: @ Seattle
The Redhawks were awful in the WAC last season going 13-17. They were bounced in the 1st round of conference tourney.
Grade: D-

Nov 22: @ Marquette
Marquette was pretty average last season and missed the NCAA Tourney. Still a tough early test.
Grade: B+

Nov 25: @ Nebraska
Tim Miles got the Huskers to the dance. Terran Petteway returns for a team that should get back there again.
Grade: B+

Nov 29: Nevada
Nevada has lost a step in the last several years, but it's still not a bad home game.
Grade: C+

Dec 2: @ Kansas State
KSU was right smack dab in the middle of a very good Big XII last season and ended up falling to Kentucky in the tournament.
Grade: A-

Dec 8: @ Air Force
Bottom dweller in the Mtn West is a very winnable game.
Grade: C-

Dec 10: Iowa Wesleyan
I am giving all non Division I team's this grade...
Grade: F

Dec 13: @ UMKC
Former Summit team in an intriguing match up.
Grade: D

Dec 17: Northern Colorado
Solid home game vs a good Big Sky team. UNC finished 5th in conference last season.
Grade: C

Dec 21: UT-Pan American
Last place in the WAC. Yikes.
Grade: F

Dec 29: @ Chicago State
Are the Mavs playing in two conferences? Sure seems like it. The Cougars were 8-8 and 13-19 overall last year.
Grade: D

Mar 3: @ North Dakota
UND lost in the Big Sky Championship last season, but lose a nice nucleus.
Grade: D+

Full Schedule

Thoughts:
Not a bad looking schedule overall for a new Division One member. Four DI home games isn't bad and can't ask for much else. The influx of WAC teams kinda waters it down a bit. Omaha is in a good location to get some solid power teams on the schedule every season.

Final Grade: C-

Recruiting: Ryan Kriener (SF- New Hampton, IA)

Offers: Western Illinois; South Dakota St; Northern Iowa

Year: 2016 (HS Jr.)

Position: SF

Height: 6-7

Hometown: New Hampton, IA

School/AAU: New Hampton High/Iowa Barnstormers

Verbal Commits Profile

Who will it be?

After last seasons magical run, North Dakota State lost three quality starters in Taylor Braun, Marshall Bjorklund, and Trayvonn Wright. That seems to be the theme this season all around the league.

Big minutes need to be replaced for several teams for the upcoming season in the Summit League. Which teams will step up? The league seems to be as wide open as ever. Lets take a look at the minutes lost through out the conference.

NDSU
Braun 34
Bjorklund 25.8
Wright 29.4
Mike Felt 14.7
Jordan Aaberg 11.6

IPFW
Luis Jacobo 29.2
Pierre Bland 33.4
Michael Kibiloski 19.2

SDSU
Brayden Carlson 36.8
Chad White 32.3
Jordan Dykstra  31.9
Marcus Heemstra 16.8

Omaha
John Karhoff 26
Justin Simmons 21
Matt Hagerbaumer 20
Alex Phillips 16.3
Caleb Steffensmeier 15.3

South Dakota
Trevor Gruis 27.8
Karim Rowson 18.3

Western Illinois
Adam Link 28.9
Michael Ochereobia 25.2

IUPUI
Ian Chiles 33
Mitch Patton 30.4
Donovan Gibbs 25.1
Ja'Rob McCallum 20.1
PJ Hubert 14.1

Denver
Chris Udofia 34.4

Oral Roberts
Shawn Glover 34.9