Another non-conference opponent has been identified for the Hoosiers as the South Dakota State website announces their first ever visit to Bloomington, Ind. and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall scheduled for November 30, 2019. This news follows the recent announcement of the pairing between the Hoosiers and North Alabama for earlier in the month of November.
South Dakota State is coming off an impressive stretch of the last four years, where they have advanced to the NCAA tournament three out of the last four years. However the program is clearly on a rebuilding phase, across the board from coaches to players. Since 2012, South Dakota State has finished outside of the top 100 Kenpom in only two seasons (2014, 2017).
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger took over the program in 2016 replacing Scott Nagy. After two Summit League regular season championships, two Summit League tournament championships, and the 2018 Summit League Coach of the Year award, Otzelberger departed from the program last season for a head coaching position in the Mountain West Conference at UNLV. Former Jackrabbits assistant Eric Henderson took over Otzelberger’s vacancy and will be a first-time head coach in his first year.
Arguably one of the most recognized Summit League names in recent years included superstar Mike Daum, who averaged over 22 points and 9 rebounds per game during his four years with the program. Daum was a three time Summit League Player of the Year and four-time Summit League First Team. He along with the next three top scorers from the team last year have left the program due to graduation or transfer – rounded out with David Jenkins, Skyler Flatten, and Tevin King. The combined production of the quartet included nearly 70 points per game and 25 rebounds per game of production.
Current sophomore guard Alex Arians is the most productive returning player and will be one of the immediate leaders in the 2019-2020 edition of the Jackrabbits.
For the Hoosiers, only a couple of more games to be announced and Indiana fans are likely expecting the full schedule to be released at any moment. For the latest information on the 2019-2020 Indiana Campaign, you should keep an eye out on our Indiana Basketball schedule page.
Featured Photo: Miranda Sampson
