Jackrabbit Men's Hoops Update

Hello again, Jacks fans! Now that football season is over, the best show in town lies in Frost Arena with the men’s and women’s basketball teams for the next two to three months. 

As usual, my blog will focus mostly on the men’s program. As of late, the Jacks have gotten a chance to catch their breath after what seemed like a marathon start to the season. 

SDSU has lost two games in a row in challenging road environments. Against Indiana at Assembly Hall had to be a great experience for everyone involved. Despite the loss, that looks like a fun place to play and watch some college hoops. 

The Montana State game was a battle as the Bobcats pulled away with a late run to beat the Jacks by seven. 

It is a tough, yet a crucial point in the season for the men. As a mid-major, you continue to face challenging nonconference opponents while conference play inches closer. With college football season coming to an end, college basketball teams start getting more eyes watching games and final box scores. 

Colorado State

Colorado State (6-5) has played a few familiar names this season. Summit League opponents such as Denver and Omaha have lost in Fort Collins this season. Nationally respected teams like Duke and San Diego State have handled the Rams.

Since finishing 24-12 in 2016-17, Colorado State has struggled to win more than 12 games in a season. 

The Rams score 71.3 points per game while giving up 71.2. The Rams rotation, which consists of nine players, is led by Nico Carvacho 13.5 points per game while Isaiah Stevens and Adam Thistlewood are the other two scorers averaging double figures. But the entire rotation is balanced and has the capability to score. 

The strength of this team will come inside with Carvacho. As I mentioned, he is CSU's leading scorer. The redshirt senior is a big, physical inside threat that can cause problems for any team

Consistency has been a problem all season long. They've had some really good moments and some really bad. Winning two of three at the Cayman Islands Classic during Thanksgiving week, but losing two of their first Mountain West games by double digits.

Tyler Merriam brought up a great point in his postgame radio interview following the Montana State game, comparing the game to what SDSU might see in the Summit League. The same can be considered for Colorado State since they’ve matched up against two Summit schools already. 

Keys to the game:

CSU shares a lot of similarities with the Jacks. They are still trying to figure some things out, but have pieces that can win games. I think the Jacks will need to be balanced scoring whether it’s hitting 3s, scoring in the paint or making shots at the free throw line. The ability to do that, as well as finishing strong on both sides of the ball will help them get one last nonconference road victory. 

Nebraska Kearney 

With being a Division II school, this will be an exhibition game for UNK. The Lopers are 4-4 on the season. Morgan Soucie leads the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game while Jake Walker has put up 11.6. 

The Lopers, who had back-to-back 20+ win seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, only won 10 games last season. In this decade, UNK has been very good at home but has played poorly on the road.

They average 71.4 points per game but give up 72.4. In their wins, the Lopers are a second-half team shown in games like Chadron State, where UNK erased a 12-point halftime deficit by scoring 50 points in the second half to win in overtime by eight. Down again at the half against the Colorado School of Mines, the Lopers dropped 48 in the second half to win 74-66.

Keys to the game: 

It should be a win for the Jacks against a Division II opponent, but that doesn’t mean they can’t improve. Every game should carry some importance from now until the new year. Each game is a new opportunity to clean things up and be at your best once the conference opener comes. For guys who are struggling, this might be a good game to get some confidence back that you didn’t have the chance to do against Indiana and Montana State. 

About the Jacks:

For those who may have not been paying much attention to the team early in the season, here’s a brief breakdown of the 2019-20 Jacks.

SDSU has used the same starting lineup in each of its 11 games this season. 

Douglas Wilson: the newcomer has proven to be reliable in the paint. His explosiveness and strength give him an advantage against many opponents. Wilson is averaging 16.5 ppg and 7.4 rebounds per game. 

Matt Dentlinger: after seeing minimal time last year, Dentlinger has had some nice showings for the team and has combined with Wilson to maintain an inside scoring duo. With a team that doesn't have much height, Dentlinger has done a good job of handling responsibilities inside. 

Alex Arians: the redshirt sophomore has struggled to score early in the season. The lone returning starter from last season's team isn't quite the offensive weapon we thought he would be, but he still provides leadership and good off-the-ball play. Since the scoring is coming from other players, I’m guessing this might be his role as the season goes on. 

Noah Freidel: the Tea, SD native is starting to show why this was such an important pickup for the Jacks. Freidel is starting to hit more 3s---he leads the team with 17 and has shown maturation on both sides of the ball. 

Brandon Key: Key has been good at the point so far. Averaging 10.8 points and 4.8 assists per game, Key can drive to the basket as good as anyone on the team and can pull up from 3-point range. His experience comes up big in high-pressure situations. I don't think the Jacks would be where they are now without him. 

Other difference makers include David Wingett, Baylor Scheierman and Tray Buchanan coming off the bench to give the Jacks some depth. Each of those guys has stepped into a role and are probably capable of starting, but I think the team likes what the current rotation looks like. 

Stat of the week: I would hate to jinx things, but the Jacks haven't lost three consecutive games in nearly three years. Last time that happened? January of 2017 when they lost four straight in conference play. 

One last thing, keep these basketball players and student-athletes in general in mind these next two weeks as finals start approaching. With all the traveling, games, workouts, practices and other team commitments, it is not easy for these student-athletes to manage everything around this time. 

If you like what you read or have any recommendations, you can find me on Twitter @Carson_Herbie or email me at carson.herbert@jacks.sdstate.edu