BOISE, Idaho – The South Dakota State men’s basketball team met with the media and participated in an open practice on Wednesday morning at Taco Bell Arena on the campus of Boise State University.
Mike Daum, Reed Tellinghuisen, Tevin King and head coach T.J. Otzelberger took part in the press conference.
The 12th-seeded Jackrabbits (28-6) and fifth-seeded Buckeyes (24-8) take the floor for a first-round matchup today at 3 p.m. CT.
The West Region contest will air on TNT after No. 4 Gonzaga (30-4) takes on No. 13 UNC Greensboro (27-7) in the first game at 12:30.
“We really respect the basketball club they have at Ohio State,” said Daum, the second-leading scorer (2,205) and rebounder (845) in SDSU history and the Summit League Player of the Year each of the past two seasons. “They are a group of guys that play well together.
“They do a good job of getting the ball in the paint and have a lot of matchup problems. They’re a team that’s really well oiled and can play well together.”
South Dakota State has been playing well together as of late, as well, having won 19 of its past 20 games and 11 consecutively.
The Jackrabbits won the Summit League regular-season title with a 13-1 mark and then picked up three more victories to take the postseason crown and earn their third NCAA tourney bid in a row – and fifth overall in 10 years of eligibility.
“The three guys sitting up here have been to three NCAA Tournaments. We have a group of experience guys and some younger guys that are mixed in,” said Tellinghuisen. “And I think our group overall has great experience and I think that definitely helps us out as a group.”
Otzelberger also noted the experience being key.
“For our guys being here three years in a row, we have quite a few players on our roster that have logged a lot of minutes and experience in this situation,” he added. “And the more of that you can get on any big stage in beneficial.
“So I feel our mindset coming into this is we know we have a tremendous challenge with a Buckeyes team that is very physical, very well coach. At the same time, our guys are playing really confidentally right now. They’re sharing the basketball; they’re playing for each other.
And I think our mindset is such where we’re focused on trying to do everything we can to be on our best (Thursday) afternoon to come out with a victory.”
SDSU in the Big Dance
The Jackrabbits have an 0-4 record in the NCAA Tournament and are looking to take the next step. They received their highest seed ever in this year’s event.
“I think we owe it to ourselves,” said King. “We worked really hard the past couple of years; we great as a team; and we grew ourselves. And getting this type of win would be phenomenal for us and this program.”
Added Daum, “it would mean a tremendous amount. “Not just for me but for my teammates, for the coaching staff and for the school. For us, it seems like in years past if you win your conference tournament you get that automatic bid and that’s considered a good season. But going off what Tevin said, we’re holding ourselves more accountable because we want to be able to come to NCAA March Madness and make some noise and get a win.”
Ohio State
The Buckeyes (24-8, 15-3) tied for second in the Big Ten regular-season standings and then lost their opener in the postseason tourney in the quarterfinals after receiving a double bye as the No. 2 seed. They’re in the NCAA tourney for the 28th time in program history.
“First of all, any time a team can do what they did – play 15-3 in the Big Ten – is impressive. Chris Holtmann is a tremendous coach.
“They’re a physical team defensively. They have a really good defensive system, and they’re strong and tough and physically imposing.
“(Offensively) they have great mismatch players – (Keita Bates-Diop) obviously being the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, scores it inside and outside, and so talented. And with Jae’Sean Tate, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, really physical.”
Bates-Diop puts up 19.4 points and 8.8 boards per contest.
“He’s a tremendous scorer; he has tremendous size for his position; he can shoot the ball well from outside; and he’s using his body in the lower post,” Daum said. “He’s going to be a tough matchup for us.
“Ohio State is a great basketball program and we’re going to have to play very well.”
Three others average double-figure points – Tate (12.5), C.J. Jackson (12.2) and Kaleb Wesson (10.8).
Photo from www.gojacks.com.
