SIOUX FALLS — The South Dakota State men’s basketball team will serve as the headliner for the inaugural Field of 68 Showcase that takes place on the opening day of the 2024-25 season. The Field of 68 announced the Showcase pairings with the Jackrabbits slated to square off against McNeese State at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Sanford Pentagon.

“We are extremely excited to be able to be part of The Field of 68 Showcase,” South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson said. “Their media network has done a tremendous job bringing attention to college basketball in recent years. To get the opportunity to be on center stage for their inaugural opening-day event, especially in a venue like the Sanford Pentagon, is something we couldn’t pass up. We look forward to getting the 2024-25 season started against an excellent opponent while representing the state of South Dakota!”

The Jackrabbits will play in the third of three consecutive games in the Sanford Pentagon that day. Also featured in the Field of 68 Showcase is an 11 a.m. matchup between the College of Charleston and Southern Illinois, as well as a 2 p.m. meeting between Saint Louis and Santa Clara.

SDSU begins the 2024-25 campaign against a McNeese State program entering its second season under head coach Will Wade. The former LSU head coach was the Southland Conference and NABC District 22 Coach of the Year. He helped engineer McNeese’s NCAA Division I-record-tying 19-game turnaround a season ago, helping the Cowboys become one of just seven teams to win 30 games or more in Division I during the 2023-24 campaign.

McNeese expects to have a loaded 2024-25 roster which includes a returner in senior Christian Shumate who was the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Year and a first team all-conference selection.
South Dakota State is coming off a 2023-24 season in which it won The Summit League regular season and tournament titles. The Jackrabbits have won a combined 16 conference championships as a member of The Summit League since 2011-12.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. CT, August 1 at ticketmaster.com.

Cayman Islands Classic

SDSU is slated to be part of a multi-team event featuring five programs that reached postseason play a season ago, with three that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, as the Jackrabbits will compete in the 2024 Cayman Islands Classic.

The sixth edition of the popular tournament hosted by Caymax Sports Ltd., will take place Nov. 24-26 at the John Gray Gymnasium at George Town, Grand Cayman, just minutes from the world-famous Seven-Mile Beach.

SDSU is coming off a 2023-24 season in which the Jackrabbits won The Summit League regular season and conference tournament titles. The Jacks advanced to the 2024 NCAA Tournament along with fellow Cayman Islands Classic participants Boise State and Duquesne.

Other postseason participants from a season ago that will appear in the tournament include Boston College, which advanced to the second round of the NIT, as well as CBI runner-up High Point. Rounding out the tournament field will be Hampton, Missouri State and Old Dominion.

“We are thrilled to host the participating teams for the sixth annual Cayman Islands Classic,” said The Honorable Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Transport. “This event not only showcases top-tier collegiate basketball but also highlights the Cayman Islands as a vibrant destination for sports tourism.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism I extend a warm welcome to all the teams and fans,” he added. “Their presence here contributes significantly to our local economy and helps promote the Cayman Islands as a leading destination for international sports events. We are looking forward to great competition and an exciting week of basketball and cultural exchange.”

Three teams will make their second appearance in the tournament. South Dakota State participated in the inaugural tournament in 2017, Boise State played in the event in 2018, and Old Dominion appeared in 2019.

In addition, three coaches are making return visits to the tournament. Leon Rice coached his Boise State team in the Cayman Islands Classic in 2018. Second-year High Point head coach Alan Huss was an assistant coach on the Creighton staff when the Bluejays won the Cayman Islands Classic title in 2018. South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson was an assistant coach at SDSU when the Jackrabbits played in the event in 2017.

Brackets and travel packages will be released soon at www.caymanislandsclassic.com.