The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have quietly become one of the nation's premier mid-major programs and have won three of the past five Summit League titles. The Jackrabbits can beat you in a variety of ways behind a deep rotation that plays with extraordinary continuity. Will this be the season they win the school's first NCAA tournament game?
ESPN Insider has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of Bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams to help you make smart picks in your bracket.
TOURNEY PROFILE
Best wins: vs. IPFW, vs. Middle Tennessee, vs. UC Santa Barbara
Worst losses: at UMKC, at IUPUI
Regular-season conference finish: First in the Summit
Polls and metrics: South Dakota State remained unranked all season and finished 31st in RPI and 80th in BPI.
All-time tourney record: 0-2
Coach's tourney record: Scott Nagy is 0-2 in two appearances.
Bracketology chart | BPI information
PERSONNEL
(Note: Player statistics are through games March 6.)
STARTING LINEUP
F Ian Theisen (6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG)
G Reed Tellinghuisen (9.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
G Jake Bittle (8.6 PPG, 2.2 APG)
G Deondre Parks (14.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG)
G George Marshall (14.9 PPG, 2.7 APG)
Key bench players
G Keaton Moffitt (5.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG)
F Mike Daum (15.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG)
G Tevin King (3.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG)
Biggest strength: Half-court offense. South Dakota State plays at an average tempo but has employed a variety of crisp offensive sets to become one of the more efficient units in the country. The Jackrabbits thrive on the dribble drive and effectively use the pick-and-roll on the majority of their fruitful offensive possessions.
Biggest weakness: Defensive speed. South Dakota State defends the 3-point line well but is susceptible to teams with perimeter quickness. Without a single player who averages even one block per game, the Jackrabbits lack a paint presence to alter shots when their guards are beaten off the dribble.
Best player: Mike Daum. The redshirt freshman leads the Jackrabbits in scoring (15.2 PPG) and rebounding (6.1 RPG), despite starting just two games this season. He was named Summit League Sixth Man of the Year and ranked second in Division I in points per 40 minutes (29.7). He has deceptive range for a player of his size (6-foot-5) and is adept enough with the dribble to create his own shot.
X factor: Keaton Moffitt. At 6-foot-5, Moffitt is a major matchup issue because of his ability to create off the dribble. He regularly finds high-percentage looks at the rim (52 percent on field goals) and has a knack for finding open shots for his teammates on the perimeter.
SCOUTING REPORT
Offensive approach: Nagy's team finds offensive success by running traditional half-court sets with deft screens and sharp movements. Point guard George Marshall sets his team's patient tone in the motion offense by initiating multiple ball reversals on most possessions. That patience often results in high-quality looks both in the paint and on the perimeter.
Defensive approach: The Jackrabbits don't get too fancy on defense, as they primarily stick to man-to-man in the half court. They switch most screens when given the opportunity because they have so many players who can defend multiple positions due to length. They attempt to coax teams into settling for contested perimeter shots.
How they beat you: The Jackrabbits run a sound, unhurried offense and wear out their opponents by making them defend late into the shot clock. Marshall and Deondre Parks use their quickness to get into the lane, while the team's myriad high-percentage shooters take advantage of open shots on the perimeter.
How you beat them: Don't settle for jump shots. Teams that attack the rim against the Jackrabbits typically have success because of SDSU's lack of shot-blockers inside. This is especially evident in transition because South Dakota State prefers to play at a deliberate pace.
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
(Note: All statistics in this section are courtesy of kenpom.com and are accurate through games March 6.)
NATIONAL RANKS
Offensive efficiency: 59th (110.4)
Defensive efficiency: 124th (101.1)
3-point percentage: 77th (36.6)
3-point percentage D: 90th (33.0)
Free throw rate: 79th (40.5)
Free throw rate D: 263rd (40.5)
TO percentage: 100th (17.1)
TO percentage D: 250th (17.0)
Good stat: 110.4 offensive efficiency
South Dakota State scores more than 110 points per 100 possessions, thanks to mature shot selection. The Jackrabbits' bevy of playmakers are always under control, as evidenced by their turnover percentage (17.1, 100th in Div. I). The Jackrabbits create a lot of matchup issues because of their versatility.
Bad stat: 101.1 defensive efficiency
The Jackrabbits grade out fairly well in the vast majority of metrics, but their efficiency on defense isn't nearly as elite as their offense. Their deficiencies on defense stem from a lack of aggression. They aren't comfortable pressing in the full court or gambling for turnovers.
HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?
Best-case scenario: Sweet 16
On paper, the Jackrabbits boast many qualities of Cinderellas this time of year. There isn't a major flaw on either end, and they have more than enough depth to hang with major-conference powers for 40 minutes. They could slide into the second weekend with the right matchups.
Worst-case scenario: Round of 64 exit
South Dakota State lost its only game against an RPI top-50 opponent (Texas Tech) this season, and all seven of its losses came on the road. The Jackrabbits could find themselves out of their comfort zone against a more talented team in a big arena, and they could fold easily.