SDSU to Face Former Coach, Iowa State in NCAA First Round

SDSU to Face Former Coach, Iowa State in NCAA First Round

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits men’s basketball team will travel to Omaha, not far from Brookings to face a familiar face as former coach TJ Otzelberger’s Iowa State Cyclones will meet the Jacks on Thursday.

Throughout the season SDSU was projected to be a 16 seed, but after the madness of conference tournaments, the Jacks were able to up their seed to a 15 spot, but now get to face one of the hottest teams in the country in Iowa State while also facing off against its former coach. The Cyclones won all three of its Big 12 tournament games by double digits which included a 69-41 trouncing of Houston, one of the four number one seeds in the tournament. Iowa State is 27-7 including 4-2 on neutral court. South Dakota State Coach Eric Henderson says how unique a matchup it is…

The Jacks are 22-12 coming into the NCAA tournament riding an eight game winning streak. SDSU is wanting to make a deep run as a 15 seed like Oral Roberts back in 2021, but have to start against its former coach. Otzelberger says the Jacks are a good team…

Henderson says they aren’t talking about the underdog role…

Tip off time is scheduled for 6:35 from Omaha on tonight.