To preview the Baylor's first round NCAA Tournament game with South Dakota State, we've brought in Scott Schroeder, the managing editor of SB Nation Minnesota whose followed the Jackrabbits all season long, for a little Q&A.
1) First off, give us a little background on South Dakota State: is it the biggest school in the state? Where do their players typically come from? How much tradition does the school have in basketball?
South Dakota State was the first school in South Dakota go Division I (in 2007, four years before the University of South Dakota). The majority of the roster is made up of midwesterners from either South Dakota and Iowa, though the team's best player -- Nate Wolters -- hails from St. Cloud, Minn. The school's fairly close to the Minnesota border, based in Brookings.
2) John Nagy has been a coach there since 1995 and he has the school in the Tournament after only four years in D1 basketball. What's his overall philosophy and why hashe been able to be so successful?
South Dakota State was the first school in South Dakota go Division I (in 2007, four years before the University of South Dakota). The majority of the roster is made up of midwesterners from either South Dakota and Iowa, though the team's best player -- Nate Wolters -- hails from St. Cloud, Minn. The school's fairly close to the Minnesota border, based in Brookings.
3) Nate Wolters has some pretty impressive statistics this year -- 21 points, 5 boards, 6 assists. How good is he andis he a legitimate NBA prospect?
South Dakota State was the first school in South Dakota go Division I (in 2007, four years before the University of South Dakota). The majority of the roster is made up of midwesterners from either South Dakota and Iowa, though the team's best player -- Nate Wolters -- hails from St. Cloud, Minn. The school's fairly close to the Minnesota border, based in Brookings.
4) The Jackrabbits got a pretty impressive road win at Washington,the Pac-12 regular season champion with an extremely athletic front-line. How were they able to pull that off?
South Dakota State was the first school in South Dakota go Division I (in 2007, four years before the University of South Dakota). The majority of the roster is made up of midwesterners from either South Dakota and Iowa, though the team's best player -- Nate Wolters -- hails from St. Cloud, Minn. The school's fairly close to the Minnesota border, based in Brookings.
5) Seth Davis picked SDSU to pull off the 14/3 upset during the Selection Show. What do you think the odds are of that happening?
Odds of an upset don't seem to be good because, aside from Seth Davis, not many others have predicted it. Wolters was gameplanned against and shut down in one of the Summit League tournament games, but if he can get off to a good start against Baylor, they'll at least be tested ... if not ejected from the tourney.