South Dakota State Jackrabbits

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Summit
Past Conferences: Summit
City: Brookings, South Dakota
Stadium: Frost Arena
NCAA Tournaments: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 (Indicates Division II) | 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 (Indicates Division I)

Championships:

National Championships: None
Conference Titles: 6

Team History

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits men’s basketball program has not had a long history in Division I, but its foundation was built through several successful runs in Division II, which is comparable to the other programs that compete in the Summit League due to competing in the Division II level.

Since their first appearance in the Div II tournament in 1959, the Jackrabbits have established themselves as a successful program. After cruising through their first two games in their first tournament, they fell to Cal State Los Angeles in the Elite 8.

The team would use the tough losses as motivation despite losing in the Regional 3rd-place game a year later. During the 1961 season, the Jackrabbits lost in the Final Four to Southeast Missouri State but won the National 3rd-place game against Mount St. Mary’s. This helped them re-evaluate their situation because they missed an opportunity to compete in the postseason in 1962.

The odds for the team to achieve greatness were steadily increasing because the team was so close to playing in the National Championship game. The offense and defense came together during the postseason, leading to a higher level of performance and success for the team in the 1963 season, and the South Dakota State team stats demonstrated the vast improvements made in the regular season and postseason.

South Dakota emerged victorious in the Final Four and National Championship game against Southern Illinois and Wittenburg, thanks to significant improvements. Despite being close contests, the school was able to secure narrow victories and bring home its first trophy.

During its tenure as a Division II program, the school has reached 24 appearances in the tournament. Their next biggest jump in the tournament came in the 1985 season. They came so close to winning it all but fell short in the National Championship game against Jacksonville State by one point.

Jumping to the Division I

For the most, the teams that were assembled throughout the year kept their composure, maintaining elite status in the NCAA. In the 2008-09 season, the school decided to make the jump to the Division I level after being labeled a non-major school three years prior. There were a hefty number of requirements the school had to fulfill to make the much-anticipated transition.

South Dakota State successfully transitioned its athletics programs from Division II to Division I after fulfilling all requirements over five years. These included following Division I rule for four years, meeting financial aid and scheduling standards, undergoing a compliance review, and passing the athletics certification process.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Scott Nagy, the transition to Division I was completed. Although it was anticipated that the school may face challenges in their early seasons in the Summit League due to the increased level of competition, the changes made and the establishment of a strong foundation for the program ultimately paid off.

The team’s hard work culminated in a successful 2012 season, where they achieved a regular season record of 27-8 and a conference record of 15-3. The odds were great heading into the postseason, but the game against the Baylor Bears in the first round was relatively competitive; losing by just eight against the three-seeded Bears.

The following season, the school punched another ticket to the Big Dance, but the Michigan Wolverines were proven to be a formidable opponent. After this season, Nagy left the program to take the head coaching job at Wright State; making the way for T. J. Otzelberger.

During Head Coach T. J. During Otzelberger’s three-year tenure, the program made two NCAA Tournament appearances, but both times lost in the first round. Eventually, he accepted a job at UNLV.

Despite losing in the first round in the 2022 season, this was undoubtedly the program’s best season in the Division I era. With Eric Henderson at the helm, the Jackrabbits went a perfect 18-0 in conference play and registered a regular season record of 30-5.

This season has taken a stark turn, as the Jackrabbits have a record just above .500 under Coach Henderson in his fourth season at the helm. The team faces difficult NCAAB odds to win the Summit League, and the school is striving for its first victory in the NCAA Tournament.

All Time Records

• Points Scored

  • Mike Daum 3,067
  • Nate Wolters 2,352
  • Jordan Dykstra 1,661

• Rebounds

  • Mike Daum 1,236
  • Kai Williams 844
  • Jordan Dykstra 835

• Assists

  • Nate Wolters 668
  • Tevin King 328
  • Baylor Scheierman 320

• Steals

  • Nate Wolters 192
  • Tevin King 181
  • Brayden Carlson 138

FAQs

What is the highest win total in program history?

Although the program’s history at the Division I level is relatively short, its most successful season was in 2022, with 30 wins and only 5 losses. The team was undefeated in conference play, finishing with a record of 18-0. Surpassing this record will be a significant challenge going forward.

Who is the winningest coach in program history?

Scott Nagy was the first coach to lead the program at the Division I level and faced challenges in the early seasons. Despite this, he had a successful 11-year tenure with a record of 190-153. Coach Eric Henderson has the potential to surpass this mark, as he has already achieved a winning percentage above .700 in his fourth season. However, these numbers are subject to change.

Who is the greatest player in program history?

Three players from the program have played in the NBA: Tom Black, Steve Lingenfelter, and Nate Wolters. Of these, Wolters had the longest career in the NBA and was selected 38th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2013 NBA Draft. Currently, he is playing for Panathinaikos in the Greek basketball league.