The 2016 Summit League Basketball Championships will take place in Sioux Falls this weekend at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Both South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota are competing in men’s and women’s hoops for a conference title, and for a spot in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments.
Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple says it’s not a coincidence that Sioux Falls has hosted this tournament since 2009. He says Sioux Falls makes sense because of its location to the schools in the conference, and because of how stimulated the community is to the sport of basketball.
"There’s an understanding of basketball, both from the women’s side and the men’s side that is very unique," says Douple. "The fans are very passionate for their institutions at South Dakota State and University of South Dakota"
Douple explains how Sioux Falls is welcoming to putting on and hosting the Summit League tournament year after year.
"They have this 'can-do' attitude," says Douple. "No matter what it is that we throw at them, they say ‘sure, we can do this.’"
USD enters the Summit League Championships with their women’s team ranked first and their men’s team ranked eighth.
For SDSU, both of their teams come into the tournaments ranked second.
Both the Coyotes and Jackrabbits will play on Saturday in both men’s and women’s basketball. The semi-final round is then scheduled for Monday, and the Championship games on Tuesday. Teams who win the Summit League Championship will receive an automatic bid to the men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
For more information on the 2016 Summit League Championships, and to hear the full conversation with Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple, click here.