In a stunning upset, South Dakota, ranked 290 in the NET rankings, handed the University of Nebraska-Omaha a 17-point defeat, 89-72, at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. The Coyotes' victory over the Mavericks has significant implications for the seed line, particularly given the disparity in their respective NET rankings, with Omaha sitting at 246. The margin of victory suggests a dominant performance by South Dakota, which controlled the tempo from the outset, taking a 10-point lead into halftime.
The final score and half-time margins reveal a consistent effort by South Dakota, outscoring Omaha by 10 points in the first half and 7 points in the second. The outcome is likely to send ripples through the conference standings, and its impact on the postseason landscape will be closely watched. The decisive nature of the win, coupled with the NET rankings disparity, underscores the magnitude of the upset achieved by South Dakota over Omaha.
A 26-point effort from Jordan Crawford, which included 5 three-pointers, helped propel South Dakota to an 89-72 victory over Omaha. His shooting performance, marked by an 8-12 overall field goal percentage and a 5-7 three-point percentage, was a key factor in the team's success. With the game on the line, Crawford's ability to convert from beyond the arc proved crucial, as he finished with a 5-6 free throw percentage to seal the win.
The freshman standout Uzziah Buntyn's 18 points, which came on 6-13 shooting from the field, provided a significant boost to South Dakota's offense. His 3 assists also demonstrated an ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, complementing his own scoring prowess. Erupting for 13 points, Jesse McIntosh's performance, although less efficient from the field at 2-8, was salvaged by his 8-9 free throw shooting, which helped to maintain South Dakota's momentum throughout the game, as he also pulled down 6 rebounds to aid his team's efforts.
Finishing with 18 points and 8 rebounds, Djobet's overall performance was a notable aspect of Omaha's effort, though it ultimately fell short. His 7-15 shooting from the field and 1 block on the defensive end were highlights, but the team's inability to contain South Dakota's offense proved too great to overcome. The team's leading scorer, Djobet, was also limited in his playmaking ability, recording no assists on the night.
Despite the loss, Glover's 15 points, which came on 4-9 shooting from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line, were a positive takeaway for Omaha. His 1 rebound and 1 assist, however, underscored the team's struggles in supporting their top scorers. Meanwhile, Osburn's 11 points and 7 rebounds were a solid contribution, with his 3-6 shooting from beyond the arc being a notable aspect of his game, but it was not enough to make a significant impact on the outcome.
A notable increase in scoring output came from Vince Buzelis, with his 12 points exceeding his season average by 5.5 points, while his 5 assists marked a significant jump of 3.7 above his typical average, showcasing Buzelis' expanded role in the game. In contrast, Valentino Simon's performance was highlighted by his rebounding, as his 7 rebounds were 4.5 more than his season average, and his 2 blocks were 1.6 above his typical average, demonstrating Simon's elevated defensive presence.
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Final
The pre-game prediction proved to be inaccurate, as South Dakota emerged victorious by a significant margin of 17 points, contrary to the expected 5.4-point win for Omaha. This discrepancy suggests that the model underestimated the home team's capabilities, failing to account for the factors that ultimately led to their convincing win. The actual result was a departure from the anticipated outcome, highlighting the complexities and unpredictabilities of college basketball.
A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that South Dakota's exceptional shooting performance was a crucial factor in their victory. Their elevated effective field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage indicate a high level of efficiency on offense, allowing them to capitalize on scoring opportunities and build a substantial lead. Additionally, South Dakota's ability to adapt and thrive despite a lower-than-average offensive rebounding rate suggests a level of flexibility and resilience that contributed to their success. In contrast, Omaha's struggles with shooting efficiency, particularly their lower-than-average effective field goal percentage, hindered their ability to keep pace with South Dakota's potent offense.
The outcome of this contest has significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations, as they both rely on securing the SUMM conference tournament auto-bid to advance to the NCAA Tournament. For South Dakota, the win bolsters their conference tournament positioning, potentially improving their seeding and path to the championship game. Meanwhile, Omaha's loss deals a blow to their own conference tournament hopes, as they now face an increasingly uphill battle to claim the auto-bid. With both teams sporting identical 15-15 records, the distinction between them lies in their ability to capitalize on opportunities like this Quad 4 matchup, and South Dakota's success in this regard suggests a slight edge in their program's trajectory. Ultimately, the reality is that in a conference where tournament success is the only currency that matters, South Dakota has just bought itself a crucial bit of leverage.