Summit league teams non conference

[Keenan Henderson]

As the overall college basketball season kicks off today, here is a way to keep an eye on ORU's rivals in the Summit League.   Any upsets or teams that look good in their non-conference games.  See how SDSU looks against top 20 Alabama in a couple of days.

[ORUTex]

Western Illinois with a nice 75-74 upset win (17 point underdogs) at Big 10 foe Nebraska. Much better start than our road trip to Colorado. 

And SDSU beat Bradley 81-65 at home, covering the 9 point line.

Unfortunately St. Thomas, in what had to be one of their best chances at an early D1 win, lost 77-72 at Chicago State, despite being 7.5 point favorites.

[Keenan Henderson]

Western Illinois outrebounded Nebraska by 20 on the road, that is impressive.  They have quite a frontline of bigs/forwards.  Glad ORU does not play them now because DJ would have no chance versus that frontcourt.

St. Thomas is still impressive that they jumped from DIII to DI and almost won their first game.  Yes, Chicago State is maybe the worst team in D1 but still D3 is a couple of levels down, even from Chicago State.

[Keenan Henderson]

Denver lost tonight to an NAIA school named Ottawa University Arizona.  They trailed by 15 at half and had to rally at the end to even make it close (trailed by 10 with three minutes left) Ouch!

[EagleManiac]

8 hours ago, Keenan Henderson said:

Denver lost tonight to an NAIA school named Ottawa University Arizona.  They trailed by 15 at half and had to rally at the end to even make it close (trailed by 10 with three minutes left) Ouch!

Wow. Thankfully, that won't hit their RPI. Now that Western Illinois is finally looking to break the 300 RPI barrier, Denver is going to replace them as the bottom 5 NCAA programs. Disappointing. 

[theeagleman5]

Jacks lost by 16 at Alabama giving up over 100....     NDSU edges Cal Poly.....

[theeagleman5]

Tulsa blows a double digit 2nd half lead and loses at home tonight to Air Force on a late 3 pointer...such a shame......

[TrueBlue82]

53 minutes ago, theeagleman5 said:

Tulsa blows a double digit 2nd half lead and loses at home tonight to Air Force on a late 3 pointer...such a shame......

Tulsa loses to the same Air Force team that lost at Summit League foe South Dakota by 6 on Thursday.  Interesting...

[Keenan Henderson]

SDSU with a nice win on the road agaisnt a good mid major team in Stephen F. Austin.  South Dakota loses by 49 to Drake!  So far it has been up and down for the Summit league teams.

[ORUTerry]

South Dakota beats Air Force and then gets drummed by Drake… though I think AF is not supposed to be good and Drake is a possible top tier MVC school.  

[Old Titan]

21 hours ago, TrueBlue82 said:

Tulsa loses to the same Air Force team that lost at Summit League foe South Dakota by 6 on Thursday.  Interesting...

TU plays Colorado State in a showcase doubleheader in Fort Worth next month; I would pick the Rams by 15-20 points. 

[Old Titan]

Man, interesting night so far for Summit League teams:

• UMKC stomps Missouri in Columbia, 80-66, leading by double-digits the entire secon half. Biggest win for the Roos since ???
• Denver (of all teams) throttles IUPUI 63-47. No idea whether the Jaguars are any good these days, but considering the Pioneers lost to a non-D1 the last time out, this is a great bounce back. 
• North Dakota comes from behind at home to defeat Montana, 79-77.  Tulsa Memorial star Caleb Nero chips in 14 in the win.
• St. Thomas falls by 6 at Fordham; on the heels of their first D1 victory over the weekend at St. Francis (NY). Interesting approach they are taking in their non-conference schedule, playing other Catholic schools in the Big Apple, reminiscent of ORU in the early days. 
• NDSU trailing early in the first half on the road at UNLV. 
   

[ORUTerry]

Some nice wins by the Summit League…good to see some success. It should help with the league’s overall ranking. 

[Old Titan]

Meanwhile down at 11th & Harvard, TU and Oregon State grinding their way through a tight one with 10 minutes to go, before rows and rows of empty seats. First team to 70 wins.

Brutal exhibit of basketball acumen; like watching an intramural game between scrubs from their respective football squads.

[Old Titan]

34 minutes ago, Old Titan said:

Meanwhile down at 11th & Harvard, TU and Oregon State grinding their way through a tight one with 10 minutes to go, before rows and rows of empty seats. First team to 70 wins.

TU survives 64-58; not sure what possessed me to think, at 49-46 with 10 minutes to go, that either of these squads could score 70 points in regulation.

[ORUTerry]

Oregon State shot 4 of 11 from the free throw line. TU was 16 of 20. That, and turnovers (15 vs. 10) was the difference. 

[eagle88]

After watching TU last night they appear to be a decent team. They definitely have some bigs that can rebound and score around the rim. Their guards are decent shootets if left open. ORU will need to make shots and free throws as well as crash the boards in order to win. I think overall OSU made TU look better because of how sloppy they played.

[Old Titan]

I thought TU looked big & strong, but also slow & sloppy.

Tempo will be a huge factor in the game at the Mabee Center.  A grinder such as this one will favor TU; a track meet plays into ORU’s hands.