USD Second and SDSU 5th in Pre Season Summit League Men's Basketball Poll

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State men’s basketball earned two first-place votes and was tabbed fifth in the 2019-20 Summit League men’s basketball preseason poll, released Monday. USD is picked to finish second behind number 1 North Dakota State. The poll is voted on by league coaches, sports information directors and select media. The Jackrabbits are the two-time defending Summit League regular season champions and enter 2019-20 under the direction of first-year head coach, Eric Henderson. USD is under the direction of second year head coach Todd Lee. Preseason Summit League Player of the Year is USD’s Stanley Umude. Umude becomes the first Coyote to earn the Preseason Player of the Year honor since South Dakota became a league member in 2011-12, and his selection breaks South Dakota State’s three-year streak of claiming the honor. Umude is joined by teammate Tristan Simpson on the Summit League Pre Season All Conference first team along with Emmanuel Nzekwesi and Kevin Obanor of Oral Roberts and Kobe Webster of Western Illinois. Oral Roberts and Omaha are third and fourth ahead of SDSU in the team pre season poll. Purdue Ft. Wayne, Western Illinois, North Dakota and Denver are 6th through 9th.