USD men’s basketball picked second in NCC poll

The South Dakota men's basketball team, which posted a school-record 27-6 mark a year ago, has been picked to finish second in the North Central Conference preseason media poll according to a release from the league office Nov. 10.

The Coyotes, led by 18th-year head coach Dave Boots, totaled 58 points in the voting, including three first-place votes, three second-place votes, two third-place votes and one each for fourth, fifth and sixth.

Nebraska-Omaha, the defending league champions, had 73 points, including seven first-place votes.

Following USD in the voting were Minnesota State, third with 50 points, Minnesota-Duluth fourth with 46, St. Cloud State received 34 points for fifth, while North Dakota was sixth with 29 points and Augustana, seventh with 18.

USD returns four players with significant playing time from a team that placed second in the conference, won the NCC/Wells Fargo Finals and advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

USD opens it season with

the Coyote Basketball Classic, Nov. 18-19 in the DakotaDome. South Dakota will meet Northern Michigan on Friday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. and Bemidji State on Saturday, Nov. 19, also at 8 p.m.