The 2012 Summit League Tournament kicks off on Saturday night with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, one of college basketball's best kept secrets for most of the season, playing the IUPU-Indianapolis Jaguars in the first round of the tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and will be televised on Fox College Sports, Midco Sports Net and can also be streamed online.
The Jackrabbits will begin trying to live up to their lofty expectations as the No. 2 seed in the tournament by picking up their third victory over the Jaguars this season. IUPUI nearly upset SDSU in early December before the Jacks pulled out a 97-93 victory, but South Dakota State looked solid in their rematch last Saturday night on the way to an easy 75-64 victory.
South Dakota State will be led, like the team has been all season, by standout guard Nate Wolters. The guard from St. Cloud, Minn., averaged 21.2 points, 6.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds while turning the ball over just two times per game as the squad's offensive catalyst.
IUPUI was led during the regular season by 6-foot-6 wing Alex Young as the senior averaged 20.7 points and 5.9 rebounds to lead the Jaguars in both categories. Prior to last weekend's loss to the Jackrabbits, IUPUI had won six of their last seven games.
The Jackrabbits are expected to advance, but IUPUI has already played them tough once this season and should be plenty familiar as the rematch comes just one week after their last meeting.
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