The Summit League has been dominated by a trio of teams for the past two decades.
Since 2006, Oral Roberts, North Dakota State and South Dakota State have represented the conference in the NCAA tournament 16 times (out of 18 years, including the canceled 2020 tournament). The trio has finished in the top four of the league for four straight seasons, and they're the consensus favorites again in 2023-24
You’d be wise to narrow your selection to one of those three schools.
Summit League NCAAB Regular Season Title Odds
| Team Name | Odds (Via Caesars) |
| South Dakota State | +120 |
| Oral Roberts | +230 |
| North Dakota | +450 |
| North Dakota State | +550 |
| St. Thomas | +800 |
| Denver | +1000 |
| South Dakota | +1500 |
| Kansas City | +3000 |
| Omaha | +4000 |
The Contenders
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
The Jackrabbits have been the class of the conference over the past decade, making six NCAA tournaments and winning the regular-season title seven times since 2012.
Last season was a bit of a “down” year for SDSU, as it lost five conference games for the first time since 2017. Injuries played a major role in its struggles.
This season, the Jackrabbits should see a return to form. Six “starter equivalents” return, including preseason Player of the Year Zeke Mayo and preseason first-team All-Conference selection Luke Appel, who was limited to just five games last season.
Rising sophomores William Kyle III and Matthew Mors are due for major leaps this season, giving the Jacks the best frontcourt in the league to pair with arguably the best backcourt.
SDSU has ran the table before in the Summit, and it could again in 2023-24.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Oral Roberts is coming off its best regular season in school history, but the Golden Eagles are a new-look team.
Former head coach Paul Mills took the Wichita State job, and star guard Max Abmas took his talents to Texas via the transfer portal.
Another key piece to last year’s squad — reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Connor Vanover — transferred to Mizzou.
But ORU still has talent, led by All-Summit performer Issac McBride.
Russell Springmann steps into the head coaching chair after serving under Mills since 2018.
North Dakota State Bison
NDSU took a step back last season while featuring one of the most inexperienced rosters in college basketball.
Now the Bison are set to contend once again despite the loss of NBA prospect Grant Nelson to Alabama.
Eight players who started a game last year are back, and four of them have legitimate claims for All-Conference honors this season. Look for Boden Skunberg and Andrew Morgan to lead the way.
The Bison have made five straight Summit Tournament finals, but have lost the last three.
The Rest
It’s really the “haves” and the “have nots” in the Summit, as it’s highly unlikely we see any team outside the big three challenge for a conference crown.
St. Thomas, Kansas City and Omaha could make things interesting if everything breaks right, while teams like North Dakota, South Dakota and Denver are longer shots.
St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies
Now on Year 3 of their unprecedented Division III to Division I transition, the Tommies continue to be one of the best stories in college basketball. Head coach Johnny Tauer led St. Thomas to a fourth-place Summit finish last season and a 19-14 overall record.
His best player — Andrew Rohde — transferred to Virginia, but he still has two All-Conference caliber players, including forward Parker Bjorklund.
Kansas City Roos
Kansas City is interesting because it’s led by Marvin Menzies, one of the most underrated coaches in the country who tends to win everywhere he goes.
He’s now in Year 2 and has a healthy roster that fits his style.
A couple star-studded JUCO recruits will flank leading scorer Anderson Kopp for the dark horse of the league.
Omaha Mavericks
Omaha ranks in the top-five nationally in returning minutes and returning production, and that alone should allow it to climb the Summit standings.
Frankie Fidler is the name to remember here, a versatile 6-foot-7 wing who led the team in scoring last season.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks
North Dakota returns a bunch of players, too, from a team that suddenly got competitive late last season.
South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota is hitting the reset button after a disaster year.
All five starters depart, but head coach Eric Peterson reloaded with some high-major talent.
Denver Pioneers
Denver lost five of its top seven players, but head coach Jeff Wulbrun is crafty offensively.
Summit League Betting Leans
It’s not worth taking a longshot in the Summit market. This league will be won by South Dakota State, Oral Roberts or North Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits appear to be a tier above their two primary competitors, so that's likely the best bet on the board.
