CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 15. Up next: The Summit League Tournament.
After two down years for this program’s standards, North Dakota State found themselves back on top, winning the conference by two whole games. They went 14-1 at home and proved the preseason experts who picked them to finish fourth wrong. The preseason pick, St. Thomas, finished right behind them, with the other North Dakota program finishing in third.
Kansas City was a complete mess, winning just one game, and Oral Roberts looked like they would join them there before ripping off three straight games to finish with a more respectable record. Last year‘s regular season and conference tournament champion, Omaha, took a step back, finishing fifth in conference play.
After years of waiting to be eligible due to rules about moving up to Division 1, St. Thomas finally got their chance last year, and couldn’t take advantage. We’ve had three straight unique winners, and those three winners are 5 seed or lower this year, meaning we should get a fourth. The one seed has won four straight years as well, which is what North Dakota likes to hear.
You’re probably not going to be able to watch this one until the semifinals unless you have Midco Sports Plus. When it does reach that stage, there should be two exciting games followed by what is hopefully a competitive finale.
2026 Summit League Awards
Player of the Year: Carson Johnson, Denver
Freshman of the Year: Nick Janowski, St. Thomas
Transfer of the Year: Paul Djobet, Omaha
Coach of the Year: David Richman, North Dakota State
First Team:
- G: Paul Djobet, Omaha (18.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
- G: Carson Johnson, Denver (20.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.6 SPG)
- G: Nolan Minessale, St. Thomas (19.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG)
- G: Nick Janowski, St. Thomas (16.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.6 SPG)
- G: Trevian Carson, North Dakota State (12.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
Second Team:
- G: Greyson Uelmen, North Dakota (15.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- G: Damari Wheeler-Thomas, North Dakota State (14.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- G: Ty Harper, Oral Roberts (17.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.9 SPG)
- F: Jeremiah Burke, Denver (14.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG)
- C: Cameron Fens, South Dakota (14.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG)
2026 Summit Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wednesday, Mar. 4
8. Oral Roberts (9-22, 4-12) vs. 9. Kansas City (4-26, 1-15) – 6:30 p.m. CT on Midco Sports
For the second straight year, these two teams are playing each other in the 8-9 game, with the only difference being the seeds flipped. This Kansas City team was a dumpster fire all season long, losing 11 straight and firing their head coach midseason. The future might be brighter with new head coach Mark Turgeon, but for now, everyone in that program is just waiting for this season to end.
Ariel’s Pick: 8. Oral Roberts
Quarterfinals – Thursday, Mar. 5
1. North Dakota State (24-7, 14-2) vs. 8. Oral Roberts – 6 p.m. CT on Midco Sports
Don’t let Oral Roberts’ three-game win streak fool you; NDSU won 10 more games in conference play. While their first game on Jan. 3 somehow went to two OTs, the second one in late January, NDSU won by 28. Expect a score closer to the latter in this one.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. North Dakota State
2. St. Thomas (23-8, 12-4) vs. 7. South Dakota State (14-17, 7-9) – 8:30 p.m. CT on Midco Sports
Two words. Nolan Minnessale. The star guard scored 26 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in their 15-point road win in February. St Thomas turned the ball over just 5 times, and unless South Dakota State triples that, St. Thomas advances.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. St. Thomas
Quarterfinals – Friday, Mar. 6
4. South Dakota (16-15, 8-8) vs. 5. Omaha (15-16, 8-8) – 6 p.m. CT on Midco Sports
When these two teams played in the penultimate game of the season, South Dakota won by 17. They got to the free-throw line 30 times, and that’s going to be the gameplan. South Dakota lost their main scoring threat, Isaac Bruns, halfway through the season, while Omaha got its back, Paul Djobet, a few weeks earlier. Having that elite scoring threat will be the difference in this one.
Ariel’s Pick: 5. Omaha
3. North Dakota (16-16, 10-6) vs. 6. Denver (15-16, 8-8) – 8:30 p.m. CT on Midco Sports
Don’t let the six fool you, Denver is playing like a top four seed in February. They’re 6-2, and beat North Dakota by 19 in their most recent matchup. Carson Johnson was named player of the year for a reason, and he’s going to send his team to the semifinals.
Semifinals – Saturday, Mar. 7
1. North Dakota State vs. 5. Omaha – 7 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network
Djobet scored 38 points in their last matchup, and they still lost. NDSU had five players in double figures, and seven with nine or more. Having that balance is such a privilege that they capitalize on so well. North Dakota State do a great job not allowing second chance opportunities, finishing 13th in the country in offensive rebounds allowed, and that’s going to be the difference maker in this one.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. North Dakota State
2. St. Thomas vs. 6. Denver – 8:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports
This should be an exciting game. Neither team turns the ball over, both shoot the ball well, and both have a star player who can take over this game. Since the start of February, St. Thomas is shooting a ridiculous 64% from the field, best in the country. Where they’re going to really have to shine is their three-point defense, which has improved significantly as of late.
If they can learn from their loss in late February and hold Johnson under 20, which might not be possible, then that’ll be enough to head back to the final.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. St. Thomas
Finals – Sunday, Mar. 8
1. North Dakota State vs. 2. St Thomas – 8 p.m. CT on CBS Sports
For the second straight year, the one seed will take on the two seed in the championship game. St. Thomas sat on the sideline for so many years while they were ineligible due to Division 1 rules. Last year wasn’t the year, but they’re hoping this one will be. North Dakota State made five straight championship appearances from 2019 to 2023, and is excited to be back after a two-year hiatus.
These two split the season series, but the game to look at is the one that took place on Feb. 26. St. Thomas scored 50 points in the first half and never wavered, winning by 22. They held North Dakota State to 36% from the field and 24% from 3, while going 56 and 40% themselves.
As mentioned earlier, St. Thomas is shooting the ball at an elite rate, but also defending at one as well, especially from deep. Without having a star that can just control the game, North Dakota State won’t have enough to get back to the tournament, and St. Thomas finally get their moment.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. St. Thomas