CTC Day Six Preview: One for the Road in the Summit

The Summit League is losing one of its flagship programs next year, as Oral Roberts is jetting to the A-Sun.  It is hard to imagine a Summit League with ORU, so let’s not…for now.  The Golden Eagles are trying to go out with a bang – another Summit title – and are the favorites to do so.

As usual, the Summit rewards their top two teams not with a bye, but with an extra day between the quarters and semis, so only the top two seeds play tonight.

To win this conference outright, you better be good…check that, you better be perfect.  And, that might not even get you an outright title.  In fact, last year perfection got you a part of an EIGHT-way tie.  The prior two years, the crown was split 3 ways and 2 ways, respectively.  You have to go all the way back to Waters and his perfect 2008 bracket to find an outright winner in the Summit League.

Championship Picks
13 for #1 Oral Roberts
5 for #2 South Dakota St. (Doogan, Gross, Lynch, Primm, Teddy)
2 for #3 Oakland (KA, RSmith)

Biggest Upsets
QF – #8 IPFW (Gross)
SF – #7 IUPUI (Dave)

Previous CTC Champions
2011 – Bry*/Gross*/Lil Lohse*/Lohse*/Lynch*/Mac*/Stri*/Teddy*
2010 – Alexi/Bry/Lohse
2009 – Doogan/Stri
2008 – Waters*

#1 Oral Roberts vs. #8 IPFW
IPFW needed a road win on the last day of the season to even get a chance to make this tournament.  They did it, and it paid off, as everything else fell their way and now they’re in.  The bad news?  They get to open with ORU, who won yet another Summit title, on their way out the door.  Gross is the only one with the guts to take IPFW in this one.  Most of the field has ORU winning this tournament, so an IPFW win wouldn’t be terrible for any of the other 6 people that don’t have ORU winning it.

#2 South Dakota St. vs. #7 IUPUI
If you’ve never heard of Nate Wolters, educate yourself, trust me.  This guy is a do-everything point guard for the SDSU, and he might just be the best player that no one’s ever heard of.  He led the Jackrabbits to a fantastic season, and he is one of those transcendant players that can win a tournament like this all by himself.  But, the first test is not an easy one, as IUPUI – a struggle all year with a young team – is starting to play a lot better.  Dave is the biggest IUPUI fan today, as he has them going to the finals.  J, KA, and Waters also have the Jaguars in this upset.  Doogan, Gross, Lynch, Primm, and Teddy are hoping SDSU survives because they all have them winning this tournament.