The 2026-27 Summit League Tip-Off
The 2026-27 men’s basketball season officially arrives in The Summit League this Monday, November 2, setting the stage for a grueling stretch of 21 games across the opening week. With all eight league members hitting the hardwood, the conference begins its pursuit of a postseason bid, starting with an early evening clash between Mount Marty and South Dakota at 5 p.m. CT.
For the basketball programs across the Midwest, this opening week serves as more than just a season curtain-raiser. It is a critical window for league members to establish their non-conference identity against high-major competition. Four games this week pit Summit League squads against Power Four programs, testing the depth and resilience of rosters that have seen significant turnover since the final buzzer sounded on the 2025-26 season.
The Bison Defense and League Power Rankings
North Dakota State enters the new season with a target on its back, carrying the momentum of a 2025-26 campaign that saw the Bison capture both the regular season and tournament titles. The path to a repeat will be steep. According to league notes, the Bison must replace all but three players from last year’s roster. They will lean heavily on Andy Stefonowicz, an All-League honorable mention honoree who averaged 9.1 points and 4.8 assists per game last season.
The Bison’s depth will be tested by the arrival of Kaden Tate, a former NJCAA All-American from Des Moines Area Community College. Tate arrives with a defensive pedigree, having averaged 2.2 blocks and 2.0 steals per game at the junior college level.
St. Thomas, meanwhile, holds the No. 2 spot in the preseason poll. The Tommies are looking to reach the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time in program history, bolstered by a veteran-heavy roster. They are the only team in the conference to place three players on the preseason all-league first team: Carter Bjerke, Austin Herro, and Kendall Blue. Blue, who spent last season with Nebraska and participated in a Sweet 16 run, currently leads all active league players with 1,013 career points.
Rising Contenders and Coaching Transitions
South Dakota State sits at No. 3 in the preseason rankings, aiming to improve on a 7-9 conference finish from last year. The Jackrabbits’ lineup features Joe Sayler, the Preseason Player of the Year, who returns as the league’s most potent scoring threat at 17.9 points per game. They have also added Jessie Van Kalsbeek, the 2025-26 NAIA National Player of the Year, who arrives in Brookings after a dominant season at Northwestern (Iowa) where he averaged 27.8 points per game.
The middle of the pack remains highly competitive, with Omaha holding the No. 4 spot. The Mavericks are welcoming back Isaac Ondekane, who missed the entirety of last season after serving as a starter during the team’s 2024-25 championship run. South Dakota, North Dakota, and Oral Roberts round out the middle, each navigating significant roster shifts.
The most notable change occurs at the bottom of the preseason rankings, where Kansas City enters the season with a new head coach. Mark Turgeon, who previously led Maryland from 2011 to 2022, returns to the sidelines after a four-year hiatus. Turgeon brings a career record of 476-275 and ten NCAA Tournament appearances to a program looking to establish stability.
High-Stakes Non-Conference Tests
The opening week schedule provides an immediate litmus test for the conference’s standing. The intensity ramps up quickly as league members face off against national programs:
- Monday, Nov. 2: North Dakota at Minnesota (B1G+)
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: South Dakota State at Kansas State (ESPN+)
- Friday, Nov. 6: St. Thomas at Minnesota (Peacock)
- Friday, Nov. 6: Omaha at BYU (ESPN+)
- Monday, Nov. 9: North Dakota at Clemson (ACCNX)
These matchups, often played in hostile road environments, provide the necessary strength-of-schedule metrics that become vital if a team finds itself on the bubble come March. While the focus remains on league play, the outcome of these early games will shape the perception of The Summit League’s competitive standing for the remainder of the season.
