SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota State men’s basketball team will serve as the headliner for the inaugural Field of 68 Showcase that takes place on the opening day of the 2024-25 season. The Field of 68 announced the Showcase pairings with the Jackrabbits slated to square off against McNeese State at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Sanford Pentagon.
“We are extremely excited to be able to be part of The Field of 68 Showcase,” South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson said. “Their media network has done a tremendous job bringing attention to college basketball in recent years. To get the opportunity to be on center stage for their inaugural opening-day event, especially in a venue like the Sanford Pentagon, is something we couldn’t pass up. We look forward to getting the 2024-25 season started against an excellent opponent while representing the state of South Dakota!”
The Jackrabbits will play in the third of three consecutive games in the Sanford Pentagon that day. Also featured in the Field of 68 Showcase is an 11 a.m. matchup between the College of Charleston and Southern Illinois, as well as a 2 p.m. meeting between Saint Louis and Santa Clara.
SDSU begins the 2024-25 campaign against a McNeese State program entering its second season under head coach Will Wade. The former LSU head coach was the Southland Conference and NABC District 22 Coach of the Year. He helped engineer McNeese’s NCAA Division I-record-tying 19-game turnaround a season ago, helping the Cowboys become one of just seven teams to win 30 games or more in Division I during the 2023-24 campaign.
McNeese expects to have a loaded 2024-25 roster which includes a returner in senior Christian Shumate who was the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Year and a first team all-conference selection.
South Dakota State is coming off a 2023-24 season in which it won The Summit League regular season and tournament titles. The Jackrabbits have won a combined 16 conference championships as a member of The Summit League since 2011-12.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. CT, August 1 at ticketmaster.com.