Jacks’ sustained success fuels NCAA return
SIOUX FALLS, S. D. (KELO) — SDSU women’s basketball is gearing up for a first round matchup against Washington, but this isn’t the Jacks first big dance, it’s their 14th NCAA Tournament.
South Dakota State has advanced past the first round of the tournament five times in program history, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019. “What we’ve been able to achieve over a long period of time, and some of the teams that have runs usually do it because of one recruit or recruiting class,” head coach Aaron Johnston said. “As that group moves on, all of the sudden they’re just in complete rebuild mode.
But we’ve been able to do it for many years throughout many great players. ” Great players including the Jacks senior class of Brooklyn Meyer, Madison Mathiowetz, and Ellie Colbeck. The three have posted a career 76-2 conference record while reaching the Big Dance four straight years “It’s super meaningful.
I think it’s just fun to look back at our careers and know that we can say we did that and that’s pretty rare,” senior Ellie Colbeck said. “I don’t think in four years I’ve ever heard any of them make an excuse about why something didn’t go the way they wanted to in practice or a game,” Johnston said. “In terms of an award or recognition, they’ve just been so locked in to what do we have to do to be better?
” SDSU is comfortably in the mix for the most NCAA Tournament bids across all of Mid-Major women’s basketball. “Not many teams in the country, let alone Mid-Majors,” Johnston said. “There’s certainly some out there.