Briar Cliff vs South Dakota State prediction: South Dakota State's home opener puts its rebuilt rotation on display
Three days after opening at Kansas State, the Jackrabbits get a first Brookings look at a roster picked third in the Summit, against NAIA Briar Cliff.
- South Dakota State should control an NAIA opponent at home; the interest is in how Bryan Petersen's second-year rotation fits together.
- Watch Jesse Van Kalsbeek, the NAIA player of the year at Northwestern (Iowa), now facing an NAIA team in a Jackrabbits uniform.
- No spread or total is posted yet; South Dakota State played at an average pace last season, 186th of 365 in possessions.
A first look at home
South Dakota State opens its season at Kansas State on Nov. 3, then comes home three nights later for its first game at First Bank & Trust Arena. Tip is set for 8:30 p.m. local time. Briar Cliff, an NAIA program from the GPAC, is the guest.
The Jackrabbits went 14-18 last season and ended it with a Summit quarterfinal loss to St. Thomas. Petersen enters his second season with higher expectations: South Dakota State was picked third in the Summit preseason poll, with seven first-place votes, and Joe Sayler was named preseason Summit Player of the Year.
What last season's team did
Last season's numbers are only a rough guide to a reshaped roster, but one strength stood out. South Dakota State grabbed 75.6% of opponents' misses, 7th in Division I. That kind of glass work should travel well against a smaller-conference opponent.
The weak spots were on the other side of defense. The Jackrabbits forced turnovers on just 15.0% of possessions, 313th nationally, and opponents took 47.2% of their shots from three, the 14th-highest share in the country. A Briar Cliff team willing to fire away would be testing a known soft spot. Last season's final adjusted net rating, points per 100 possessions adjusted for opponents, was -2.7, 206th of 365.
Faces to know
Van Kalsbeek, a junior forward, arrives after winning NAIA player of the year honors at Northwestern (Iowa); his eligibility status hadn't been addressed publicly as of Oct. 6. Kalen Garry appears on the Summit's preseason second team, though he entered the transfer portal in March, so his status is worth confirming.
Briar Cliff, picked seventh in the GPAC, must replace leading scorer Blake Sindelar. Jaxson Wingert and Colby Collison return to the starting lineup for ninth-year coach Mark Svagera.
Numbers that matter
| Defensive rebound %, last season | 75.6% | South Dakota State ranked 7th in Division I at finishing defensive possessions. |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent 3-point attempt rate, last season | 47.2% | Opponents took threes at the 14th-highest rate in the country against the Jackrabbits. |
| Forced turnover rate, last season | 15.0% | The Jackrabbits rarely created turnovers, ranking 313th of 365. |
| Summit preseason poll | third | South Dakota State drew seven first-place votes despite a losing record last season. |
Briar Cliff vs South Dakota State: quick answers
When is Briar Cliff vs South Dakota State?
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 9:30 PM ET.