Senior JT Gibson was one of two Mavericks named to the Preseason All-Summit Second Team on Monday.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Gibson, Pile Earn Preseason All-Summit Recognition
Oct 7, 2019 | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha men's basketball team was picked fourth in the 2019-20 Summit League Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Monday. The poll was tallied in a vote of the league's head coaches, communications personnel and media.
Senior JT Gibson and junior Matt Pile were also named to the Preseason All-Summit Second Team. Gibson, the Mavericks' leading returning scorer, averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game a year ago. Pile's sophomore season saw him average 11.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game with 58.7% shooting from the field to rank second in the league.
Defending tournament champion North Dakota State was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 23 first-place votes for 526 points. South Dakota was second and received six first-place votes for 457 points, while Oral Roberts earned three votes and 404 points for third. Omaha came in fourth with 369 points, followed by defending regular-season champion South Dakota State, which had two votes and 300 points for fifth. Purdue Fort Wayne was sixth in the poll with 224 points, while Western Illinois (188), North Dakota (164) and Denver (113) rounded it out in seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 15th season at the helm of the Omaha program and carries a career record of 227-199. The Mavericks return seven letterwinners from the 2018-19 squad, which finished as runner-up in both the regular-season standings and at the Summit League Championship. Omaha has made a championship final appearance in two of the last three seasons.
Omaha opens the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Wichita State in Wichita, Kan.
2019-20 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. North Dakota State (23) -- 526 points
2. South Dakota (6) -- 457 points
3. Oral Roberts (3) -- 404 points
4. Omaha -- 369 points
5. South Dakota State (2) -- 300 points
6. Purdue Fort Wayne -- 224 points
7. Western Illinois -- 188 points
8. North Dakota -- 164 points
9. Denver -- 113 points
2019-20 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Emmanuel Nzekwesi (Oral Roberts) - F, Sr.
Kevin Obanor (Oral Roberts) - F, So.
Vinnie Shahid (North Dakota State) - G, Sr.
Triston Simpson (South Dakota) - G, Sr.
Stanley Umude (South Dakota) - F, Jr.
Kobe Webster (Western Illinois) - G, Jr.
Second Team
JT Gibson (Omaha) - G, Sr.
Tyler Hagedorn (South Dakota) - F, Sr.
Matt Holba (Purdue Fort Wayne) - F, Sr.
Matt Pile (Omaha) - F, Jr.
Tyson Ward (North Dakota State) - F, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Stanley Umude (South Dakota)
Senior JT Gibson and junior Matt Pile were also named to the Preseason All-Summit Second Team. Gibson, the Mavericks' leading returning scorer, averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game a year ago. Pile's sophomore season saw him average 11.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game with 58.7% shooting from the field to rank second in the league.
Defending tournament champion North Dakota State was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 23 first-place votes for 526 points. South Dakota was second and received six first-place votes for 457 points, while Oral Roberts earned three votes and 404 points for third. Omaha came in fourth with 369 points, followed by defending regular-season champion South Dakota State, which had two votes and 300 points for fifth. Purdue Fort Wayne was sixth in the poll with 224 points, while Western Illinois (188), North Dakota (164) and Denver (113) rounded it out in seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 15th season at the helm of the Omaha program and carries a career record of 227-199. The Mavericks return seven letterwinners from the 2018-19 squad, which finished as runner-up in both the regular-season standings and at the Summit League Championship. Omaha has made a championship final appearance in two of the last three seasons.
Omaha opens the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Wichita State in Wichita, Kan.
2019-20 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. North Dakota State (23) -- 526 points
2. South Dakota (6) -- 457 points
3. Oral Roberts (3) -- 404 points
4. Omaha -- 369 points
5. South Dakota State (2) -- 300 points
6. Purdue Fort Wayne -- 224 points
7. Western Illinois -- 188 points
8. North Dakota -- 164 points
9. Denver -- 113 points
2019-20 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Emmanuel Nzekwesi (Oral Roberts) - F, Sr.
Kevin Obanor (Oral Roberts) - F, So.
Vinnie Shahid (North Dakota State) - G, Sr.
Triston Simpson (South Dakota) - G, Sr.
Stanley Umude (South Dakota) - F, Jr.
Kobe Webster (Western Illinois) - G, Jr.
Second Team
JT Gibson (Omaha) - G, Sr.
Tyler Hagedorn (South Dakota) - F, Sr.
Matt Holba (Purdue Fort Wayne) - F, Sr.
Matt Pile (Omaha) - F, Jr.
Tyson Ward (North Dakota State) - F, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Stanley Umude (South Dakota)
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