Marlon Ruffin and Matt Pile were named to the Preseason All-Summit League Team on Monday.
Pile, Ruffin Earn Preseason All-Summit Accolades
Oct 26, 2020 | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Senior Matt Pile and junior Marlon Ruffin earned Preseason All-Summit recognition and the Omaha men's basketball team was picked fourth in the 2020-21 Summit League Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Monday. The preseason awards and poll were tallied in a vote of the league's head coaches, communications personnel and media.
Pile was named to the Preseason All-Summit First Team, and Ruffin was a second-team selection. Pile, the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Summit Honorable Mention pick in 2019-20, was the only league player to average a double-double with 11.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Ruffin, who was tabbed the 2020 Summit League Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.
South Dakota State, who earned a share of the 2019-20 regular-season title, was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 33 first-place votes for 608 points. Oral Roberts was second with 514 points, while defending tournament champion North Dakota State earned three votes and 466 points for third. Omaha came in fourth with 379 points, followed by South Dakota, which had 354 points for fifth. North Dakota was sixth in the poll with 301 points, while Kansas City (248), Denver (203) and Western Illinois (167) rounded it out in seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 16th season at the helm of the Omaha program and carries a career record of 242-216 heading into the 2020-21 campaign.
2020-21 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. South Dakota State (33) -- 608 points
2. Oral Roberts -- 514 points
3. North Dakota State (3) -- 466 points
4. Omaha -- 379 points
5. South Dakota -- 354 points
6. North Dakota -- 301 points
7. Kansas City -- 248 points
8. Denver -- 203 points
9. Western Illinois -- 167 points
2020-21 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Noah Freidel (South Dakota State) - G, So.
Kevin Obanor (Oral Robrts) - F, Jr.
Matt Pile (Omaha) - F, Sr.
Filip Rebraca (North Dakota) - F, Jr.
Stanley Umude (South Dakota) - F, Sr.
Douglas Wilson (South Dakota State) - F, Sr.
Second Team
Max Abmas (Oral Roberts) - G, So.
Matt Dentlinger (South Dakota State), F, Jr.
Rocky Kreuser (North Dakota State) - F, Sr.
Marlon Ruffin (Omaha) - G/F, Jr.
Jase Townsend (Denver) - G, Jr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Douglas Wilson (South Dakota State)
Pile was named to the Preseason All-Summit First Team, and Ruffin was a second-team selection. Pile, the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Summit Honorable Mention pick in 2019-20, was the only league player to average a double-double with 11.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Ruffin, who was tabbed the 2020 Summit League Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.
South Dakota State, who earned a share of the 2019-20 regular-season title, was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 33 first-place votes for 608 points. Oral Roberts was second with 514 points, while defending tournament champion North Dakota State earned three votes and 466 points for third. Omaha came in fourth with 379 points, followed by South Dakota, which had 354 points for fifth. North Dakota was sixth in the poll with 301 points, while Kansas City (248), Denver (203) and Western Illinois (167) rounded it out in seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 16th season at the helm of the Omaha program and carries a career record of 242-216 heading into the 2020-21 campaign.
2020-21 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. South Dakota State (33) -- 608 points
2. Oral Roberts -- 514 points
3. North Dakota State (3) -- 466 points
4. Omaha -- 379 points
5. South Dakota -- 354 points
6. North Dakota -- 301 points
7. Kansas City -- 248 points
8. Denver -- 203 points
9. Western Illinois -- 167 points
2020-21 SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
First Team
Noah Freidel (South Dakota State) - G, So.
Kevin Obanor (Oral Robrts) - F, Jr.
Matt Pile (Omaha) - F, Sr.
Filip Rebraca (North Dakota) - F, Jr.
Stanley Umude (South Dakota) - F, Sr.
Douglas Wilson (South Dakota State) - F, Sr.
Second Team
Max Abmas (Oral Roberts) - G, So.
Matt Dentlinger (South Dakota State), F, Jr.
Rocky Kreuser (North Dakota State) - F, Sr.
Marlon Ruffin (Omaha) - G/F, Jr.
Jase Townsend (Denver) - G, Jr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Douglas Wilson (South Dakota State)
Players Mentioned
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