Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Summit League Men’s Hoops Regular Season Looks Unpredictable and Chaotic

Leave a comment

“There is no team left on the schedule that DU can’t beat” – Dunker

DU basketball superfan Dunker said it all when he said DU men’s basketball has the potential to beat any team remaining on their schedule. However, this Denver team can lose to any Summit League team as well. And, the same can be said of nearly every team in the Summit League during the 2023-24  conference campaign.

When looking at the Summit League conference members’ schedules, most teams had a similar schedule to DU along with similar results. Power conferences are trying to build their strength of schedule and conference consolidation is reducing the number of games available to mid-major programs. That means other Summit teams are playing a few games against power conference teams along with games against lowly teams like Mount Marty, Oak Hills Christian, Valley City State, Waldorf (Iowa), John Brown, Rodgers State, etc., etc., etc… You get the point. And, no team had a better non-conference record than DU which sits at 8-5. Real Time RPI  has the Summit League ranked as the 24th strongest conference in the land (out of 34) so this is a down-year by any measure for The Summit League.

It is tough to draw too much from non-conference play but Denver has cut down on turnovers (8th rank/351 NCAA DI teams) and Tommy Bruner leads the nation in scoring (24.2 ppg.). Three-point shooting has improved with the Pioneers hitting at a .351 clip. Scoring defense, particularly interior defense, is a weakness as the Pioneers are surrendering 76.5 ppg. (293/351). Opponents are hitting 32.8% of the shots from three-point range and Denver needs to drop that number closer to 30% or less in conference play. Denver is allowing opponents to shoot 44% from the field (239th/351). Ultimately, Denver’s success or failure during conference play will rest on their ability to play solid defense.

Denver was picked in the Summit League Preseason Poll to finish in the cellar of the conference, largely because they only have two returning proven scorers (Tommy Bruner, Touko Tainamo). As usual, it will be up to Denver to prove the experts wrong.

Denver’s core players are Touko Tainamo (17.6 pts., 8.2 reb), Tommy Bruner (24.2 pts., 2.7 assists, 2.6 reb.) and Utah transfer Jaxson Brenchley (9.2 pts., 5.2 rebs.). Look for this trio to be the prime contributors to DU men’s hoops during conference play.

7’0″ center Isaiah Carr (6.3 pts., 5.1 rebs.) will play a critical role in the paint for the Pioneers. He must continue to improve and develop on both ends of the floor, especially against a lunch-pail league like the Summit. Plus, the Pioneers are relatively shallow in the front court and Carr must avoid foul trouble during conference play while playing stout against physical post play.

Freshman guard DeAndre Craig has the fifth most playing minutes in non-conference play for DU. While undersized, he has played solid defense, can dish the ball, and score when needed. Most importantly, he can play a reliable point and share some of the ball-handling duties with Tommy Bruner, allowing Bruner to play the two-guard position and rest when needed.

Transfer Isaiah Addo-Ankrah (7.2 ppg., 3.4 rebs.) adds some needed size on the wing and can score in bunches from distance and in the paint. Pedro Lopez Sanvicente (5.8, 3.2 rebs.) is starting to show his game in live action, not just practice, this season with solid shooting from distance and rebounding in relief of Carr and Tainamo. 

Guards Tyson Garff and Ben Bown are substituted into games to relieve Bruner, Brenchley and Craig and hold down the fort. Other players may emerge from DU’s bench but the aforementioned players represent the core group heading into The Summit League conference play.

The keys for Denver are defending their home court, managing the final minutes of games, and improving their defensive effort. In a conference that is so close in talent and coaching, DU must shine in these three areas. The first key, home court, will be answered when DU plays Oral Roberts Sunday at Hamilton Gym. Denver opens their Summit League season at Omaha Friday night. A Pioneer sweep would send a strong message that Denver is not going to settle as a cellar dweller.

Look for Denver to finish in the fourth or fifth slot in the Summit League this season. A fourth-place regular season finish would give DU a favorable first-round seed and a chance to win a game at the Sioux Falls conference tournament March 8-12th and advance.

Leave a Reply