Getting to know: South Dakota State basketball

Gonzaga guard Jordan Mathews (4) passes the ball as South Dakota State's Tevin King, left, and Lane Severyn, right, defend during the first half of a first-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Salt Lake City.

South Dakota State earned its way into the NCAA Tournament during the past two seasons, losing in the first round to Gonzaga last year by 20 points. Four starters are back from that squad when the Jackrabbits travel to Lawrence for their first road game of the season.

Kansas coach Bill Self cautioned it would be a “hard game” for the Jayhawks against SDSU (7 p.m., Friday, Jayhawk TV) which is heavy on experience and has some familiarity playing against Power Five schools.

For the Jackrabbits (3-0), it all starts with standout junior forward Mike Daum, who has transformed himself into one of the best scorers across the country. He doesn’t miss often from the free-throw line or the 3-point line, averaging 25.1 points last season. He had 17 points in SDSU’s tournament loss to Gonzaga.

“This is one of the most anticipated college games that I’ve been involved in,” Mike Daum told the Argus Leader. “It might be the best caliber team I’ve played against and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity for our program to play one of the top teams in the nation and just kind of show everyone what we’ve been working on.”

Fun fact: Daum is the nation’s second-highest scoring junior among all NCAA divisions. He only trails Campbell’s Chris Clemons in career points (Daum has 1,460, Clemons leads with 1,526).

Series history: Kansas leads 2-0. The Jayhawks won, 85-72, in the last matchup in 1984. KU has a 14-5 all-time record against Summit League opponents.

BREAKING DOWN SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

TOP PLAYER

No. 24 — F Mike Daum | 6-9, 250, jr.

South Dakota State forward Mike Daum (24) shoots over Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams (3) during the second half of a first-round men's college basketball in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Salt Lake City. Gonzaga defeated South Dakota State 66-46.

Last season’s Summit League’s Player of the Year, Daum has crushed opposing defenses with his ability to score in the paint or step outside and drain 3-pointers. Daum, sometimes called “The Dauminator,” is averaging 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds through his first three games this year.

According to hoop-math.com, he’s made 67 percent of his shot attempts at the rim. Plus, he’s made 20 of his 22 free-throw attempts. From Kimball, Neb. (population 2,496), Daum redshirted in his first year on campus.

Daum’s mother, Michele Hoppes, was a star women’s basketball player at Wyoming, leading the team in scoring and rebounding for four years.

• “He can really, really shoot,” KU coach Bill Self said. “He’s got all the footwork, all the shot fakes, all that in his game. He can post, obviously, and he’s an out-and-in type of player. He definitely creates some issues from a matchup standpoint.”

SUPPORTING CAST

No. 23 — G/F Reed Tellinghuisen | 6-7, 215, sr.

South Dakota State guard Reed Tellinghuisen (23) pass the ball past Gonzaga guard Josh Perkins (13) during the second half of a first-round men's college basketball in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Salt Lake City. Gonzaga defeated South Dakota State 66-46.

Another big man who isn’t afraid to launch shots from behind the 3-point arc, Tellinghuisen is averaging 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds on 36 percent shooting. He’s already crossed the 1,000-point mark in his career.

Tellinghuisen, according to hoop-math.com, has only attempted one of his 25 shots at the rim this season, preferring to shoot jumpers and 3-pointers.

No. 5 — G David Jenkins Jr. | 6-2, 190, fr.

A freshman out of Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, Jenkins is averaging 16.3 points off of the bench on 55 percent shooting from the 3-point line. He’s playing 23.3 minutes per game — fourth-most on the team. From Tacoma, Wash., reclassified to the Class of 2017 after starring at Wilson High.

ONE THING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE DOES WELL

Led by star forwards Mike Daum and Reed Tellinghuisen, the Jackrabbits are an excellent 3-point shooting team. For example, in their season opener they made 17 of 29 threes. Through three games, South Dakota State is shooting 44.8 percent from behind the 3-point line.

On shots inside of the 3-point arc, the Jackrabbits are actually worse. They are shooting 39 percent on two-point shots.

ONE AREA SOUTH DAKOTA STATE STRUGGLES

If the Jackrabbits don’t rebound well, they usually get beat. Last season, they posted a 16-1 record when they won the battle of the boards and were 2-16 when they were outrebounded.

South Dakota State was outrebounded by nine against UC-Irvine in an 11-point win this season, surrendering 16 offensive boards.

MEET THE COACH

South Dakota State head coach T.J. Otzelberger shouts to his team during the first half of a first-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament against Gonzaga Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Salt Lake City.

In his second season with the Jackrabbits, T.J. Otzelberger replaced longtime coach Scott Nagy. Otzelberger was an assistant coach at Iowa State for eight seasons, including a stint as associate head coach to Fred Hoiberg.

Prior to his time at SDSU, he was one of the lead recruiters for Iowa State’s Georges Niang, Naz MItrou-Long, Melvin Ejim and others. Otzelberger has a 21-17 record with the Jackrabbits.

VEGAS SAYS…

Kansas by 21.5. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jackrabbits leading for stretches in the first half. For KU, it will be a return back to their regular non-conference schedule after all the hype of playing Kentucky. SDSU will shoot a lot of threes, which could keep them in any game, but I think the Jayhawks will use transition buckets to their advantage — especially on long rebounds. And it will always be difficult for a mid-major team to prepare to face KU’s backcourt.

My prediction: Kansas 84, South Dakota State 68. Bobby’s record vs. the spread: 1-1.