Heading into last season, South Dakota State won the Summit League regular season three out of four seasons. Last year? The Omaha Mavericks banged trash cans into a conference championship and then won the conference tournament. The Mavericks have lost a few players, but can they return to the top of the Summit? Can one of the Dakota schools reclaim the conference? Is there another team ready to take a leap this season? We’ve gone through the rosters and have a best bet you’ll want to lock up.
Are you looking for a sports book to get a little action on the Summit League winner? Check out MyBookie.ag to start the season off right and use promo code SGPN to score a 100% bet back bonus!
2025-26 Summit League Basketball Champion Best Bet
St. Thomas to win the Summit League
St. Thomas has been close to breaking into the top of the Summit League for the past few seasons. In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the Tommies finished in fourth place. Last year? The Tommies finished second. This is the year that St. Thomas breaks through. The Tommies are opening a new arena, and they’re going to hang a banner after their first season playing there.
St. Thomas returns two starters from last season’s team. Sophomore guard Nolan Minessale started 34 games as a true freshman last year, and he was solid. He averaged 11.2 points, 3.5 boards, and 2.0 rebounds in 26.3 minutes. The Tommies also return big man Carter Bjerke. Bjerke played 34 games and started 17 last year. He averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 boards per game last season.
Also returning and expected to start is senior guard Ryan Dufault. Dufault was a key piece off the bench last year, but he should take on a larger role in 2025-26.
Rounding out the starting five should be a redshirt-freshman transfer from Nebraska, Nick Janowski, and a sophomore transfer forward from Miami, Isaiah Johnson-Arigu. Janowski has a reputation as a versatile scorer. Johnson-Arigu adds athleticism and length to the St. Thomas front court.
The Tommies also added a pair of youngsters who come from true basketball families. Forward Luka Momcilovic joins St. Thomas as a freshman. He’s Milan Momcilovic’s brother. Guard Austin Herro transfers to St. Thomas from South Carolina. He’s Tyler Herro’s brother. Both should see time in the St. Thomas rotation this year, and both can shoot as well as expected.
The rest of the St. Thomas bench will be occupied by underclassmen who have spent multiple years in the program. Depth isn’t an issue for the Tommies.
St. Thomas enters its 15th year with head coach John Tauer. He’s 291-107 with the Tommies and has built this program from the ground up. The system has proven effective, and this is the year that St. Thomas breaks through to the top of the Summit League. Lock up the Tommies to win the regular season this year.
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2025-26 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
