For the duration of the Summit league season I thought it was an under rated conference with 8 good teams. What I'm about to say is not popular with most people but I think may be no less accurate. It was a weak conference, with 8 equally weak and flawed teams. In other words, I was wrong.
South Dakota State made a good run of it against Gonzaga in the first half but had no chance against them in the second. Mike Daum was pretty much worthless. The Zags had their way with the game when it counted.
South Dakota, the regular season champ and thus the representative in the NIT was also a one and done.
I held out hope that after the 1 & 2 went down early in Sioux Falls that the teams who would continue on may be able to represent well. Granted, a 16 - 1 matchup has never gone the way of the low seed but I don't think the conference was ever as good as I perceived it to be. The teams were just all on the same low level. I'm glad I don't have to be one of the people to try to improve it because at it's best, the winners have only been a higher double digit seed.
I'm not throwing in the towel. When the SHAC reopens later this year I'll be in the stands and rooting for the home town horns. But that's for later, this is for now. It's not unlike having emergency eye surgery with no pain killer...ok that's an exaggeration, but isn't too far off. Just a reality check of where the Summit actually was this year. I wish they didn't have to come on national tv though!