SDSU's Lone Senior, Griffan Callahan Plays Key Role As Jack Go Dancing
SDSU Coach Scott Nagy has a special place in his heart for four-year senior Griffan Callahan.
Nagy likes his leadership, his spirit and of course, his ability to make plays at important moments.
After South Dakota State defeated Southern Utah in a physical men's semifinal Summit League tourney battle, Nagy was relieved, perhaps a little drained, but looking forward to his team's chance to live out a dream - playing for the school's first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.
In a confident, yet cautious tone, Nagy knew his team faced their biggest challenge of the season with Western Illinois in the championship game.
To make the Big Dance, Nagy knew that his most experienced higher stepper, Callahan, would have to play a key role. In the semifinal final tournament victory, Callahan played just 23 minutes and missed significant time in the first half due to foul trouble. While he stepped up with leadership in and took care of business in an important halftime discussion with his teammates, he finished with just five points and three rebounds and three fouls.
“We need Griffan Callahan on the floor and not in foul trouble,” Nagy said in the semifinal post-game presser at the Sioux Falls Arena.
While a lot of attention is deservedly heaped Nate Wolters, it can be easy to overlook the important contributions of Callahan, the Jacks' lone senior, who has played in 117 games including 71 starts. He averages only 10.5 points per game but his positive-thinking leadership always keeps the Jacks' eye on the biggest prize.
Wolters, a junior guard from St. Cloud, Minn., is one of the best point guards in America. The first-team All-Summit League standout did his part in the tourney, copping MVP honors, finishing with 67 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists. He made 24-of-57 field goals, including 2-of-11 from three-point range and 17-of-20 from the foul line. Plus, the Jacks also rely heavily on their talented sophomore forward Jordan Dykstra, who at one stretch this season made 11 straight three-point baskets, while also earning All-League honors.
In the semifinal win, in which SDSU led by one, 28-27, at halftime, Wolters was a difference maker, scoring 31 points and dazzling the Utah team and the crowd with a number of plays, including a memorable highlight reel dunk on the right side of the north basket in the second half. Regardless of how you access SDSU, Wolters is its vital cog.
Yet, on championship night, when SDSU faced and beat back to its greatest challenge, Callahan’s clutch play down the stretch was crucial and senior-like.
In the championship, Wolters surprisingly struggled on 5 of 22 shooting, finishing with 14 points while Callahan scored 10 of the team’s final 24 points, including several key baskets in crunch time.
“If you go back and look at our games this year and when we needed a big shot, he (Callahan) made it,” said Nagy.
In the final 11 minutes of the 52-50 win over Western Illinois, Callahan scored all 10 of his points.
With SDSU trailing 38-28, Callahan’s first points – a three-pointer - drew the Jacks within 38-31. A few minutes later (6:05 mark), Callahan scored on a layup to draw the Jacks with 42-37. After a defensive board, Callahan fed sophomore Chad White (Madison, S.D.), who hit a big three with 4:57 to play to draw the Jacks within 42-40. Then, in the final seconds, Callahan, who interestingly was the team MVP for his high school's football team, drove to the basket and was fouled. His free throws with 15 seconds left tied the game at 44-44.
His biggest moment was yet to come.
Trailing by a point in overtime, Callahan knocked home a three-pointer after his offensive board kept a crucial possession alive. His three gave the Jackrabbits a 52-50 lead with only 1:27 left in the game.
"I didn't have a lot of good looks and I struggled," said Wolters, giving credit to a swarming Western Illinois defense and specifically Ceola Clark. "But he (Callahan) did an unbelievable job. He was amazing, hitting a clutch three," Wolters added.
Callahan, who has made 75 threes while shooting 40 percent from deep, is a fiery, intense guy who is the glue for this band of Jackrabbits.
“We never gave up hope no matter what happens. That is what I love about this team,” said Callahan in the press conference after leading SDSU's rally in the championship game. “Nothing can get us down. And, we don’t get on each other. We don’t scream at each other. Our whole thing is to stay positive. I told we would come back to win and we did.”
As SDSU awaits word on its destination and opponent (5 p.m. Sunday on CBS Sports) in this the best SDSU basketball season-ever, Callahan again be that passionate leader, readying the SDSU men to try and make some beautiful music in the Big Dance.
Jackrabbits Men's Team Tie Wins Mark: With a win over Western Illinois on Tuesday night, SDSU tied the all-time season wins mark of 27. The Jackrabbits are now 27-7, the same as in 2003-04, the school's final year in DII. As noted by SDSU Sports Information, the Jacks will make their 25th NCAA Tournament appearance but first at the DI level.
Underdog Western Illinois shines at Summit: Anybody that doesn't think an underdog can shine in big moments, take a look at Western Illinois. The men's team was picked to finish ninth in the preseason polls but finished fourth in the league and then went 2-1 in the tournament, defeating the regular season champion in the semifinals, before losing a heart-breaking 52-50 decision to SDSU in the title tilt. In fact, Western Illinois led by 12 points against the Jacks with 15 minutes left and had a shot by Ceola Clark come up short at the end of regulation. If Clark's shot had gone in, well, the #4 seed moves to the NCAA. As it was, the defensive-minded crew, led by classy head coach Jim Molinari, finishes 18-14 with a lot of hope for next season. They return standout guard Clark along with inside force Terrell Parks, who hit jumper in the final moments of the 54-53 upset over league champion Oral Roberts to propel WIU into the championship.
Nagy likes his leadership, his spirit and of course, his ability to make plays at important moments.
After South Dakota State defeated Southern Utah in a physical men's semifinal Summit League tourney battle, Nagy was relieved, perhaps a little drained, but looking forward to his team's chance to live out a dream - playing for the school's first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.
In a confident, yet cautious tone, Nagy knew his team faced their biggest challenge of the season with Western Illinois in the championship game.
To make the Big Dance, Nagy knew that his most experienced higher stepper, Callahan, would have to play a key role. In the semifinal final tournament victory, Callahan played just 23 minutes and missed significant time in the first half due to foul trouble. While he stepped up with leadership in and took care of business in an important halftime discussion with his teammates, he finished with just five points and three rebounds and three fouls.
“We need Griffan Callahan on the floor and not in foul trouble,” Nagy said in the semifinal post-game presser at the Sioux Falls Arena.
While a lot of attention is deservedly heaped Nate Wolters, it can be easy to overlook the important contributions of Callahan, the Jacks' lone senior, who has played in 117 games including 71 starts. He averages only 10.5 points per game but his positive-thinking leadership always keeps the Jacks' eye on the biggest prize.
Wolters, a junior guard from St. Cloud, Minn., is one of the best point guards in America. The first-team All-Summit League standout did his part in the tourney, copping MVP honors, finishing with 67 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists. He made 24-of-57 field goals, including 2-of-11 from three-point range and 17-of-20 from the foul line. Plus, the Jacks also rely heavily on their talented sophomore forward Jordan Dykstra, who at one stretch this season made 11 straight three-point baskets, while also earning All-League honors.
In the semifinal win, in which SDSU led by one, 28-27, at halftime, Wolters was a difference maker, scoring 31 points and dazzling the Utah team and the crowd with a number of plays, including a memorable highlight reel dunk on the right side of the north basket in the second half. Regardless of how you access SDSU, Wolters is its vital cog.
Yet, on championship night, when SDSU faced and beat back to its greatest challenge, Callahan’s clutch play down the stretch was crucial and senior-like.
In the championship, Wolters surprisingly struggled on 5 of 22 shooting, finishing with 14 points while Callahan scored 10 of the team’s final 24 points, including several key baskets in crunch time.
“If you go back and look at our games this year and when we needed a big shot, he (Callahan) made it,” said Nagy.
In the final 11 minutes of the 52-50 win over Western Illinois, Callahan scored all 10 of his points.
With SDSU trailing 38-28, Callahan’s first points – a three-pointer - drew the Jacks within 38-31. A few minutes later (6:05 mark), Callahan scored on a layup to draw the Jacks with 42-37. After a defensive board, Callahan fed sophomore Chad White (Madison, S.D.), who hit a big three with 4:57 to play to draw the Jacks within 42-40. Then, in the final seconds, Callahan, who interestingly was the team MVP for his high school's football team, drove to the basket and was fouled. His free throws with 15 seconds left tied the game at 44-44.
His biggest moment was yet to come.
Trailing by a point in overtime, Callahan knocked home a three-pointer after his offensive board kept a crucial possession alive. His three gave the Jackrabbits a 52-50 lead with only 1:27 left in the game.
"I didn't have a lot of good looks and I struggled," said Wolters, giving credit to a swarming Western Illinois defense and specifically Ceola Clark. "But he (Callahan) did an unbelievable job. He was amazing, hitting a clutch three," Wolters added.
Callahan, who has made 75 threes while shooting 40 percent from deep, is a fiery, intense guy who is the glue for this band of Jackrabbits.
“We never gave up hope no matter what happens. That is what I love about this team,” said Callahan in the press conference after leading SDSU's rally in the championship game. “Nothing can get us down. And, we don’t get on each other. We don’t scream at each other. Our whole thing is to stay positive. I told we would come back to win and we did.”
As SDSU awaits word on its destination and opponent (5 p.m. Sunday on CBS Sports) in this the best SDSU basketball season-ever, Callahan again be that passionate leader, readying the SDSU men to try and make some beautiful music in the Big Dance.
Summit League Tournament First: For the first time in Summit League history both the men's and women's championship games went to overtime. On top of that, the games went to the wire with the losing teams (Western Illinois for the men and U-Missouri/Kansas City for the women) missing shots to tie or win in the final seconds. SDSU won the women's game, 78-77, and the men's team was victorious, 52-50.
SDSU Women Earn 4th Straight NCAA Tourney Bid: SDSU women's team is four for four. In what appears to be unprecedented, the Jackrabbit women's team has won all four of the Summit League Tournaments they played, compiling a 12-0 record and earning an NCAA berth each time. The championship game appearance by UMKC was its second (2005).
CBI Tourney Provides Tourney Representatives: In three men's College Basketball Invitational from 2008-10, 32 of the 48 teams made postseason play the following year. It includes 12 teams that earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, including VCU, Morehead State, Creighton, Davidson, Oregon and UCF.
SDSU Women Earn 4th Straight NCAA Tourney Bid: SDSU women's team is four for four. In what appears to be unprecedented, the Jackrabbit women's team has won all four of the Summit League Tournaments they played, compiling a 12-0 record and earning an NCAA berth each time. The championship game appearance by UMKC was its second (2005).
CBI Tourney Provides Tourney Representatives: In three men's College Basketball Invitational from 2008-10, 32 of the 48 teams made postseason play the following year. It includes 12 teams that earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, including VCU, Morehead State, Creighton, Davidson, Oregon and UCF.
Jackrabbits Men's Team Tie Wins Mark: With a win over Western Illinois on Tuesday night, SDSU tied the all-time season wins mark of 27. The Jackrabbits are now 27-7, the same as in 2003-04, the school's final year in DII. As noted by SDSU Sports Information, the Jacks will make their 25th NCAA Tournament appearance but first at the DI level.
Underdog Western Illinois shines at Summit: Anybody that doesn't think an underdog can shine in big moments, take a look at Western Illinois. The men's team was picked to finish ninth in the preseason polls but finished fourth in the league and then went 2-1 in the tournament, defeating the regular season champion in the semifinals, before losing a heart-breaking 52-50 decision to SDSU in the title tilt. In fact, Western Illinois led by 12 points against the Jacks with 15 minutes left and had a shot by Ceola Clark come up short at the end of regulation. If Clark's shot had gone in, well, the #4 seed moves to the NCAA. As it was, the defensive-minded crew, led by classy head coach Jim Molinari, finishes 18-14 with a lot of hope for next season. They return standout guard Clark along with inside force Terrell Parks, who hit jumper in the final moments of the 54-53 upset over league champion Oral Roberts to propel WIU into the championship.
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