DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program will wrap-up a three-game road swing on Saturday afternoon when the Pioneers travel to South Dakota. Opening tip is set for 1 p.m. CT/12 p.m. MT, and will be streamed live on the Summit League Network.  
 
SERIES HISTORY:
South Dakota holds a 19-10 lead in the series that dates back to 1909, including 17-9 in Denver's modern DI era (since 1998-99). After Denver won three-straight in the series, the Coyotes have won each of the last three meetings. Denver is 3-10 in Vermillion in the modern DI era. MODERN DI ERA
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver sophomore guard Carson Johnson scored 27 points in an eight-point loss at South Dakota State on Thursday night. FULL RECAP
 
JOHNSON NETS 27 IN TIGHT LOSS AT SDSU
Sophomore guard Carson Johnson netted 27 points, including five triples in an 87-79 loss to South Dakota State on January 8.
The loss was Denver's first when leading/tied at halftime (8-1), and marked the first single-digit margin in Brookings since 2019.
 
HOT-SHOOTING PIOS
Denver is currently ranked 51st in the country and second in the Summit League in effective field-goal percentage, entering the game at 55.8%.
The Pioneers are also 28th in the country and first in the league in free-throw percentage (77.1) and 19th in the country and first in the Summit League in three-point percentage (38.3).
Denver leads the league and is 63rd in the country in scoring offense at 84.2 points per game.
 
DENVER'S NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
According to KenPom ratings, Denver played the 13th most difficult non-conference schedule in the country in the month of November.
Denver's strength of schedule was 32nd in the country at the end of non-conference play (KenPom).  
 
DENVER FINISHES AS LONE UNBEATEN IN-STATE
On December 20th, Denver defeated Northern Colorado 86-79, improving to 2-0 vs. Colorado (won at CSU) teams this season.
Denver is the only DI Colorado team to go unbeaten against in-state foes this season.
Denver's win over UNC was its first since 2016, its first in Greeley since 2015 and marks the first season Denver defeated Colorado State and Northern Colorado in the same season since 2003-04.
 
BURKE AND JOHNSON EARN MID-SEASON AWARDS
Sophomore guard Carson Johnson and graduate student forward Jeremiah Burke were named to the All-Summit League First Team by Reach the Summit Podcast in their mid-season awards.
HoopsHD also named Burke to its mid-season All-Summit League First Team.
Johnson leads the Pioneers averaging 18.0 points per game entering the calendar year 2026 to go with 1.8 rebounds. The Denver guard has scored 20+ points in six of the last eight games, including 23 in Wednesday's Summit League opening win over Kansas City.
Burke is second on the team with 15.6 points per game, while also pulling down 5.8 rebounds per contest. One of three Pioneers to start all 16 games, Burke has 15+ points in seven of the last nine games. In the December 31 win over Kansas City, Burke recorded his first career double-double, pulling down 11 boards to go with his 16 points.
 
DENVER CRACKS NET TOP-200
Following Denver's win over Eastern Washington on December 3, Denver cracked the top-200 in the NET, sitting at 199.
Denver is currently 232 in the NET (thru 1/4).
The last time Denver finished a season in the top-200 was in 2013-14 when the Pioneers finished 136th (then RPI) in their first season in the Summit League.
Denver's best ever finish in the NET/RPI came in the 2012-13 campaign, when Denver finished 69th after winning the Western Athletic Conference Regular season title and advancing to the second round of the NIT.
The Pioneers have finished in the top-200 nine times since rejoining the Division I ranks in 1998-99, including the top-100 three times (2012-13, 2011-12, 2004-05).
DU ranks fourth in the NET among Summit League teams this year, behind St. Thomas (117), NDSU (137) and SDSU (177).
 
UP NEXT:
Denver will return home for the start of a three-game homestand on Wednesday when the Pioneers welcome Oral Roberts to Hamilton Gymnasium. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on Altitude 2 and the Summit League Network.
 
TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now, and can be purchased here.
 
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports. 
Like Denver Men's Basketball and Denver Pioneers on Facebook 
Follow @du_menshoops and @DU_Pioneers on Twitter 
Follow @du_mhoops and @DenverPioneers on Instagram