Three years ago, South Dakota made its first-ever appearance at the Summit League Tournament.
Casey Kasperbauer and
Tyler Flack were freshmen starters,
Eric Robertson saw time off the bench that year, and
Trey Norris ran on the scout team after transferring in from North Texas. Fast forward and Saturday, all four are expected to be in the starting lineup when the Coyotes take on top-seeded Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. in Sioux Falls.
Â
South Dakota enters the tournament having won four of its last seven and the players agree it has been a different team in that stretch. Flack returned to the lineup for the first time in 1 ½ years following injury,
Tre Burnette became the first player off the bench, and Norris resumed full-time duties at the point following the departure of
Shy McClelland. The numbers say the team is performing better and Flack, Burnette and Norris have been the team's top scorers in that span.
Â
"Our chemistry is better as a whole," said Norris, who has led the team in assists, steals and minutes the last eight games. "Shy was a big contributor to our team and we knew that some shoes would have to be filled, but Casey, E-Rob and Flack were here on my first day at USD and it's become instinctive when we are on the court together."
Â
Norris has gone the full 40 minutes in two of the team's last three games. He'll play in his 94
th game as a Coyote Saturday and has nearly reached the program's top-10 list for career assists in just three seasons.
Â
This weekend is the culmination of a collegiate career that has seen Norris compete for five different coaches – two at North Texas during and after his freshman season, and David Boots, Joey James and
Craig Smith at South Dakota.
Â
"The staff under Boots was one of the first schools to give me an offer out of high school and when I decided to leave North Texas, they were the first staff to reach back out to me. I liked my visit with my parents and I took it."
Â
Norris started 28 games during the 2013-14 season. He led the Summit in assist-to-turnover ratio a year ago as the team's top option off the bench. He spent this season working his way back to a starting role.
Â
"I wasn't with the team for a few weeks at the beginning of the year and they had to move on without me," said Norris. "Shy earned the starting spot and I've tried to work my way back as best I could.
Â
"Coach told me I was going to be playing heavy minutes when Shy left. He's trusted me enough to put me on the floor for 40 minutes and control the ball without turning it over. It gives me more confidence as a player."
Â
Norris averaged six points, four assists and 27 minutes during the team's first 23 games. As a starter in the last eight, he's averaged 12.5 points, five assists and 36 minutes while shooting 90 percent from the free-throw line. As a team, the Coyotes have shot 77 percent from the line in their last eight, up 10 percent from before.
Â
Norris will earn his degree this spring and wants to get into coaching once his playing career is complete. Until then, the six-foot guard from the Dallas area simply wants to finish strong. Not just for him, but for his younger brother Deion Houston, who died in a car accident in 2010 at the age of 17.
Â
"He was a year younger than me and I think about him every day," said Norris. "After he passed, I told myself that I was going to get a degree and finish my career because I know that's what he would have wanted."
Â
Norris taps his ribs five times during the national anthem before each game. Under his jersey is a tattoo in memory of Deion, who wore No. 5. They played on the same AAU team together for three years.
Â
As for his favorite memory as a 'Yote? Norris said he will share that on Tuesday, which just happens to be the day of the Summit League Championship game.
Â
