VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota men's and women's basketball are set to tip off the 2019-20 campaign this Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center with Coyote Craziness, featuring scrimmages from both teams, a three-point contest and post-event autographs.
 
Doors will open for the event at 5 p.m. before activities get underway at 5:30, starting with 15-minute scrimmages from both the men's and women's teams. The Coyotes swept the Preseason Summit League Players of the Year with Stanley Umude and Ciara Duffy, and the women have been tabbed the preseason favorites while the men were picked second in the preseason poll.
 
Both teams will be paired in an eight-team bracket for a three-point contest, with the winning team then taking on a pair of students. Head coaches Todd Lee and Dawn Plitzuweit are also set to compete against one another in a free throw contest.
 
The night will continue with a student in the crowd being chosen for a chance to win a TV on a half-court shot. Both teams will close the event with autographs on the concourse of the Sanford Coyote Sports Center with all fans invited to come meet this year's Coyotes.
 
South Dakota women's basketball opens the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. (CT) at Northeastern, with the men kicking off their campaign in the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, against Pacific on Friday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 p.m. (CT).