# 2020–21 Summit League men's basketball season

The 2020–21 Summit League men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2021 and will conclude in March 2021.

## Membership changes

The conference both gained and lost a member after the 2019–20 season. Purdue Fort Wayne left for the Horizon League and was replaced by Kansas City, which returned to the Summit after a seven-year absence spent in the Western Athletic Conference.

## Preseason awards

Preseason awards were announced by the league office on October 26, 2020.

### Preseason men's basketball coaches poll

| Rank | Team |
| 1. | South Dakota State (33)- 608 |
| 2. | Oral Roberts- 504 |
| 3. | North Dakota State (3)- 466 |
| 4. | Omaha- 379 |
| 5. | South Dakota- 354 |
| 6. | North Dakota- 301 |
| 7. | Kansas City- 248 |
| 8. | Denver- 203 |
| 9. | Western Illinois- 167 |
| (first place votes) ||

### Preseason All-Summit League teams

| Honor | Recipient |
| Preseason Player of the Year | Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State |
| Preseason All-Summit League First Team | Noah Friedel, South Dakota State |
| Preseason All-Summit League First Team | Kevin Obanor, Oral Roberts |
| Preseason All-Summit League First Team | Matt Pile, Omaha |
| Preseason All-Summit League First Team | Filip Rebraca, North Dakota |
| Preseason All-Summit League First Team | Stanley Umude, South Dakota |
| Preseason All-Summit League First Team | Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State |
| Preseason All-Summit League Second Team | Max Abmas, Oral Roberts |
| Preseason All-Summit League Second Team | Matt Dentlinger, South Dakota State |
| Preseason All-Summit League Second Team | Rocky Kreuser, North Dakota State |
| Preseason All-Summit League Second Team | Marlon Ruffin, Omaha |
| Preseason All-Summit League Second Team | Jase Townsend, Denver |

## Conference matrix

| | Denver | Kansas City | North Dakota | North Dakota State | Omaha | Oral Roberts | South Dakota | South Dakota State | Western Illinois |
| vs. Denver | – | 2−0 | 1−1 | 2−0 | 2−0 | 2−0 | 2−0 | 0−0 | 2−0 |
| vs. Kansas City | 0–2 | – | 1−1 | 1−1 | 0−2 | 1−1 | 2−0 | 2−0 | 0−0 |
| vs. North Dakota | 1−1 | 1−1 | – | 1−1 | 1−1 | 1−1 | 0−2 | 2−0 | 1−1 |
| vs. North Dakota State | 0−2 | 1−1 | 1−1 | – | 0−2 | 1−1 | 1−1 | 1−1 | 0−2 |
| vs. Omaha | 0−2 | 2−0 | 1−1 | 2−0 | – | 2−0 | 2−0 | 0−0 | 2−0 |
| vs. Oral Roberts | 0−2 | 1−1 | 1−1 | 1−1 | 0−2 | – | 1−0 | 1−1 | 0−2 |
| vs. South Dakota | 0−2 | 0−2 | 2−0 | 1−1 | 0−2 | 0−1 | – | 1−1 | 0−2 |
| vs. South Dakota State | 0−0 | 0−2 | 0−2 | 1−1 | 0−0 | 1−1 | 1−1 | – | 0−2 |
| vs. Western Illinois | 0−2 | 0−0 | 1−1 | 2−0 | 0−2 | 2−0 | 2−0 | 2−0 | – |
| Total | 1−13 | 7−7 | 8−8 | 11−5 | 3−11 | 10−5 | 11−4 | 9−3 | 5−9 |

## All-Summit League awards
### Summit League men's basketball weekly awards

| Week | Player(s) of the Week | School |
| Nov 30 | Marlon Ruffin | Omaha |
| Dec 7 | Baylor Scheierman | South Dakota State |
| Dec 14 | Stanley Umude (1) | South Dakota |
| Dec 21 | Kevin Obanor (1) | Oral Roberts |
| Dec 28 | Rocky Kreuser (1) | North Dakota State |
| Jan 4 | Kevin Obanor (2) | Oral Roberts |
| Jan 11 | Rocky Kreuser (2) | North Dakota State |
| Jan 18 | Jase Townsend | Denver |
| Jan 25 | Brandon McKissic | Kansas City |
| Feb 1 | Stanley Umude (2) | South Dakota |
| Feb 8 | Kevin Obanor (3) | Oral Roberts |
| Feb 15 | Max Abmas (1) | Oral Roberts |
| Feb 22 | A.J. Plitzuweit | South Dakota |
| Mar 1 | Max Abmas (2) | Oral Roberts |