USF Bets on Defense After Madson Exit
Chris Johnson's Coyotes plan a defense-first season after losing leading scorer Brogan Madson to St. Thomas via the transfer portal.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
The University of South Dakota men's basketball team enters the season with a defense-oriented approach after Brogan Madson, who averaged 19.1 points per game last season, transferred to St. Thomas. USF went 15-15 last season while averaging 85.5 points per game.
Why it matters
Coach Chris Johnson believes last season's team had to outscore opponents to win, and he is betting that improved defense can offset the loss of Madson's scoring. The shift tests whether a rebuilt roster can win in a lower-scoring style.
Last season USF went 15-15 while averaging 85.5 points and allowing 85.0, with opponents shooting 49 percent. Returning scorers Taylen Ashley (16.0 points) and Kyle Ingwerson (13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds) are the team's main offensive options heading into the season.
The players
Chris Johnson
Johnson is the head coach of the University of South Dakota men's basketball program, with a career record of 298-227.
Brogan Madson
Madson is a former USF guard who averaged 19.1 points per game last season before transferring to St. Thomas.
The details
Johnson did not bring in a large group of transfers this offseason, relying instead on returning players Taylen Ashley, Kyle Ingwerson, Jacoby Mehrman, Alex Mattes and Gerard Bosch. Madson has played seven minutes and scored two points in St. Thomas's first three games.
Timeline
Last season: USF went 15-15 in a high-scoring, shootout style.
Monday: USF opens its season at Upper Iowa.
January: Johnson says the team's true strength will become clear.
Season Trajectory
Mid-major programs have increasingly faced roster turnover through the NCAA transfer portal, forcing coaches to rebuild around returning players. USF's pivot to defense reflects that broader pattern as the Coyotes try to replace a 19-point scorer.
The defensive pivot changes what Sioux Falls fans should watch for, since the Coyotes will need stops rather than scoring bursts to win close games. Ashley and Ingwerson will carry the scoring load, making their production the key number to track through the season.
The takeaway
A team that cannot outscore its opponents has to win on the other end of the floor. Watch USF's defensive numbers in the early games, since opponents' 49 percent shooting from last season is the figure Johnson most needs to change.
What happens next
USF opens its season Monday at Upper Iowa, and Johnson expects the team's true strength to be clear by January.
Further reading
For more on the program's season, see Basketball coverage from Sioux Falls.
