University of St. Thomas Athletics
South Dakota
Game Notes - Men’s Basketball continues home stand in inaugural game against South Dakota
1/21/2022 2:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. Paul - Minn. - The St. Thomas men's basketball team welcomes the University of South Dakota on Saturday, as the Tommies are looking to stop a two-game skid and return to .500 on the season.
Through the first 17 games of the season, St. Thomas has three scorers averaging double-digits, led by senior G Riley Miller who is averaging 17.0 points per game and shooting 43 percent from behind the arc, connecting on 68-of-160 three point attempts. Fellow senior G Anders Nelson is averaging 16.8 points per game and senior F Parker Bjorklund (13.7 points per game) rounds out the top scorers for the Purple.
As a team, the Tommies are averaging 78.6 points per game and connecting on 46 percent of their shots from the field and 39 percent from behind the arc. Additionally, St. Thomas has dished out 250 assists and committed only 129 turnovers
Corbu Stathes will call the game live from Skor North radio, on 1500 a.m.
Historic Season
After 112 seasons as a small-college, NAIA and Division III men's basketball program, St. Thomas started its Division I era last Tuesday night at Chicago State. The Cougars topped the Tommies and spoiled their D-I debut, 77-72. Four days later, St. Thomas picked up its first win as a Division I program over St. Francis College with a 91-73 score.
Best of the Best
Due to its reclassification status, St. Thomas and its student-athletes are not reflected in the NCAA's individual or team rankings, but Senior G Riley Miller would be 5th in NCAA Division I in made 3-pointers (68). Miller has made 68-of-160 three-point attempts this season and averages a team-best 17.0 points.
Scouting the Yotes
The University of South Dakota enters the contest with a 10-7 record and a 3-3 mark in conference action. Most recently, the Yotes picked up their third Summit League win, 105-70, over Omaha.
Through the first 17 games of the season, USD has three scorers averaging double-digits, led by Kruz Perrott-Hunt who is averaging 14.5 points per game and shooting 39 percent from behind the arc, connecting on 30-of-78 three point attempts. Mason Archambault is averaging 13.5 points per game and Xavier Fuller (12.8 points per game) rounds out the top scorers for the Coyotes.
As a team, the Yotes are averaging 73.8 points per game and connecting on 45 percent of their shots from the field and 34 percent from behind the arc. Additionally, South Dakota has dished out 197 assists and committed 185 turnovers.
In their most recent win, Archambault scored a career-high 25 points, South Dakota made a Division I era-record 17 three-pointers and the Coyotes cruised to a 105-70 win against Omaha.
Upper Echelon of the Conference
As the Tommies enter their first Summit League games, they are towards the top of a handful of statistic across the conference.
Below are the top-five team and individual rankings and statistics for all games by the 10 conference schools this season.
Rank Category Stat
Team
1st Three-Point Field Goals Made 13.5 per game
3rd Three-Point Field Goal Percentage .393
3rd Scoring Margin +7.1 points per game
4th Field Goal Percentage .455
4th Scoring Offense 78.6 points per game
5th Scoring Defense 71.5 points per game
5th Free-Throw Percentage .726
Individual
1st Three-Point Field Goal Percentage R. Lindberg, .500
1st Three-Point Field Goals Made R. Miller 4.3 per game
1st Assist To Turnover Ratio A. Nelson, 2.1
2nd Three-Point Field Goal Percentage R. Miller, .425
2nd Scoring R. Miller, 17.0
3rd Free Throw Percentage R. Miller, .857
3rd Field Goal Percentage A. Nelson, .449
4th Scoring A. Nelson, 16.8
4th Assists per game A. Nelson, 3.6
4th Three-Point Field Goals Made R. Lindberg 2.7 per game
SDSU Recap
The St. Thomas Men's Basketball team (8-9, 2-3) led for 60 percent of the game, holding a seven-point lead on two separate occasions, but can't overcome a strong finish from South Dakota State (16-4, 7-0), falling 92-77.
With the game tied at 72-72, a missed opportunity for an old-fashioned three-point play from St. Thomas ignited a 20-5 run by SDSU keeps them a perfect 7-0 in Summit League action and atop the conference standings.
The Tommies raced out to a 13-6 lead through the first six minutes of the contest. 12 of the first 16 St. Thomas came in the paint. The Jackrabbits took their first lead of the game very briefly, 26-24 with 7:30 to play in the first half.
The Purple responded and immediately tied the game at 26-26 and ended the first half on a 16-9 run to open up a 40-25 lead heading into intermission, despite shooting only 29 percent (-of-17) from behind the arc compared to a 45 percent (5-of-11) shooting clip from deep by SDSU.
The St. Thomas defense forced seven first-half turnovers by South Dakota State, while the Tommies recorded three steals. As a team, St. Thomas made 49 percent (16-of-33) of its shots from the field, while South Dakota State connected on 52 percent (13-of-25) of its shots from the floor in the first 20 minutes.
The Tommies opened up a seven-point lead, matching their largest lead of the game, 56-49 with just over 15 minutes to play, before the Jackrabbits went on a 9-0 run to take their third lead of the game, 58-56 with 13:30 to play after knocking down three consecutive threes. Grad student G Ryan Lindberg stopped the run with a three-point shot of his own to give the Purple a 59-58 lead with 12:30 to play.
Lindberg hit a huge three-point bucket to tie the game at 72-72 with 5:52 to play. Shortly after the made three-pointer Miller was driving to the lane and fouled in what should have been a made basket and an and-one attempt, but the official ruled the foul on the floor – Miller missed the free throw attempt and SDSU capitalized on the momentum.
Over the final five minutes of play, SDSU connected on 8-of-9 shots from the field, while St. Thomas connected on only 1-of-9 in the same timeframe after a 14-day COVID layoff. The Jackrabbits ended the game on a 20-5 run to capture the 92-77 win.
As a team, St. Thomas connected on 29-of-63 (46 percent) of its shots from the field, 14-of-34 (41 percent) from behind the arc and committed only seven turnovers, while forcing SDSU to commit 12 turnovers. The Jackrabbits shot a blistering 64 percent (30-of-47) from the field and 55 percent (11-of-20) from behind the arc. Five Tommies scored double digits, led by Lindberg with 18 points. Joining him were Nelson (13), Miller (12), grad student G Burt Hedstrom (11), and Bjorklund (11).
Effectively Efficient
The Tommies are the only team in NCAA Men's basketball each of the past three seasons to average 80-plus points per game, fewer than 10 turnovers per game, and 10-plus made three-point shots per game.
The Purple is continuing on that trajectory 17 games into their D-I tenure, averaging 78.6 points per game, 13.5 made three-point shots per game and 7.5 turnovers per game.
He's the Coach
Dr. Johnny Tauer's has an overall record of 226-59 17 games into his 11th season. His first 10 Tommie teams compiled a 218-50 overall mark (.813 win clip). A two-time National Coach of the Year in D-III, Tauer guided the 2016 Toms to the D-III national championship. 17 games into the D-I era, Coach Tauer has led him team to an 8-9 record with a 3-3 record on the Summit League circuit.
Tauer's winning percentage ranks in the top five of all 1,000-plus NCAA men's head coaches – in fact he is the only NCAA men's hoops coach at any level with both an NCAA championship trophy and a winning percentage above .800.
Sports Illustrated Says
The SI preseason ranking of all 358 Division I men's teams put the Tommies at No. 274. "If you're looking for a fun story to track this year, how about St. Thomas? The Tommies are the first men's team in nearly 30 years to jump directly from D-III to D-I, becoming the second D-I program in Minnesota. Coach Johnny Tauer has a PhD in social psychology, is a tenured member of the St. Thomas faculty and runs the Princeton offense."
Last Season
The 2020-21 Tommies went 7-0 in a Covid shortened season with several highlights:
• They finished ranked No. 2 in the final Division III national poll
• They ranked second among all NCAA men's basketball teams in 2020-21 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.91)
• They averaged 83 points a game, including 12.4 made threes a contest converted at a .403 clip
• They shot 51 percent from the floor and averaged only 8.2 turnovers a game
Tommie Talk
The good news is that Tauer returns 96 percent of last season's points, rebounds and assists -- he brings back all five starters and four other contributors off the bench from the program's final season in Division III.
The flip side is that St. Thomas will likely come into this season at or near the bottom of any team list of most returning Division I points. The three transfers coming on board combined for 100 points, 56 rebounds and seven assists last season at their previous D-I teams. In all, Tauer's roster has two true freshmen, three transfers and nine returners.
The Purple's starting five coming back includes two graduate students in their fifth seasons, G-F Burt Hedstrom and G Ryan Lindberg, plus senior guards Anders Nelson and Riley Miller, and senior Parker Bjorklund. Miller made D-III All-America last season. Hedstrom made the elite CoSIDA Academic All-America team.
Here's a look at each Tommie player's career D-III stats and 2021-22 stats:
No. 1 Kevin Cunningham: Senior guard…2021-22: Played in all 17 games with one start...averages 19.5 minutes per game, 6.1 points per game and 2.1 rebounds each contest...D-III: played in 49 games totaling 160 points
No. 2 Ben Nau: Freshman guard...2021-22: Played in all 17 games...averages 12.2 minutes per game and on average, contributes 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per contest.
No. 3 Zach Theisen: Senior guard…2021-22: Played in eight games...averages 1.5 points in 6.1 minutes per game...D-III: played in 47 games totaling 177 points.
No. 4 Anders Nelson: Senior guard…2021-22: Started all 17 games...averages 29.9 minutes per game...averages 16.8 points per game, has a league-best 2.1 assist to turnover ratio...D-III: played 65 games totaling 1,005 points and 295 rebounds… 2019 Named to MIAC All-First-Year Team, MIAC First Team All-conference, D3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year, and West Region Rookie of the Year… 2020 repeat all-conference and second-team All-Region by both the NABC and D3Hoops.com
No. 5 Parker Bjorklund: Senior forward…2021-22: Started all 11 games he's played...averages 25.9 minutes per game played...contributes an average of 13.7 points per game in addition to 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game...Was St. Thomas student but didn't play varsity sports in freshman and sophomore seasons...D-III: started in all six of the games he played in 2020-21, scored 79 points and secured 34 total rebounds.
No. 10 Riley Miller: Senior guard…2021-22: Started all 16 games he's played this season...averages a team-high 32.2 minutes per contest...averages a team-best 17.0 points per game...shoots 42.5 percent from behind the arc...has a 2.9 assist to turnover ration through 16 games...D3Hoops.com All-America last season...D-III: in 65 career games made 102 baskets from 3-point range at a 45 percent clip, with a near 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio with 161 assists to go with 525 points.
No. 20 Courtney Brown, Jr.: Junior forward…2021-22: Has not appeared in a game...Transfer from UW Milwaukee, where he played 45 games in two seasons.
No. 22 Burt Hedstrom: Graduate student guard, CoSIDA Academic All-America…2021-22: Started all 17 games...averages 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game...D-III: in 91 career games recorded 710 points, 385 rebounds and 151 assists, with 138 made 3-pointers at a 41-percent clip.
No. 23 Will Engels: Junior forward…2021-22: Played in 13 games...averages 11.2 minutes per game and contributes 2.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest...D-III: played in 29 games totaling 156 points and securing 82 rebounds.
No. 24 Ryan Lindberg: Graduate student guard…2021-22: Started all 17 games...averages 30.1 minutes per contest...averages 9.8 points and 1.4 assists per game...through 17 games, has a 2.4 assist to turnover ration...D-III: started 72 games and in 84 career games made 144 baskets from 3-point range, and recorded 623 points, 160 rebounds, 139 assists with just 44 turnovers.
No. 31 Brooks Allen: Junior forward…2021-22: Played all 17 games with six starts...averages 22.8 minutes per contest...contributes 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game...D-III: played in 12 games.
No. 32 Dom Martinelli: Sophomore Guard…2021-22: Played in two games for the Tommies...transfer from Northwestern, where he played in four games.
No. 33 Bennett Kwiecinski: Sophomore forward…2021-22: Played in five games for the Tommies...averages 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game...transfer from Siena, where he played in nine games.
Tommie Player Career Highs
#1 Kevin Cunningham: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
#2 Ben Nau: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
#3 Zach Theisen: 14 Points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 4 Steals
#4 Anders Nelson: 42 Points, 11 Rebounds, 11 Assists, 6 Steals
#5 Parker Bjorklund: 21 Points, 12 Rebounds, 6 assists
#10 Riley Miller: 30 Points, 6 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 4 Steals
#20 Courtney Brown, Jr.: 15 Points, 8 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 2 Steals (UW-Milwaukee)
#22 Burt Hedstrom: 18 Points, 13 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 3 Steals
#23 Will Engels: 17 Points, 9 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Steals
#24 Ryan Lindberg: 24 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 2 Steals
#31 Brooks Allen: 16 Points, 11 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Steals
#32 Dom Martinelli: 10 Points, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 0 Steals (Northwestern/St. Thomas)
#33 Bennett Kwiecinski: 8 Points, 6Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steal (Sienna/St. Thomas)
Unprecedented Move
St. Thomas is the first NCAA institution to move all of its athletics teams directly from Division III to D-I in one season.
Tommie teams have begun competing in four conferences across all 21 sports:
• The Summit League (18 sports)
• The Pioneer Football League
• Western Collegiate Hockey Association for women's hockey
• Central Collegiate Hockey Association for men's hockey
D-III Chapter and Tradition
• Program's all-time D-III record: 1,722-863; had third most wins of any D-III program before it moved into D-I this season
• 2 NCAA DIII championships (2011, 2016)
• 4 NCAA Division III Final Fours
• The program posted winning seasons in 40 of last 41 years
• Qualified for 14 of the last 15 NCAA Tournaments
• MIAC Champions 14 of the last 15 seasons
• Finished 1st or 2nd out of 400 D-III schools in fewest turnovers for three-consecutive seasons
• NCAA D-III Tournament appearances in 20 of last 31 seasons
• Conference regular-season champions 34 times (12 in row from 2006-2017)
• Johnny Tauer name National Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016
• Steve Fritz named National Coach of the Year in 2011
• 47 MIAC championships (34 regular-season)
• 21 MIAC playoff appearances in row (league record), qualified 33 of 36 seasons format in place
• 4 30-win seasons since 2009
• 8 D3Hoops.com All-America honors (2002-2021)
• 6 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
• 10 of the 31 MIAC Player of the Year honors, 16 of the 31 MIAC Coach of the Year honors
