Abdimalik Mohamed, sports editor

Going into the 2024-25 season, the University of St. Thomas Tommies men’s basketball team was ranked fourth in the Summit League, continuing their previous streak of holding that position for the last two seasons. However, their season since then has led them to second place in the Summit League and a chance to compete for the Summit League Championship. Even though they can’t compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament until the 2025-26 season and their opponent in the championship game would get an automatic bid, don’t get it twisted that this isn’t still a huge moment for the Tommies program since they just joined Division I in the 2021-22 season. 

Nevertheless, head coach John Tauer is still keeping his players focused on the next game, telling FOX 9,  “Hungry and humble are two words we use a lot. Over the four years we went from a team that nobody in the country knew about, we talk about 31 Super Bowls,” Tauer said. “Those are the number of games we get guaranteed, and we’d be fools if we ever wasted one of them.” Tauer, a psychology professor who is in his 14th season at the University, knows how to push the right buttons as it pertains to rotations and adjustments and in his fourth year. Guard Miles Barnstable leads the team in scoring at 14.7 PPG and that includes a 28 point effort against South Dakota. Barnstable’s teammates aren’t chopped liver by any means either, with Drake Dobbs and Kendall Blue chipping in 12.1 and 11.9 PPG respectively. This team is definitely not one to be messed with going forward. The job that Tauer has done since the team joined the highest level of collegiate athletics is truly remarkable. 

The reason they can’t play in the NCAA tournament is because there is a five year provisional period on teams when they move up to the Division I level. However, there is movement on allowing the Tommies to play in the tournament in the 2025-26. There was a vote earlier this year to reduce the provisional period and it went the Tommies way. 

In a statement, University of St. Thomas Athletic Director Phil Esten said, “I want to thank the NCAA Division I Council for their support of a reduced provisional period for reclassifying institutions as it adopts contemporary thinking around this topic.” He also said, “The Strategic Vision and Planning Committee has detailed a modernized approach to reclassification and St. Thomas is both appreciative for their deliberate approach and optimistic about our bright future. This gives the Tommies a national stage on which we will continue our pursuit of comprehensive excellence while providing student-athletes with a transformative experience.” No doubt about it, the future for the Tommies is bright and we should savor every moment of this magical ride.