Program Outlook

The Tommies, who started playing an official varsity intercollegiate basketball schedule in 1904, rank fifth among NCAA Division III schools in all-time victories with 1,421 in 99 seasons. They’ve received nine NCAA tournament berths over the past 19 seasons, including a Division III Final Four trip in 1994.

The Tommies have won 24 MIAC conference titles, including 13 since 1981, when Steve Fritz began his head coaching tenure. Fritz’ career record is 511-237. In January 2004 he became the school's all-time leader in basketball wins among coaches. He ranks third all-time among MIAC coaches in victories and 12th among active Division III mentors.

Under Fritz, St. Thomas has been the most consistently successful team in the MIAC with just one losing season in 28 years. Since the 1985 creation of the postseason conference tournament, St. Thomas has qualified a MIAC-leading 21 times in 24 years, and won eight championships in that span.

The 2007-08 Tommies stunned Division II power Winona State in overtime in perhaps the biggest upset by an MIAC team in the last 40 seasons. St. Thomas will return its top 10 players from that team which finished 23-5 and swept the conference regular-season and playoff titles.

The 1994-95 Tommies are the lone team in MIAC history to finish 20-0 in the conference race. That team started the season had a conference-record 27-game win streak and finished 27-1.

In both 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08, the Tommies won both the MIAC regular-season and postseason crowns and advanced to the NCAA playoffs. Center Isaac Rosefelt became the first MIAC player to become a two-time first-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

The Toms placed 21-6 in 2002-03 and won the MIAC regular-season championship. In 2001-02, the Tommies swept the MIAC regular-season and postseason championships and reached the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Senior guard Mark Buri was named second-team All-American by d3hoops.com.

The Tommies have about 30 players on their varsity and junior-varsity teams. They play in the 2,200-seat Schoenecker Arena on campus. Their challengers include a special rivalry with St. John’s University. They also regularly travel out west or our east for a November tournament. The 2004-05 Tommies played an exhibition game at Williams Arena against the Division I Minnesota Gophers.