Deborah Walker
Dec 20, 2023 - 08:05

Get to Know Marquette Basketball Opponent St. Thomas: Key Matchup Insights

UST is named after Thomas Aquinas. Founded in 1885, they're now in Division 1 after getting kicked out of the MIAC.

The University of St. Thomas, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, was founded in 1885 by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis as a Catholic seminary known as the College of St. Thomas. It was later separated from the seminary and became a traditional college, while the seminary remained on the same campus. The university achieved university status in 1990. The main campus is located at St. Paul's Summit Avenue, which was formerly a farm site. Notable alumni include actor T.R. Knight, Pro Football Hall of Famer Walt Kiesling, and John Schneider, the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks.

The university's transition to Division 1 athletics was due to its exceptional performance in Division 3 football. They were also about twice the size of the next biggest school in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). This led to their removal from the MIAC and their subsequent move to Division 1. The university's nickname is "Tommies," and they were picked to finish fourth in the Summit League this year. They have a current record of 6-4, with a 5-4 mark against Division 1 competition.

The team is known for its impressive three-point shooting, with a 35% shooting percentage from behind the arc. However, they lack size in their lineup, with only a few players over 6'7". The head coach, Dr. Johnny Tauer, is also a tenured faculty member at UST and has a record of 34-37 as a Division 1 head coach. The team's slow-paced playing style ranks them as the fourth slowest team in the country in adjusted tempo.

In terms of their upcoming game against Marquette, their lack of size may pose a challenge for St. Thomas, and Marquette may have an advantage in rebounding. Despite being a recent addition to Division 1, St. Thomas has a historical series with Marquette, with Marquette leading 8-3 in the all-time series.