Can UST net more quality non-con opponents? (updated Aug. 25)

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SelectionSunday

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Can St. Thomas round up 3 or 4 non-conference opponents from last season's top 33% of Division 1? It'll be a tall task for Tommies coach Johnny Tauer to enhance the non-con slate, especially after UST's run to the 2025 Summit League Tournament championship game, not to mention the expectation that his squad will be one of the favorites -- if not THE favorite -- to win the 2026 Summit League championship.

Teams from the Power 5 as well as the American, Mountain West, and Atlantic 10 won't be in a rush to schedule UST, so it'll be interesting to see if Tauer can find a few takers. This season more than ever -- its first with NCAA Tournament eligibility -- the Tommies need to beef up the schedule to be fully battle tested for "3 days in March", the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls. That's the way of life in a mid-major/one-bid league. ... win your conference tournament or go home (no March Madness).

UST has 4 slots to fill on its non-conference schedule. Can they fill it with some of these NET top 122 opponents? They have 3 so far.

Confirmed NET Top 122 Opponents (3)
(1) #21 Saint Mary's -- season opener Nov. 3 in Moraga
(2) #112 Washington State -- Nov. 10 in Pullman
(3) #114 Northern Colorado -- Nov. 21 at neutral site (Portland)

These NET top 122 teams remain possibilities to fill the Tommies' non-conference schedule.

American
#65 North Texas
#106 UAB
#111 FAU

ACC
#81 Stanford
#90 Florida State

ASUN
#84 Lipscomb
#113 North Alabama

Atlantic 10
#31 VCU

B1G
#11 Michigan State
#63 Iowa

Big XII
#30 Baylor
#50 Cincinnati
#71 UCF

Big West
#35 UC-San Diego
#62 UC-Irvine
#104 Cal State Northridge

Ivy
#120 Cornell

Missouri Valley
#56 Drake
#93 Northern Iowa

Mountain West
#37 Utah State
#42 New Mexico
#52 San Diego State
#79 Nevada
#98 UNLV

WCC
#8 Gonzaga

SEC
#28 Ole Miss
#40 Arkansas
#48 Vanderbilt
#87 South Carolina

SoCon
#115 Chattanooga (NIT champion)
#116 Samford

Sun Belt
#94 Arkansas State
#99 Troy
 
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Saint Mary’s would be a great get. Non-con sked really needs a lift.

That’s the life of a good & rising mid-major program. … nobody wants to play you if you’re not an “easy out”.
 



Scratch off North Carolina, Georgetown, Indiana, UNC-Wilmington & Florida.
 








July 15 scratches --
Creighton
Saint John's
 
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jamtod said:
I would love to see a Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Saturday football hoops double header with a Pioneer League team. Gimme Drake or Butler or Valpo in football and basketball both!
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Great idea!! Whatever team travels the basketball team can hop on the football charter.. that would even save on travel costs..
 

Roland Brooks said:
Great idea!! Whatever team travels the basketball team can hop on the football charter.. that would even save on travel costs..
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November football games against Marist (home, November 1 - too early but Coach Maker connection), November 8th at Drake (this will be home vs Army now) and November 15th vs Presbyterian (we've played them on the women's side).
 

July 16 scratches --
Georgia
Mississippi State
Wisconsin
 
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MN Sports Nerd said:
So... does this UST opening in Moraga thing have steam?
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I'm starting to think it's possible if the Tommies play Saint Mary's in season opener it may be part of the (Jeff Goodman) "The Field of 68 Showcase" at the Sanford Pentagon.
 



July 23 scratches --
Alabama
Arizona State
Auburn
Colorado State
Kentucky
Rutgers
Alabama
Arizona State
Auburn
Colorado State
Kentucky
Rutgers
Villanova
 
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Still waiting for Saint Mary’s game to be announced.

A bunch of top 122 teams recently confirmed with full schedule & no Tommies.
 

I saw you tweeting about a potential Big Ten opponent in late December last week, is there any update on which teams that could be based on who has released a schedule?
 

MN Sports Nerd said:
I saw you tweeting about a potential Big Ten opponent in late December last week, is there any update on which teams that could be based on who has released a schedule?
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I heard a person I consider a reliable source mention late December. In my mind I kind of decided that meant it likely would be a game after Christmas & right before Summit League play.

These Big Ten schools have not released a non-conference schedule & have no previously reported non-conference games scheduled after Christmas. The number of unknown opponents missing from their non-conference slate is noted in parentheses:

Illinois (1)
Iowa (2)
Michigan (3)
Michigan State (3)
Northwestern (2)
Oregon (4)
UCLA (2)
USC (3)

If I were a betting man, and if a Big Ten opponent on the Tommies schedule comes to fruition, I'd guess Oregon or Michigan State.
 
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SelectionSunday said:
Saint Mary’s would be a great get. Non-con sked really needs a lift.

That’s the life of a good & rising mid-major program. … nobody wants to play you if you’re not an “easy out”.
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As a fan of the Gophers first, I am worried we missed our opportunity to slap these guys around for a few years.
 


Updated August 3:

Update on the potential post-Christmas Big Ten opponent.

It would be down to these 5:
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
UCLA
USC
 
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