Grand Opening of Lee & Penny Anderson Arena: Which Opponent Shows Up Looking to End the Nation's Longest Home Winning Streak?

[SelectionSunday]

An extensive, eclectic look at some potential opponents for St. Thomas when it opens their brand new arena, presumably the first week of the season (Nov. 3-9) . A decent share of these, obviously, are for fun (don't get your undies in a bundle), but let's see if one of these ends up being the opponent that shows up looking to end Division 1's longest active home winning streak. The Tommies and Saint John's share it at 18 consecutive. I have selected at least one team from every conference to cover all the bases.

In alphabetical order, with conference designation (and musings):

Akron (MAC): Best program in the MACtion.

Arkansas (SEC): The original "slickster" John Calipari loves the limelight. ... he could make the game all about him.

Army/Navy (Patriot): Either one, it would be cool to open with one of the armed services.

Chattanooga (SoCon): Defending regular-season conference champions & NIT champs.

Drake (Missouri Valley): Makes way too much sense.

Florida (SEC): Defending national champs bring "Boogie (Fland) Wonderland" to the Capitol City.

FGCU (ASUN): Dunk City was quite awhile ago now, but the Eagles have some name recognition and currently are Bart Torvik's (T-Rank) favorite to win the conference.

Grand Canyon (WAC limbo/Mountain West/Independent): Whatever the Lopes' playing status is for 2025-26, it'd be a coup to get them to Saint Paul.

High Point (Big South): NCAA qualifier and current conference favorite.

Idaho (Big Sky): Vandals are Torvik's current Sky favorite.

Iona (MAAC): The Gaels have made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances since 2000.

Jackson State (SWAC): If you must play a SWAC opponent (not recommended), play the likely favorite.

James Madison (Sun Belt): Current favorite & budding mid-major program.

Kansas (Big XII): I'd have Iowa State here, but the Cyclones non-conferennce slate already is full. So how about Bill Self? He's an affable dude, maybe he'd do a small-major a solid & make it a truly grand opening.

Liberty (Conference USA): NCAA qualifier & 2025-26 favorite, but I'd never be able to get that Liberty Mutual commercial out of my head while at the game.

Loyola-Chicago (A-10): Catholic school and a solid mid-major program coming off a NIT semifinal appearance.

McNeese (Southland): The Gangster has departed, so let's get a first-hand look at what the scraps look like.

Minnesota (Big Ten): Not gonna' happen, but locally would be a great way to kick off the college hoops season.

Nebraska (Big Ten): Former Tommie Kendall Blue (as a Cornhusker) gets his chance to play at the new arena, afterall.

New Haven (NEC): The Twin Cities could get a look at D1's newest hoops member.

Norfolk State (MEAC): Spartans will be gunning for their fourth NCAA tourney appearance in 6 seasons.

NC State (ACC): Who turns down Will "The Gangster" Wade & Tre Holloman visitng Saint Paul?

North Texas (American): A really good mid-major no matter who the coach.

Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley): See "Drake" above.

Oakland (Horizon): Grizzlies head coach Greg Kampe is a national treasure, and he always schedules well.

Princeton (Ivy): The Ivy League's brand name, despite Yale's recent dominance. The Princeton of the Summit League vs. the original Princeton. (wink, wink).

Queens (ASUN): Like the Tommies, eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2025-26.

Saint John's, MN (MIAC/D-3): If the Tommies can't find a willing D-1 foe, who'd say no to their former D-3 rival Johnnies?

Saint John's, NY (Big East): Legendary Rick Pitino & the Redmen could take care of that Tommies' home-court winning streak all by themselves.

Saint Mary's (WCC): Always in Gonzaga's shadow, always in the hunt for a NCAA Tournament bid (4 straight appearances), and always (except on 1 occasion) a first weekend exit.

San Diego State (Mountain West): Brian Dutcher returns to Minnesota.

San Francisco (WCC): When Gonzaga leaves the WCC after the 2025-26 season, the Dons will benefit the most. Really solid program that going forward has a chance to be a regular NCAA visitor.

Southeast Missouri State (OVC): Torvik's current conference favorite.

Tulsa (American): Former Tommie 1st-team All-Summit League guard Miles Barnstable will play his senior season for the Golden Hurricane.

UC-San Diego (Big West): UC-Riverside already is on UST slate, but NCAA qualifier UC-San Diego would be a better add. How about a home & home that takes UST to San Diego in 2026-27?

UNC-Wilmington (CAA): NCAA qualifier & Torvik's current 2025-26 CAA favorite.

UNLV (Mountain West): Not that good anymore, but still (kinda') a brand name.

Utah State (Mountain West): The most consistent non-Power 5 program not named Gonzaga or San Diego State with 5 NCAA appearances in the last 6 seasons (excluding 2020 scamdemic cancelation). And even then (2020), Aggies earned the MW automatic bid before March Madness was canceled.

Utah Valley (WAC): A rising program in a crumbling conference likely on its last legs.

Vermont (America East): The AE bell cow has been a highly successful small-major for a long time.

Wisconsin (Big Ten): UST roster has a significant Wisconsin flavor and, oh, the Badgers have former Tommie stud (and Virginia Cavalier) Andrew Rohde.

Xavier (Big East): Richard Pitino returns to Minnesota in his first season at X.

 

[Minnesconsin fan]

good list-- extensive is the correct word.
St Johns (NY) make it a home and home/back to back to test both home courts

I could see Richard Pitino bringing Xavier to town, just to poke the Gophers about not playing the Tommies. He's spiteful in a fun way

Liberty is one of the most conservative colleges in the country-- I'm not sure they would feel comfortable around some of the diversity the Twin Cities offers

Tulsa lost 8 players (last time I looked) - hard to tell what your gonna get from alot of teams in the first couple of games

Northern Iowa-- I would guess Coach Tauer and Coach Jacobson have known each other for years so this one has some real possibility behind it.

 

[SelectionSunday]

good list-- extensive is the correct word.
St Johns (NY) make it a home and home/back to back to test both home courts

I could see Richard Pitino bringing Xavier to town, just to poke the Gophers about not playing the Tommies. He's spiteful in a fun way

Liberty is one of the most conservative colleges in the country-- I'm not sure they would feel comfortable around some of the diversity the Twin Cities offers

Tulsa lost 8 players (last time I looked) - hard to tell what your gonna get from alot of teams in the first couple of games

Northern Iowa-- I would guess Coach Tauer and Coach Jacobson have known each other for years so this one has some real possibility behind it.

It would be a coup to get ANY Power 5 program, even a a crappy one like Boston College or DePaul, but in today's scheduling climate that's not happening.

On paper, Drake, Northern Iowa, Loyola-Chicago, Akron & Oakland would all make sense as respected Midwestern programs. Pretty much any team from the Missouri Valley, for that matter.