SJU Basketball - Edition 1 2022-23

DEERWOOD BANK PRESENTS SEASON PREVIEW

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – There are a couple of big holes to fill, but the Saint John’s University basketball team returns the core of a group that finished 23-5 and won the program’s second-straight MIAC regular-season title and third-straight postseason championship a year ago.

The 2022-23 Johnnies will be led by three returning starters in senior post Mitchell Plombon (St. Cloud, Minn./ Cathedral), junior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./ Eastview) and sophomore guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.).

Thissen led his team in scoring a year ago, averaging 13 points per game. Vaughn was second with an average of 11.6. Plombon ranked fourth with an average of nine points per game.

SJU will need to find a replacement for longtime standout Zach Hanson ’21, an All-MIAC and all-region post, as well as starting point guard Colton Codute ’21.

But senior post Carson Schoeller (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake High School), who came off the bench to hit four 3-pointers and finish with 16 points in last season’s MIAC championship game, returns. He averaged 6.2 points per game a year ago

The 2022-23 season is the eighth for head coach Pat McKenzie ’04, who earned his second MIAC Coach of the Year award last year. He currently owns a 137-36 career record (100-24 MIAC).

HERE’S A LOOK AT THE 2022-23 JOHNNIES:

TEAM LEADER RETURNS

Thissen shot 52 percent (145-for-279) from the field and led the Johnnies in scoring (13.0 ppg.) en route to earning 2021-22 All-MIAC second-team honors. He started all 28 games and also finished third in assists (61) and rebounding (4.5 rpg.). Thissen shot 62.5 percent (20-for-32) overall and averaged a team-best 14.7 points in the three MIAC-tournament wins.

Off the court, Thissen earned the MIAC Elite 22 Award, which is presented to the individual with the highest GPA among the student-athletes who played in the MIAC Playoff Championship game.

FRESHMAN STANDOUT

Vaughn earned All-MIAC third-team honors and was also named to the five-man MIAC All-First Year team last season. He started all 28 games and reached double figures in 16 contests, including a career-high 27 points on five three-pointers Feb. 9 at St. Olaf. Vaughn broke SJU's single-season record for three-pointers made by a freshman - 53 by Chris Schwartz '11 in 2007-08with 70 and finished second on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg.). In MIAC play, Vaughn led the league in three-pointers (55) and was second, among those with 90 attempts or more, at 43.3 percent (55-for-127) from behind the arc, while leading SJU in scoring (13.1 ppg.) and from the freethrow line (89.1 percent, 41-for-46).

POST PAIR

Two senior posts, Plombon and Carson Schoeller (Prior Lake, Minn.), return in the paint for SJU in 2022-23. Plombon played 20 games, with 18 starts, a year ago and averaged 9.0 points per game, while shooting 52.0 percent (79-for-152) from the field. He also finished second on the team in rebounding (4.6 rpg.) and collected two-double doubles.

Schoeller shot 52.9 percent (64-for-121) from the field and 46.3 percent (25-for-54) from three-point range last season, while averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He played 26 games, with six starts, and recorded a career-high 20 points, thanks to four three-pointers, Jan. 29 at Concordia-Moorhead.

Junior Ethan Youso (Gilbert, Minn./Virginia) is also expected to contribute in 2022-23 following an injury-plagued season a year ago. He appeared in 12 games and totaled 21 points and 22 rebounds in 93 minutes of play.

GUARD HELP

The guard duo of junior Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) and sophomore Zach Longueville (Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) provided key minutes and energy off the bench last season. Berg played all 28 games (three starts) and averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest, and shot 56.5 percent (61-for-108) from the field, including 45.5 percent (10-for-22) from beyond the arc. He posted a

SEASON PREVIEW CONTINUED

career-high 15 points in the MIAC-Championship win vs. Macalester. Longueville appeared in 15 games and shot 42.6 percent (20-for-47) from long range off the bench.

(Nov. 16). The Johnnies’ five non-conference opponents combined for a .654 winning percentage (87-46 record) last season. Four of the five were regionally ranked a year ago.

MIAC play begins with a pair of road games at St. Olaf (Nov. 19) and Gustavus Adolphus (Nov. 22), before the Johnnies welcome two consecutive opponents to Collegeville in St. Scholastica (Nov. 30) and Augsburg (Dec. 3).

SJU ended the 2022 calendar year with four straight road games, including the final two non-conference games Dec. 20-21 in Spokane, Wash. The Johnnies face host Whitworth, which went 22-5 and made the NCAA Tournament last season, in the opener and take on Linfield (Ore.) the following day.

HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE

The 2022-23 season is the 50th for SJU in the Warner Palaestra/Sexton Arena, where the Johnnies boast a 449148 (.752) all-time record, including a 52-7 (.881) mark over the last five years.

THE 2022-23 SCHEDULE

Although the 2022-23 schedule is bookended by road games, four of SJU’s first seven games are at home and eight of the final 14 games will be played in Sexton Arena. The season starts Nov. 8 with a matchup at a fellow NCAA Division III Tournament team in 2021-22, Wisconsin-La Crosse, before SJU hosts back-to-back games against Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Nov. 12) and Buena Vista of Iowa

Then after the new year, SJU makes a trip to Winona to face Saint Mary’s on Jan. 7 before moving on to a threegame homestand against Concordia-Moorhead (Jan. 11), Bethel (Jan. 14) and Carleton (Jan. 16). The Johnnies follow two straight road trips with five of the regular season’s last eight games in Collegeville, including Alumni and Senior Day Feb. 11 against Saint Mary’s.

The MIAC quarterfinals are set for Tuesday, Feb. 21, and the MIAC semifinals follow on Thursday, Feb. 23. The MIAC championship game, with the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament on the line, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25. The high seed hosts in all three rounds.

Johnnies

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PAT MCKENZIE

A 2004 SJU graduate, Pat McKenzie is in his eighth season as head coach of the Johnnies in 2022-23.

He became the 15th head coach in the 113-year history of Johnnie basketball on April 15th, 2015, and replaced Jim Smith who retired following 51 seasons at SJU.

2016-17 SEASON

The Johnnies posted a 19-9 record (13-7 MIAC) and earned their 24th trip to the conference playoffs, advancing to the MIAC Playoff Championship game for the first time since 2006-07, during McKenzie’s second season as head coach in 2016-17.

2014-15 SEASON

2021-22 SEASON

The Johnnies (23-5, 17-2 MIAC) won their second consecutive MIAC regular-season championship (10th overall) and third consecutive MIAC Playoff title (eighth overall) in 2021-22. SJU made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in a row and ended the regular season ranked No. 24 nationally.

2019-20 SEASON

He led SJU to a 27-2 record (19-1 MIAC), which tied the program record for single-season wins (1978-79), its ninth MIAC regular-season title, seventh MIAC Playoff championship and third consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2019-20. The Johnnies advanced to the third round (Sweet 16) of the NCAA Tournament, but the season abruptly ended with the NCAA’s cancellation of all winter and spring championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 27 wins served as the program’s 13th 20-win season.

2018-19 SEASON

McKenzie led SJU to a 23-5 record (17-3 MIAC), the MIAC Playoff championship, and second consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2018-19.

2017-18 SEASON

SJU became just the sixth team to tally a 19-1 MIAC record or better in 2017-18 and was the eighth team to win the regular-season title by four games or more since the league moved to a 20-game conference schedule in 198384. The Johnnies won 16 consecutive games during the 2017-18 season, their longest win streak since they won 27 straight in 1978-79.

McKenzie completed his ninth season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2014-15. The Johnnies recorded the second-most wins (110) in conference play during McKenzie’s nine-year tenure as an assistant. He coached 14 All-MIAC first-team selections and the team finished fifth or better (out of 11 teams) in the MIAC standings eight of the nine seasons.

PAST EXPERIENCE

As a collegiate player, McKenzie manned the point-guard position as a four-year letter-winner for the Johnnies from 2000-04. He led the MIAC in assists as a senior and was a member of the Johnnies’ NCAA Division III Sweet 16 team as a freshman in 2000-01. McKenzie is currently seventh in SJU history with 305 career assists.

McKenzie returned to Collegeville after two seasons as director of basketball operations at Division I WisconsinGreen Bay from 2004-06.

PERSONAL

McKenzie’s father, Pat ‘79, was a point guard on four national-tournament teams at SJU from 1975-79 and younger brother, Kevin ‘14, also played point guard for the Johnnies from 2010-14.

McKenzie and his wife, Jillian (CSB ‘09), reside in Sartell, and have two daughters, Evelyn and Margaret, and a son, Patrick.

JOHNNIES

NO. NAME YR. POS. HT. WT. HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

1 Kyle Johnson Fr. G 6-2 185 Prior Lake, Minn./DeLaSalle

2 Zach Longueville So. G 6-2 180 Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran

3 Blake Berg Jr. G 6-4 205 West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne

4 Brandon Adelman Jr. G 6-4 185 New London, Minn./New London-Spicer

5 J.T. Gaffney Jr. W 6-7 200 Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka

10 Luke Healy So. G 6-0 180 Hudson, Wis./Hudson

11 Mitchell Plombon Sr. P 6-7 215 St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

12 Nick Bartlett Fr. G 6-2 170 Ham Lake, Minn./Forest Lake

13 Ethan Youso Jr. P 6-7 220 Gilbert, Minn./Virginia

14 Kooper Vaughn So. G 6-1 180 St. Charles, Minn./St. Charles

15 Austin Wetter Jr. W 6-7 195 Monticello, Minn./Monticello

20 Andrew Wagner So. G 6-0 175 Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey

21 Griffin Rushin So. W 6-8 185 Baxter, Minn./Brainerd

22 Elijah Sutton Jr. W 6-5 190 Dover, Pa./Dover

24 Ryan Thissen Jr. W 6-6 210 Rosemount, Minn./Eastview

25 Thomas Menk Fr. G 6-4 200 Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura

31 Erik Hedstrom Fr. P 6-5 225 Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria

32 Connor Schwob Jr. W 6-5 200 Waconia, Minn./Waconia

33 Brady Spaulding Fr. P 6-7 215 Annandale, Minn./Annandale

35 Luke Budzyn So. W 6-7 195 St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge

40 Andrew Nerud So. P 6-8 230 Elko New Market, Minn./New Prague

41 Carson Schoeller Sr. P 6-9 230 Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake

42 Sam Olson Sr. G 6-3 190 Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori

43 Mitchell Degen Fr. W 6-5 205 Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd

54 Danny McGraw Jr. P 6-6 240 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

MITCHELL PLOMBON &

Mitchell Plombon and Carson Schoeller each had older players who reached out to lend a helping hand when they first joined the Saint John’s University basketball program: Schoeller as a freshman out of Prior Lake High School prior to the 2019-2020 season and Plombon as a transfer from Division II Winona State later that

we left on a trip to Oregon. In our first game out there (head coach) Pat (McKenzie) threw me in for a couple of minutes. I was kind of lost. So having a guy like Lucas around made a big difference.”

“For me, that guy was (All-MIAC post) Lucas Walford,” recalls the 6-foot-7, 215-pound Plombon, a senior post and a graduate of St. Cloud Cathedral High School. “He did such a good job of taking me under his wing and helping me figure out what was going on offensively

Flash forward a couple of years, and Plombon and Schoeller now both find themselves taking on new roles as veteran mentors. Especially following the graduation of team leaders like post Zach Hanson ’21 (who averaged 11.5 points and a team-best 5.6 rebounds per game last season) and guard Colton Codute ’22 (who had a team-best 44 assists).

“When I transferred, I didn’t expect to play right away. I knew they had a great team and I expected to just learn my first year. I think my first practice was on Dec. 14. A few days later,

“I really learned a lot from those guys,” said Schoeller, a 6-foot9, 230-pound senior post, who averaged 6.2 points per game coming largely off the bench a year ago. “Now it’s time for some of us to step up and fill the roles they played.

“One of my individual goals for this year is to push myself into situations where I’m not necesarrily

“Now it’s time for some of us to step up and fill the roles they played”

comfortable. Taking on a leadership role is something new to me. But I think doing it will help me build skills that will be valuable not just on the basketball court, but as I go on in life.”

Perhaps Schoeller’s most memorable moment at SJU came in last season’s MIAC championship game when he finished with 16 points – including four huge 3-pointers – as SJU rallied to defeat Macalester 75-71 to earn its thirdstraight conference postseason title.

It’s a performance he’d like to replicate more often this season.

“That was one of those games when everything went well and it showed me the level I’m capable of playing at,” said Schoeller, an accounting major who is also a member of the Active Minds Club on campus – a group that works to foster discussion about mental health issues.

“One of my goals this year is to make that a more consistent thing.”

Plombon, meanwhile, averaged 9 points and 4.6 rebounds in what was essentially his first full season as a starter a year ago. He did start all seven games for the Johnnies in the COVID-19 abbreviated season in early 2021.

“I looked pretty closely at Saint John’s coming out of high school,” said Plombon, a global business leadership major. “I’d been coming out here to camps since I was a kid. It was a really tough decision. But even though it didn’t work out, I don’t regret going to Winona State because that experience has helped me appreciate what I have here at Saint John’s even more.”

And what the Johnnies have this year is an excellent shot at another conference title and their fifthstraight trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Counting Plombon and Schoeller, the team returns four of its top six scorers from a year ago.

“We really feel like we can make a run at another conference

SENIORS & JUNIORS

PRESENTED BY WEIDNER’S MECHANICAL

42

Sam Olson

Sr. | G | 6-3 | 190 | Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori

Personal: Transferred to SJU from Ridgewater…a 2018 graduate of Rocori High School…coached by Nate Guetter ’99… Sociology major…son of Jeff and Mary Jo Olson of Cold Spring, Minn.

4 Brandon Adelman

Jr. | G | 6-4 | 185 | New London, Minn./New London-Spicer

2021-22: Played two games…totaled two points and two rebounds in three minutes of play.

Personal: Transferred to SJU during the 2021-22 holiday break from Division II St. Cloud State…a 2019 graduate of New London-Spicer High School…coached by Chad Schmiesing…Global Business Leadership major…son of Cheryl and Dean Adelman of New London, Minn.

3 Blake Berg

Jr. | G | 6-4 | 205 | West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne

2021-22: Played all 28 games for the Johnnies with three starts…averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds…shot 56.5 percent (61-108) from the field and 45.5 percent (10-22) from three-point range.

2020-21: Appeared in four games for the Johnnies…collected four points and five rebounds in 28 minutes of play.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of West Fargo (N.D.) Sheyenne High School…coached by Thomas Kirchoffner…Global Business Leadership major…son of Kyle and Connie Berg of West Fargo, N.D.

5 J.T. Gaffney

Jr. | W | 6-7 | 200 | Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka

2021-22: Played three games…scored five points in 14 minutes of play...Academic All-MIAC. 2020-21: Appeared in one game for the Johnnies…scored two points in four minutes of play.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Minnetonka High School…coached by Bryce Tesdahl…previously attended Wisconsin… Biology major…son of Ray and Leslie Gaffney of Wayzata, Minn.

54 Danny McGraw

Jr.P6-6240St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall High School…coached by Jerry Kline Jr…Accounting (Finance) major… son of Jerry and Sue McGraw of St. Paul, Minn…mother ran track at Wisconsin-Stout…father played baseball and basketball at St. Thomas.

32 Connor Schwob

Jr. | W | 6-5 | 200 | Waconia, Minn./Waconia

2020-21: Played two games for the Johnnies…scored two points and collected three rebounds in eight minutes of play... Academic All-MIAC.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Waconia High School…coached by Pat Hayes…Global Business Leadership major…son of Dave and Lynn Schwob of Waconia, Minn.

22 Elijah Sutton

Jr. | W | 6-5 | 190 | Dover, Pa./Dover

2021-22: Did not play due to injury.

2020-21: Did not play due to injury.

Personal: Transferred to SJU from Chatham (Pa.)…played 26 games, including 13 starts, as a freshman at Chatham in 2019-20 and averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game…was second on the team in made free throws (49) and free-throw percentage (.831) …a 2019 graduate of Dover (Pa.) High School…coached by Brian Schmoyer…Accounting (Finance) major…son of Samuel and Kiersten Sutton of Dover, Pa.

JOHNNIE JUNIORS

24 Ryan Thissen

Jr. | W | 6-6 | 210 | Rosemount, Minn./Eastview

2021-22: Started all 28 games for SJU…averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game…shot 52.0 percent from the field (145-279)…recorded a double-double Feb. 27 vs. Macalester (11 points and 11 rebounds)...earned MIAC’s Elite 22 Award for having the highest GPA among the two teams playing in the MIAC championship game...All-MIAC second team... Academic All-MIAC.

2020-21: Started all seven games for the Johnnies…averaged 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game…totaled 20 assists…shot 55.1 percent (38-69) from the field and 46.7 percent (7-15) from three-point range…81.3 percent (13-16) from the freethrow line.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Eastview High School…coached by Paul Goetz…Biochemistry major…son of Jon and Michelle Thissen of Rosemount, Minn…father played football at Division I Minnesota…older brother, Zach, played football at Division II Southwest Minnesota State.

15 Austin Wetter

Jr. | W | 6-7 | 195 | Monticello, Minn./Monticello

2021-22: Played 12 games…scored nine points and recorded seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play.

2020-21: Appeared in five games for the Johnnies…scored 24 points with seven rebounds and four assists…shot 63.6 percent (7-11) from the field, including a team-high 66.7 percent (6-9) from three-point range.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Monticello High School…coached by Bridgeport Tusler…Global Business Leadership major…son of Chris and Tammy Wetter of Monticello, Minn.

13 Ethan Youso

Jr. | P | 6-7 | 220 | Gilbert, Minn./Virginia

2021-22: Appeared in 12 games for the Johnnies…totaled 21 points and 22 rebounds in 93 minutes of play…shot 47.6 percent (10-21) from the field.

Personal: Transferred to SJU from Division II Minnesota-Duluth…a 2018 graduate of Virginia High School…coached by Rich Odell…Computer Science major…son of Shawn and Jody (CSB ’92) Youso of Gilbert, Minn…older sister, Jessa, participated in basketball, track and field, and volleyball at Carleton…mother played tennis at CSB…grandfather, Frank Youso, played in the NFL from 1958-65 with the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders.

JOHNNIE SOPHOMORES

PRESENTED

35 Luke Budzyn

BY COBORN’S

So. | W | 6-7 | 195 | St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge 2021-22: Played four games…recorded two points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of play.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of East Ridge High School…coached by Josh Peltier…Global Business Leadership major…son of Cathy and Bill Budzyn of St. Paul, Minn.

10 Luke Healy

So. | G | 6-0 | 180 | Hudson, Wis./Hudson

Personal: Transferred to SJU from Division II Sioux Falls (S.D.)…played 14 games, with one start, and averaged 4.3 points and 12.9 minutes per game for the Cougars…a 2021 graduate of Hudson (Wis.) High School…coached by John Dornfeld…Accounting (Finance) major…son of Terri and Brian Healy of Hudson, Wis.

2 Zach Longueville

So. | G | 6-2 | 180 | Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran 2021-22: Appeared in 15 games for the Johnnies…averaged 4.1 points and recorded 14 assists…shot 42.6 percent (2047) from the field and 46.2 percent (18-39) from three-point range.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of St. Croix Lutheran Academy…coached by Drew Koch…Accounting (Finance) major…son of Jane Longueville and Joe Longueville…father played football at Division I South Dakota.

40 Andrew Nerud

So. | P | 6-8 | 230 | Elko New Market, Minn./New Prague

Personal: Played one game for SJU…a 2021 graduate of New Prague High School…coached by Dan Peterka…Computer Science major…son of Dan and Dawn Nerud of Elko New Market, Minn…father played basketball at St. Thomas…mother played basketball at Towson State (Md.).

21 Griffin Rushin

So. | W | 6-8 | 185 | Baxter, Minn./Brainerd 2021-22: Appeared in 15 games for the Johnnies…recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds…shot 55.6 percent (10-18) from the field.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Brainerd High School…coached by Charlie Schoeck…Biology major…son of Chad and Jennifer Rushin of Baxter, Minn.

14 Kooper Vaughn

So. | G | 6-1 | 180 | St. Charles, Minn./St. Charles

2021-22: Started all 28 games for SJU…finished second on the team in scoring with an average of 11.6 points per game…shot 43.5 percent (97-223) from the field and 40.9 percent (70-171) from three-point range...broke SJU's singleseason record for three-pointers made by a freshman - 53 by Chris Schwartz '11 in 2007-08 - with 70…All-MIAC third team...MIAC All- First year team.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of St. Charles High School…coached by Terry Knothe…Global Business Leadership major…son of David and Jackie Vaughn of St. Charles, Minn.

20 Andrew Wagner

So. | G | 6-0 | 170 | Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey 2021-22: Appeared in 14 games for the Johnnies…recorded nine points and four rebounds in 38 minutes of play.

Personal: A 2021 graduate of Hersey (Ill.) High School…coached by Austin Scott…Global Business Leadership major… son of Jeannine and Patrick Wagner of Prospect Heights, Ill.

JOHNNIE FRESHMEN

PRESENTED BY COBORN’S

12 Nick Bartlett

Fr. | G | 6-2 | 170 | Ham Lake, Minn./Forest Lake

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Forest Lake High School…coached by Dan Cremisino and Kyle McDonald…Global Business Leadership major…son of Chris and Tony Bartlett of Ham Lake, Minn.

43 Mitchell Degen

Fr. | W | 6-5 | 205 | Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Brainerd High School…coached by Charlie Schoeck…Global Business Leadership major… son of Julie and Mike Degen of Brainerd, Minn…older sisters, Hanna ’21 and Jenna ’19, participated in track and field at CSB...father played football at Division II Bemidji State.

31 Erik Hedstrom

Fr. | P | 6-5 | 225 | Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Alexandria High School…coached by Forrest Witt…Biochemistry major…son of Andrew Hedstrom and Lorinda Hedstrom of Alexandria, Minn…father played football at St. Olaf…mother played tennis at Gustavus Adolphus…older brother, Anders, played basketball for the Gusties.

1 Kyle Johnson

Fr. | G | 6-2 | 185 | Prior Lake, Minn./DeLaSalle

Personal: A 2022 graduate of DeLaSalle High School…coached by Travis Bledsoe…undecided major…son of Tina and Joe Johnson of Prior Lake, Minn.

25 Thomas Menk

Fr. | G | 6-4 | 200 | Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Lewiston-Altura High School…coached by Michael VanderPlas…Accounting (Finance) major…son of Nicole and Brian Menk of Lewiston, Minn.

33 Brady Spaulding

Fr. | P | 6-7 | 215 | Annandale, Minn./Annandale

Personal: A 2022 graduate of Annandale High School…coached by Skip Dolan…Accounting major…son of Robin and Todd Spaulding of Annandale, Minn…father played basketball at Division II St. Cloud State…three older sisters - Mykenzie, Hannah and Allie - played basketball at St. Thomas.

FACILITIES AT SJU SEXTON ARENA

On opening night of the Warner Palaestra in December 1973, Saint John’s defeated cross-town rival St. Cloud State by 14 points. Since then, the Johnnies have won over 75 percent of their home games and average just over two home losses a season.

Named for Lee and Rose Warner, whose foundation made a significant pledge towards construction, the Warner Palaestra was the dream of former athletic director George Durenberger and hundreds of Saint John’s students. It was the reality of then-athletic director and head coach Jim Smith.

In June 1966, an exploratory committee reported that Saint John’s could not afford a new recreation center but simply a pool as part of a new refectory with plans to add a gym later. Little progress was made on a new gym for two years, but Durenberger wouldn’t let his dream fade away. In May 1968 detailed plans for the new structure were drawn up. But hopes to have Marcel Breuer design the new facility never came to fruition. Eventually the committee hired the firm of Traynor, Hermanson and Hahn of St. Cloud, Minn.

The original facility plans were projected at over $3 million, but a feasibility report in August 1971 ruled that the university could only afford a $600,000 recreation center. A month later President Michael Blecker, OSB gave the recreation center a $1 million ceiling.

From 1973 to 1998, the inside oval of the indoor track was the basketball court.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BRUESS

Welcome to Sexton Arena and Saint John’s University basketball!

My name is Brian Bruess and, as of July 1, I am president of both College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University – the first time both of those titles have been held concurrently. In the short time that my wife Carol and I have been here, we have both certainly felt the engaging welcome of this community. The Benedictine hospitality lives up to its billing. Thank you to those who have reached out with greetings and well wishes.

I’m glad you’re here and hope you’re ready for some great competition. The young men out there in Johnnie red today have worked hard to excel in a game they love. That means hours of training, conditioning, preparing and traveling.

Beyond that, these are Johnnies. As such, each is a member of this Benedictine community we hold dear. Our students are engaged and involved with the causes and the initiatives that move them. In their four years here, they will discover their opportunities to develop as active, thoughtful citizens.

That’s a lot going on. So if things get tight toward the end today, don’t lose faith: Johnnies are obviously great at clock management.

So let’s get settled in and ready for tip off. And as we cheer for today’s performances on the court, let’s all commit to cheering a little louder in recognition of the performances we don’t see – in the classroom, in the lab and in service to their church or community.

Just as impressive, they’re working hard in the classroom. These are student-athletes in the best sense of both those traditions – and they uphold the academic standards for which Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are well known.

GO JOHNNIES!

SENTRY BANK PRESENTS A LOOK BACK

Junior Ryan Thissen shot 52 percent (145-for-279) from the field led the Johnnies in scoring (13.0 ppg.) en route to earning 2021-22 All-MIAC second-team honors last season. He shot 62.5 percent (20-for-32) overall and averaged a team-best 14.7 points in the three MIAC-tournament wins.

Junior Blake Berg finished with a career-high 15 points off the bench in the Johnnies’ 75-71 win over Macalester in the MIAC Championship game. Thirteen of that total came in the second half, including seven in an over one-minute-plus span down the stretch that included a steal and this dunk.

The Johnnies went 23-5 and won the program’s second straight MIAC regularseason title and third-straight postseason championship last season.

Senior Carson Schoeller finished with 16 points off the bench on 6-for-7 shooting, including four huge 3-pointers, in the win over Macalester.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

BY FRANK RAJKOWSKI

Pat McKenzie ’04 played for Jim Smith, then went on to join his coaching staff before succeeding him as the head basketball coach at Saint John’s University prior to the 2015-16 season.

But McKenzie’s ties to the coaching legend date back much further. His father, Pat McKenzie Sr. ‘79, was a standout point guard for the Johnnies on some of the top teams in program history during the late 1970s.

So Pat Jr. grew up hearing plenty of stories about Smith, who coached at SJU from 1964 to 2015 and recorded 786 career victories – the most of any coach at any level of college basketball in Minnesota history.

“I’ve known of him my whole life,” McKenzie said. “He’s meant a lot to our family over the years.”

Pat Sr. went on to a long career in sports medicine and has been the team physician for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers since 1991. But he has remained close with his former head coach over years, which is how Pat Jr. and Smith first connected.

“I remember it was after we played at Ripon (Wisconsin) in the NCAA tournament (in March of 2000),” Smith recalls. “We lost a close one, and the team went home. But Adrienne (his wife) and I and our daughter and her husband drove up to Green Bay. We visited Pat Sr., went through Lambeau Field and we watched Pat Jr. play.

“He was really good. I think he’d sort of decided that he didn’t want to follow his dad. He wanted to forge his own path and do his own thing. Which I completely understood. But we kept in touch.”

Eventually, McKenzie changed his mind – enrolling at SJU that fall and going on to a stellar career of his own, leading the MIAC

in assists as a senior in 2003-04. His 305 career assists still rank seventh in school history.

He elected to pursue coaching following graduation, spending two seasons as the director of basketball operations at Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay (2004-06) before returning to his alma mater to join Smith’s staff, assuming a key role in the recruiting process.

When Smith retired following the 2014-15 season, McKenzie seemed the logical choice as his successor. The years since have proven the wisdom of that hire as his teams have won three regular-season and three postseason MIAC titles and have advanced to the Division III national tournament the past four seasons.

“It doesn’t surprise me one bit that he’s been successful here,” said Smith, who remains involved with the program, assisting with fundraising, helping call games on the radio and being there for advice when McKenzie calls.

“I knew he’d put his own stamp on the program once he took the reins. He’s a very talented coach and he’s done an amazing job.”

McKenzie said the knowledge he picked up from Smith through the years helped make him the coach he is today.

“I’ve learned a ton from him,” McKenzie said. “But I think maybe the biggest one has been finding ways to be demanding without being demeaning. Smitty has always taken a positive approach. He never let the highs get too high or the lows get too low, and I think his players really appreciated that.

“I know I did.”

Put our high-performing team to work for you!

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The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University form a partnership of two of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, attracting students from 41 states and 14 countries.

PRESENTS STUDENT FUND

Octavius Wilson Jr. has thrived at Saint John’s University.

Not only has the senior linebacker from Hill-Murray High School played a key role in the Johnnies’ defensive rotation, but he’s also served on the program’s leadership council and as a representative on the SJU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

This past summer, he completed an internship in the financial department at Microsoft at the company’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

But he said none of that would have been possible were it not for the assistance that scholarships provide.

“All of my tuition expenses rest with me, so scholarships were the main thing I had to consider when I was looking at school where I could continue my education,” said Wilson, an economics major who has received the Fran and Julia Ladner Family Endowed Scholarship, the Joyce and William Sexton Scholarship, the Joseph Friedrich Scholarship and a Dean’s Scholarship.

He’s also received Securian Foundation and Eddie Phillips Scholarships from the Minnesota Private College Council.

“Saint John’s was the top place when it came to offering the kind of scholarship package that made going here realistic and affordable for me,” he continued. “I’m really grateful for that because it helped make this opportunity possible.”

Wilson is not alone. In all, 98 percent of SJU students receive scholarships or financial aid. The SJU Student Fund helps make that happen by providing direct financial support to our students.

When you support the student fund, 100 percent of your gift goes directly toward student scholarships. Those who give receive recognition in the annual Honor Roll of Donors and a receipt stating their gift is tax deductible. They also gain the confidence of knowing their gift had a direct impact in allowing Wilson and so many others to experience all that SJU has to offer.

Please consider giving, either by visiting the student fund page in the SJU Alumni section of the CSB+SJU website or by calling 320-363-2591 or 1-800-653-7303.

Website: givesju.com

Phone: 320-363-3099

Email: johnemail@csbsju.edu

KWIK TRIP PRESENTS CAMPUS UPDATE

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS AT CSB AND SJU

When schools have over 100 years of history like both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, they’re bound to build up a few important traditions. We love the chance to make our students part of those traditions – especially around the holidays!

Two of the most popular are the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Before students leave for holiday breaks, CSB and SJU host some pretty impressive feasts. Students dress up for these family-style meals and enjoy festive favorites like turkey carving and a chocolate fountain.

For years, Saint John’s has held the Thanksgiving dinner in the Great Hall for students of both campuses to enjoy. This year’s dinner will be served on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Then, in December, students dress up again – this time on the Saint Ben’s campus –for Christmas dinner. This year’s dinner on Thursday, Dec. 8, will be a great way to take a break from studying for fall final exams.

Another holiday favorite here are the Christmas tree lighting ceremonies on both campuses. Both Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s prominently display a tree, and all are welcome for the lighting festivities. Each is held on a different night in a different atmosphere. The Saint John’s tree goes up every year in the Great Hall – with lighting this year on Monday, Nov. 28, after students return from Thanksgiving break. At Saint Ben’s, the tree stands proudly outdoors on the mall, and this year’s lighting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

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Date

ROBERT HALF PRESENTS JOHNNIE SCHEDULE

Opponent

Site Time Radio

First Meeting

All SJU basketball games are scheduled to be broadcast on WBHR-660 AM The Bear and streamed live on gojohnnies.com

Last Meeting Streak

Nov. 8 at UW-La Crosse La Crosse, Wis. 7 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 31, 1969 Nov. 20, 2018 Won 1 Nov. 12 UW-Eau Claire Collegeville, Minn. 5:30 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 8, 1951 March 7, 2020 Won 2 Nov. 16 Buena Vista, Iowa Collegeville, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Nov. 24, 2021 Nov. 24, 2021 Won 1 Nov. 19 at St. Olaf Northfield, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM March 9, 1912 Feb. 25, 2022 Won 1 Nov. 22 at Gustavus Adolphus St. Peter, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM March 5, 1923 Feb. 16, 2022 Won 11 Nov. 30 St. Scholastica Collegeville, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 3, 1980 Jan. 22, 2022 Won 9 Dec. 3 Augsburg Collegeville, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 17, 1925 Feb. 12, 2022 Won 1 Dec. 7 at Macalester St. Paul, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 15, 1916 Feb. 27, 2022 Won 9 Dec. 10 at Hamline St. Paul, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 15, 1910 Feb. 23, 2022 Won 15 Dec. 20 at Whitworth, Wash. Spokane, Wash. 8 p.m. 660 AM --- --Dec. 21 vs. Linfield, Ore. Spokane, Wash. 6 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 20, 2019 Dec. 20, 2019 Won 1 Jan. 7 at Saint Mary’s Winona, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Feb. 22, 1922 Jan. 19, 2022 Won 29

Jan. 11 Concordia Collegeville, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Feb. 15, 1918 Jan. 29, 2022 Won 9

Jan. 14 Bethel Collegeville, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 7, 1968 Feb. 2, 2022 Won 1 Jan. 16 Carleton Collegeville, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 25, 1919 Jan. 26, 2022 Won 5 Jan. 21 at Augsburg Minneapolis, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 17, 1925 Feb. 12, 2022 Won 1 Jan. 25 at St. Scholastica Duluth, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 3, 1980 Jan. 22, 2022 Won 9 Jan. 28 St. Olaf Collegeville, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM March 9, 1912 Feb. 25, 2022 Won 1 Jan. 30 at Concordia Moorhead, Minn. 5:15 p.m. 660 AM Feb. 15, 1918 Jan. 29, 2022 Won 9

Feb. 1 Gustavus Adolphus Collegeville, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM March 5, 1923 Feb. 16, 2022 Won 11 Feb. 4 Hamline Collegeville, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 15, 1910 Feb. 23, 2022 Won 15 Feb. 8 at Carleton Northfield, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 25, 1919 Jan. 26, 2022 Won 5 Feb. 11 Saint Mary’s (Alumni/Senior Day) Collegeville, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Feb. 22, 1922 Jan. 19, 2022 Won 29 Feb. 15 Macalester Collegeville, Minn. 7 p.m. 660 AM Jan. 15, 1916 Feb. 27, 2022 Won 9 Feb. 18 at Bethel Arden Hills, Minn. 1 p.m. 660 AM Dec. 7, 1968 Feb. 2, 2022 Won 1