SJU Basketball 2023-24 Ed. 2

COVER

2023-24 BASKETBALL

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MID-SEASON UPDATE Presented by Deerwood Bank Connor Schwob and his teammates on the Saint John’s University basketball team hit a couple of bumps in the early going this season.

But since that time it’s been largely smooth sailing for the Johnnies.

After beginning the 2023-24 campaign with nonconference losses to WisconsinEau Claire and Wisconsin-Platteville, SJU rebounded to win 12 of its next 13 matchups, including a 10-0 start in the MIAC. “Guys have just been doing their jobs,” said Schwob, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound senior wing. “It hasn’t been one person carrying us. It’s been a group effort.”

Indeed, through the first half of play in the league schedule, the Johnnies led the conference in scoring with an average of 82.9 points per game, despite having no individual player in the top 10.

Junior guard Kooper Vaughn was the highest SJU player in the individual scoring rankings through that stretch. His 14.3 points per game average ranked 14th.

“We have a lot of depth,” senior guard Brandon Adelman said. “I think we’ve shown that.”

Perhaps the biggest victory of the season so far was a 73-70 come-from-behind victory over Gustavus on Jan. 15 at Sexton Arena in a battle of the two top teams in the MIAC during the first half of conference play.

The Johnnies trailed by seven with just under four-and-a-half minutes to go, but closed the game on a 15-5 run (going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line). A big dunk by junior post Luke Budzyn helped get the rally going. Senior wing Ryan Thissen and junior guard Zach Longueville led SJU with 16 points each.

“Shots weren’t falling (for us) like they normally do,” Thissen said afterward.

“But we were able to focus on defense and getting stops. At the end of the game, we made few crucial plays, knocked down our free throws and came away with the win.”

“Guys have just been doing their jobs, it hasn’t been one person carrying us. It’s been a group effort.”

Among some of the other highlights of the season’s first half were: • A game-winning basket by junior guard Luke Healy as SJU topped defending MIAC champion Carleton 74-72 on the road in the MIAC opener on Nov. 21 in Northfield.

• Vaughn scoring 17 points – including four 3-pointers – as the Johnnies beat Hamline 80-60 on Dec. 2 in Collegeville. Entering games at St. Mary’s (Jan. 17) and at Hamline (Jan. 20), Vaughn had 171 career 3-pointers, which ranks

2

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MID-SEASON UPDATE Presented by Deerwood Bank fifth in program history – one shy of Joe Deignan ‘95 in fourth with 172.

• A 112-54 rout of Augsburg on Dec. 4 at Sexton Arena, marking SJU’s largest margin of victory since Dec. 15, 1978.

• Senior wing Ryan Thissen scoring 27 points and becfoming the 40th Johnnie to cross the 1,000-point mark in his career in a 77-70 win over Concordia on Dec. 6 in Moorhead. Through the win over Gustavus on Jan. 15, Thissen had 1,112 career points, which ranked 26th on the school’s career list one behind Deignan with 1,113.

2023-24 Remaining Schedule Date Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Jan. 31 Feb. 3 Feb. 5 Feb. 7 Feb. 10 Feb. 14

Time 7 p.m.

3 p.m.

7 p.m.

3 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

3 p.m.

7 p.m.

Opponent Carleton at Macalester at Augsburg St. Scholastica Alumni Concordia St. Olaf at Gustavus Adolphus Bethel

Go

Location Collegeville St. Paul Minneapolis Collegeville Collegeville Collegeville St. Peter Collegeville

s e i n n Joh

• Thissen’s season-best 29 points in a 91-79 nonconference win over Nazareth (New York) on Dec. 19 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

• SJU shooting 60.9 percent (14for-23) from the field in the second half and leading by as many as 34 en route to an 85-55 win over St. Scholastica in Duluth on Jan. 6 in Duluth.

• Thissen recording his third 20-point -plus game of the season with 21 in a 83-67 win at Bethel on Jan. 10.

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JOHNNIE BASKETBALL NO. ​ NAME​

YR.​

POS.​ HT.​

WT. ​HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL ​

0

Kyle Kallenbach

Fr.

G

6-0

165

Independence, Minn./Orono

1

Kyle Johnson

So.

G

6-2

185

Prior Lake, Minn./DeLaSalle

2

Zach Longueville

Jr.

G

6-2

185

Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran

3

Blake Berg

Sr.

G

6-4

205

West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne

4

Brandon Adelman

Sr.

G

6-4

185

New London, Minn./New London-Spicer

5

J.T. Gaffney

Sr.

W

6-7

200

Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka

10

Luke Healy

Jr.

G

5-11

180

Hudson, Wis./Hudson

11

Thomas Menk

So.

G

6-4

200

Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura

12

Owen Skram

Fr.

W

6-5

190

New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong

13

Vincent Hillesheim

Fr.

P

6-6

215

Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins

14

Kooper Vaughn

Jr.

G

6-1

180

St. Charles, Minn./St. Charles

15

Chris Mitchell

So.

G

6-2

175

Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy

20

Andrew Wagner

Jr.

G

6-0

175

Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey

21

Griffin Rushin

Jr.

W

6-8

200

Baxter, Minn./Brainerd

22

Brady Spaulding

So.

P

6-7

215

Annandale, Minn./Annandale

23

Baiden Bean

Fr.

G

6-1

160

Farmington, Minn./Farmington

24

Ryan Thissen

Sr.

W

6-6

210

Rosemount, Minn./Eastview

30

A.J. McCleery

Fr.

G

6-2

185

Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi

32

Connor Schwob

Sr.

W

6-5

200

Waconia, Minn./Waconia

35

Luke Budzyn

Jr.

W

6-7

205

St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge

40

Andrew Nerud

Jr.

P

6-8

230

Elko New Market, Minn./New Prague

44

Brady Paumen

Fr.

W

6-5

200

Becker, Minn./Becker

42

Xander Baldessari

Fr.

W

6-4

205

Englewood, Colo./Douglas County

51

Anthony Thorman

Fr.

P

6-7

220

Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson

55

Gus Audley

Fr.

G

6-3

180

Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc

Longueville

Johnson

2023-24 Team 6

GARY’S OPENED IN 1982.

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Coincidence? We think NOT!

Coaching Staff Pat McKenzie enters his ninth season as the head coach of the Saint John’s University basketball team in 2023-24.

The 2004 SJU graduate became the 15th coach in the 113-year history of Johnnie basketball when he was hired to replace Jim Smith in April of 2015. Smith, the winningest coach at any level in Minnesota college basketball history, retired following the 2014-15 season after coaching the Johnnies for 51 seasons.

(.766) and has led SJU to three conference championships and four appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament. He has twice been named MIAC coach of the year - in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

During the 2019-20 season, he led the Johnnies to a 27-2 record and two NCAA tournament wins before the season was halted as a result of the onset of COVID-19.

His family connections to SJU basketball run deep. His father Pat McKenzie Sr.

’79 was a point guard on four nationaltournament teams at SJU from 1975-79 before going on to become the longtime team physician of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. His 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.

McKenzie was one of his players. As a point guard at SJU from 2000-04, he recorded 305 career assists, which ranks seventh in program history. He was part of an NCAA Division III Sweet 16 team as a freshman in 2000-01 and led the MIAC in assists as a senior in 2003-04.

He then went on serve two seasons as director of basketball operations at Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2004-06 before returning to Collegeville, where he spent nine seasons as an assistant on Smith’s staff from 2006-15.

In his tenure as the Johnnies’ head coach, McKenzie has compiled a record of 154-47

JERRY FOGART Y - Jerry Fogarty enters his 24th year as an assistant coach for SJU in 2023-24. A 1964 graduate of St. Thomas, Fogarty played basketball for the Tommies and became a basketball assistant at Rochester Lourdes High School after earning his degree. In 1969, he became the school’s head coach and guided Lourdes to a state independent crown in 1973. He was inducted into the Lourdes Sports Hall of Fame in December of 2009.

SAM DIT TBERNER - Sam Dittberner enters his 10th season as an assistant coach for SJU in 2023-24. A 2013 graduate, Dittberner appeared in all 26 games and served as a team captain for the Johnnies in 2012-13.

SEAN RYAN - Sean Ryan enters his third season as an assistant coach for SJU in 2023-24. A 2020 graduate, Ryan was a four-year member of the Johnnie basketball team. During his time at the school, SJU won two MIAC regular-season championships, two MIAC Playoff championships and made three national tournament appearances, including a trip to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 in 2019-20.

DANNY QUINN - Danny Quinn enters his second season as an assistant coach for SJU in 2023-24. He previously served as an assistant basketball coach at MIAC foe Saint Mary’s in 2021-22 and spent one season on the coaching staff at his alma mater Loras (Iowa) in 2020-21. Quinn was a graduate assistant coach at La Verne (Calif.) in 2019-20.

ALEX RASMUSSEN - Alex Rasmussen enters his second season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2023-24. A 2022 graduate, Rasmussen was a member of two MIAC regular-season and three MIAC playoff championship teams during his time as a player for the Johnnies.

GARRETT GOETZ - Garrett Goetz enters his sixth season as a volunteer assistant coach at SJU in 2023-24. A 2018 graduate, Goetz was a four-year member on the SJU basketball team. He led the MIAC in assists, in both conference play (5.5 apg.) and overall (5.7 apg.), in 2017-18.

He ended his career ninth in school history with 271 career assists.

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CONNOR SCHWOB

Presented by St Cloud Orthopedics

Wing

“Most of the time, we don’t even talk about basketball. We’re just hanging out.

Though there are times when it does come up.”

That’s understandable considering how important the sport is to both players.

Schwob – a Waconia High School graduate – played here and there as a freshman and sophomore at SJU.

Call it Johnnie basketball corner.

That probably best describes the sixperson apartment in the new Seton Townhomes in the Flynntown section of the Saint John’s University campus that is home to seniors Connor Schwob and Brandon Adelman, as well as fellow seniors Blake Berg, Ryan Thissen, J.T. Gaffney and team manager Ethan Youso.

As well as the apartment next door, which is home to a number of the juniors on this season’s roster.

“It’s super fun,” said Schwob, a 6-foot5, 200-pound wing.

“We’re all pretty close and I think that translates into the way we play together on the court.”

“It’s been a good way to build team chemistry,” adds Adelman, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard.

9 GoJohnnies.com

But he broke into the team’s regular rotation a year ago, appearing in 17 games, starting one and shooting 64.3 percent from the field. He started 10 of his team’s first 14 games this year and was shooting over 69 percent heading into play the week of Jan. 15.

“He’s continued to work hard and get better from the second he got here,” SJU head coach Pat McKenzie said earlier this season. “He ended up seeing spot minutes for us a year ago and really gave us a lift on a number of occasions.

“This season, he’s grown into a leadership role. He

brings a measure of credibility when he works with our younger players because he’s a guy who didn’t play a ton, but continued to work hard. Now that work is paying off. So it shows what can happen if you put in the effort.”

“We’re all pretty close and I think that translates into the way we play together on the court.”

Adelman, meanwhile, spent more than two seasons at Division II St. Cloud State after graduating from New London-Spicer High School. He transferred to SJU over the holiday break in 2021-22 and saw action in two games for the Johnnies the rest of the season.

As a junior a year ago, he appeared in 26 of SJU’s 27 games and averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest.

“It took a little while to work him into the rotation and for him to get comfortable

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conference title and make a run in the NCAA Division III tournament.

with what we’re doing,” McKenzie said of Adelman last season. “But (last season), he (was) here (from) the start and you (could) see him getting more and more comfortable every day.”

Adelman, a global business leadership major, is hoping to play basketball overseas after he graduates this May. “That’s Plan A,” he said. “I want to see what options are out there. But if that doesn’t work out, I want to pursue a career in business.”

Schwob is also a global business major who hopes to pursue a career in sales or marketing.

“I’m open to anything honestly,” Schwob said. “I’ll see what opportunities come my way.”

“We’re playing really good basketball right now,” Adelman said. “We just have to keep that up and we have the chance to go a long way.”

In the meantime, the two are looking to help SJU bring home a

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JOHNNIE UPPERCLASSMEN Presented by Northwestern Mutual 4 Brandon Adelman

Sr. | ​G | 6​ -4 | ​185 | ​New London, Minn./New London-Spicer 2022-23: Played 26 of the Johnnies’ 27 games…averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game…shot 52.8 percent (56-106) from the field and 51.1 percent (23-45) from three-point land.

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 LondonSpicer High School…coached by Chad Schmiesing…Global Business Leadership major…son of Dean and Cheryl Adelman of New London, Minn.

3 Blake Berg

Sr. | ​G | 6​ -4 | ​205 | ​West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne 2022-23: Played 26 games with 12 starts for the Johnnies…second on the team with 15 blocks…averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game…shot 47.9 percent (69-144) from the field.

2021-22: Played all 28 games for the Johnnies with three starts…averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds…shot 56.5 percent (61108) 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

Sr. | ​W | ​6-7 | ​200 | ​Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka 2022-23: Came off the bench in five games…grabbed five rebounds in 17 minutes...Academic All-MIAC…NABC Honors Court.

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.

32 Connor Schwob

Sr. | ​W | ​6-5 | ​200 | ​Waconia, Minn./Waconia 2022-23: Played 17 games, with one start, for the Johnnies…averaged 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.1 minutes per game…shot 64.3 percent (9-14) from the field...College Sports Communicators Academic All-District…Academic All-MIAC…NABC Honors Court.

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…mother played volleyball at CSB.

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JOHNNIE UPPERCLASSMEN Presented by McGough 24 Ryan Thissen

Sr. | ​W | ​6-6 | ​210 | ​Rosemount, Minn./Eastview 2022-23: Started 25 games for the Johnnies…led the MIAC in assist/turnover ratio (+3.7) and was second in free-throw percentage (.866), fourth in shooting percentage (.562) and seventh in scoring (17.6 ppg.) in 18 conference games...led SJU in scoring (18.1 ppg.), minutes (34.9 mpg.), 20-point games (10) and steals (22) with a .546 shooting percentage...D3hoops.com All-Region 9 third team…All-MIAC…MIAC All-Playoff team…College Sports Communicators Academic All-District…College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first team…Academic All-MIAC…earned MIAC’s Elite 22 Award for having the highest GPA among the six playoff teams…NABC Honors Court.

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 (145279)…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 free-throw line.

Personal: A 2020 graduate of Eastview High School…coached by Paul Goetz…Biochemistry major (pre-medicine emphasis)…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.

35 Luke Budzyn

Jr. | ​W | ​6-7 | ​205 | ​St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge 2022-23: Appeared in four games for SJU. 2021-22: Played four games for the Johnnies…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 Bill and Cathy Budzyn of St. Paul, Minn.

10 Luke Healy

Jr. | ​G | ​5-11 | ​180 | ​Hudson, Wis./Hudson 2022-23: Played 19 games with five starts for the Johnnies…averaged 1.7 points in 10.3 minutes per game.

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 Brian and Terri Healy of Hudson, Wis.

2 Zach Longueville

Jr. | ​G | ​6-2 | ​185 | ​Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran 2022-23: Played all 27 games with 22 starts for SJU…led the team with 89 assists…averaged 5.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game.

2021-22: Appeared in 15 games for the Johnnies…averaged 4.1 points and recorded 14 assists…shot 42.6 percent (20-47) 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 South Dakota.

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JOHNNIE UPPERCLASSMEN Presented by Weidner’s Mechanical Contractors 40 Andrew Nerud

Jr. | ​P | ​6-8 | ​230 | ​Elko New Market, Minn./New Prague 2022-23: Appeared in two games for SJU...recorded two points and a rebound in five minutes…Academic All-MIAC. Personal: A 2021 graduate of New Prague High School…coached by Dan Peterka…Computer Science and Mathematics doublemajor…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

Jr. | ​W | ​6-8 | ​200 | ​Baxter, Minn./Brainerd 2022-23: Played 15 games for the Johnnies…averaged 2.2 points and recorded 15 rebounds in 6.3 points per game.

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

Jr. | ​G | ​6-1 | ​180 | ​St. Charles, Minn./St. Charles 2022-23: Started 25 games for the Johnnies…finished fifth in the MIAC among those with 100 attempts or more, at 38.3 percent (44-115) from three-point range and his 44 treys were good for seventh in league play…led SJU in three-pointers (59) and freethrow percentage (.890, 65-73)…was second in scoring (11.8 ppg.) and steals (20)…shot 42.2 percent (86-204) from the field and 39.1 percent (59-151) from three-point range...All-MIAC honorable mention…MIAC All-Playoff team…College Sports Communicators Academic All-District…Academic All-MIAC. 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 single-season record for threepointers 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

Jr. | ​G | ​6-0 | ​175 | ​Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey 2022-23: Played 22 games off the bench for SJU…shot 45.2 percent (14-31) from the field…averaged 1.5 points and 7.8 minutes per game.

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 Patrick and Jeannine Wagner of Prospect Heights, Ill.

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JOHNNIE SOPHOMORES Presented by Coborn’s 1 Kyle Johnson So. | ​G | 6​ -2 | ​185 | ​Prior Lake, Minn./DeLaSalle 2022-23: Played 22 games off the bench for SJU…shot 44.4 percent (24-54) from the floor and 42.5 percent (17-40) from threepoint range…averaged 3.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.

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

11 Thomas Menk

So. | 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 Brian and Nicole Menk of Lewiston, Minn.

15 Chris Mitchell So. | G ​ | ​6-2 | ​175 | ​Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy Personal: Transferred to SJU from Division II Newman (Kan.)…played 20 games, with one start, and averaged 1.4 points and 7.4 minutes per game for the Jets…a 2022 graduate of Notre Dame Academy (Wis.)…coached by Brian Bobinski…Environmental Studies major…son of Jeff and Becky Mitchell of Green Bay, Wis. 22 Brady Spaulding

So. | P ​ | ​6-7 | ​215 | ​Annandale, Minn./Annandale 2022-23: Appeared in one game for SJU…grabbed a rebound in three minutes of play.

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

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JOHNNIE FRESHMEN 55 Gus Audley

30 A.J. McCleery

42 Xander Baldessari

44 Brady Paumen

Fr. | G | 6-3 | 180 | Oconomowoc, Wis/Oconomowoc Personal: A 2023 graduate of Oconomowoc (Wis.) High School…coached by Jay Benish…Accounting (Finance) major…son of Drew Audley and Paige Audley of Oconomowoc, Wis.

Fr. | W | 6-4 | 205 | Englewood, Colo./Douglas County Personal: A 2023 graduate of Douglas County (Colo.)

High School…coached by Tyrell Smith…Accounting (Finance) major…son of Os and Jill Baldessari of Englewood, Colo.

23 Baiden Bean

Fr. | G | 6-1 | 160 | Farmington, Minn./Farmington Personal: A 2023 graduate of Farmington High School…coached by Tharen Johnson…undecided major…son of Trenton and Heather Bean of Farmington, Minn…father played basketball at Valley City State (N.D.).

13 Vincent Hillesheim

Fr. | ​P | ​6-6 | 215 | Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins Personal: A 2023 graduate of Hopkins High School… coached by Ken Novak…Physics major…son of David and Renee Hillesheim of Minneapolis, Minn…father played football at North Dakota.

Fr. | ​G | 6​ -2 | ​185 | ​Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi Personal: A 2023 graduate of Mahtomedi High School…coached by Keith Newman…Global Business Leadership major…son of Andy and Heather McCleery of Mahtomedi, Minn.

Fr. | ​W | 6​ -5 | ​200 | ​Becker, Minn./Becker Personal: A 2023 graduate of Becker High School… coached by Josh Ihrke…Biology major…son of Troy and Pam Paumen of Becker, Minn.

12 Owen Skram

Fr. | ​W | 6​ -5 | ​190 | ​New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong Personal: A 2023 graduate of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School…coached by Rob Ware…Data Science major…son of Mike and Lori Skram of New Hope, Minn.

51 Anthony Thorman

Fr. | ​P | 6​ -7 | 2​ 20 | ​Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson Personal: A 2023 graduate of Bloomington Jefferson High School…coached by Jeff Evens…Biochemistry major…son of Jason Thorman and Laura Agrimson of Bloomington, Minn.

0 Kyle Kallenbach

Fr. | ​G | ​6-0 | ​165 | ​Independence, Minn./Orono Personal: A 2023 graduate of Orono High School… coached by Barry Wohler…Global Business Leadership major…son of Rob and Joy Kallenbach of Maple Plain, Minn.

TEAM MANAGERS Ethan Youso

Ryan Engel

Tommy Ornburg

Brayden Johnson

Sr. | Virginia H.S.

Sr. | Incline (Nevada) H.S.

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Sr. | De Pere (Wisconsin) H.S.

So. | Hutchinson H.S.

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Senior Spotlight

Tommy Ornburg Team manager What is something about you not everyone would know?

I am lucky to say that (former SJU AllAmerican) Bill Sexton (for whom Sexton Arena is named) is my grandfather and that I’ve been able to come to this school and share in my family’s legacy. His wisdom and character is a virtue and he’s left his footprint here. Being part of that leaves me speechless and proud. I walk into Sexton Arena every day, look up at his banner, give a prayer, smile and continue with my day.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m looking into working with one the professional sports teams in the Twin Cities (in) their marketing and media departments. Hopefully, that leads into a (career) in sports journalism and writing postgame stories.

What is your favorite movie?

“Interstellar” by (director) Christopher Nolan.

Brandon Adelman 6-4, 185, guard, New LondonSpicer High School What has been the most memorable part of your time at SJU – in basketball or on campus?

The most memorable part of being here at SJU has been the trips we’ve taken as a team. Washington and Florida stick out to me because of the relationships formed from being around my teammates and playing basketball with them all over the country.

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

My favorite spot on campus is the gym (Sexton Arena), because that’s where I spend the most time. It’s where I love to be most.

J.T. Gaffney 6-7, 200, wing, Minnetonka H.S. What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

The area around the new Seton Townhomes. It’s a great place to get together with friends and hang out with the grills and fire pits.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I plan on taking a gap year to figure out what I want to do with my biology degree.

I’m deciding between dental and PT (physical therapy) school.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

If you go to Maynards (restaurant) in Excelsior during the summer you can find me working the docks.

What are some of your hobbies away from basketball?

Golf, working out and being on the lake.

Ethan Youso Team manager What made you decide to attend SJU? I wanted a great education and to be part of a network of people that would help me find success after graduation. Also, it was the winning culture here.

Ornburg

What is something about you not everyone would know?

I play the guitar and I’m learning piano.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I hope to start a career in software engineering.

Be a Bennie Be a Johnnie

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A LOOK BACK Presented by Sentry Bank

Luke Healy handles the ball in a game earlier this season.

Late Comeback Lifts SJU to 73-70 Win Over Gustavus

Ryan Thissen, who crossed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season, has been a force for the Johnnies.

Junior wing Griffin Rushin passes the ball in a game earlier this season.

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FRANKLY SPEAKING

By Frank Rajkowski

Presented by Stearns Bank BASSET T WILL BE Distinguished Alumnus Award – the HONORED WITH 2024 WALTER REGER AWARD highest honor bestowed by the SJU Alumni Jim Bassett probably deserves some sort of award simply for sending six of his sons to Saint John’s University and two daughters to the College of Saint Benedict.

But the 1958 SJU graduate’s support of his alma mater – and especially the Johnnie basketball program – has extended far beyond that.

Bassett has served on the SJU Alumni Board, including a stint as board president.

He’s also been a generous donor and has taken steps to ensure that philanthropy continues even after he’s gone by establishing an estate plan that includes a dedicated gift to the Jim Smith Endowed Basketball Leadership Program Fund.

The endowment - named after longtime legendary SJU head coach Jim Smith – was established to support Johnnie basketball by providing budget enhancement funding to ensure the program remains at a competitive level in the MIAC and nationally in NCAA Division III. It is for those reasons and more that Bassett has been named this year’s recipient of the Fr. Walter Reger

Association for service to alma mater.

“I can’t think of anybody better to get this honor,” said Smith, who has become a close friend of Bassett’s over the years. “He’s been such a loyal SJU booster. Anytime help was needed, he’s been there to provide it.

“He’s a great example of what a Johnnie should be. He’s humble, has a great sense of humor and he’s so much fun to be around.”

The Bassett family has certainly left their mark on the SJU basketball program.

Oldest son Tony was a statistician, brothers Kevin and Larry both played, while younger brother Luke helped coach the Johnnies’ junior varsity.

Larry, a 1992 graduate, earned All-MIAC honors, scored over 1,000 points in his collegiate career and still holds the program’s record for most 3-pointers in a single game (11 vs. Macalester in February of 1992).

“It really all started when Tony attended one of Jim Smith’s summer (basketball) camps,” Bassett said. “That’s when I first got to know (Smith). I’ve known him for 45 years now and I just think he’s one of the greatest people in the world. The program he built here is fantastic.”

Jim and his wife Mary – who passed away in 2019 – even accompanied the

team on several overseas trips over the years. That included a journey to Rome that Smith said ended up being more costly that initially advertised.

“We were in St. Peter Square waiting for the Pope to celebrate Mass and it was filled up with probably 100,000 people,” Smith remembers. “We were standing way in the back. We couldn’t get any closer.

Jim had a camera with him and he was holding it up in the air to get a shot above the heads of all the people in front of them.

He was wearing a fanny pack on his front side around his stomach.

“After a bit, he came over and asked if I could loan him some lira. I said ‘Did you forget your money.’ And he told me no, but that someone had cut his fanny pack open while he was holding his camera in the air and stolen all of it.”

But Bassett said neither Roman burglars nor anything else has dampened his enthusiasm for the Johnnie basketball program.

“Jim did a great job as coach for so many years, and I think Pat (McKenzie) has come in and done a great job since taking over (following Smith’s retirement in 2015),” he said.

“We have a great basketball program here with really great people running it. I’m just happy to play a part in it.”

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COACHING RECORDS Year-by-Year Coach Unknown Year Overall 1902-03 0-2 Frank Tewes 1 season 1903-04 4-0 (1.000) Year Overall 1903-04 4-0 Peter Tierney 2 seasons 1904-06 5-2 (.714) Year Overall 1904-05 3-0 1905-06 2-2

1905-06 Coach Unknown Year Overall 1906-07 3-1 1907-08 9-1 John Siebel 1 season 1908-09 4-0-1 (.900) Year Overall 1908-09 4-0-1 Coach Unknown Year Overall 1909-10 5-7 Edward Flynn 10 seasons 1910-1920 47-44-1 (.516) Year Overall MDIC Notes 1910-11 2-0 1911-12 2-6 1912-13 4-5 1913-14 7-4 1914-15 6-3-1 1915-16 9-1 RS 1916-17 1-8 1917-18 6-5 1918-19 6-6 3-3 1919-20 4-6 3-2 Edward Cahill 2 seasons 1920-22 16-12 (.571) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1920-21 8-6 5-3 1921-22 8-6 4-5

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Fred Sanborn 2 seasons 1922-24 9-19 (.321) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1922-23 5-9 2-8 1923-24 4-10 1-6 Eugene Aldrich 1 season 1924-25 6-8 (.428) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1924-25 6-8 3-5 Wilfred Houle 5 seasons 1925-30 34-36 (.486) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1925-26 10-7 5-5 1926-27 5-5 1927-28 8-7 3-5 1928-29 7-6 5-4 1929-30 4-11 1-8 Joe Benda 7 seasons 1930-37 33-74 (.308)

Year Overall MIAC Notes 1930-31 4-11 3-8 1931-32 5-10 2-9 1932-33 6-7 4-7 1933-34 0-12 1934-35 5-9 5-7 1935-36 5-14 2-10 1936-37 8-11 6-6 George Durenberger 4 seasons 1937-41 32-44 (.421)

Year Overall MIAC Notes 1937-38 5-11 1-11 1938-39 10-7 8-4 1939-40 12-11 4-8 1940-41 5-15 2-10 Joe Benda 7 seasons, 14 seasons total 1930-37, 1941-48 35-77 (.312), 68-151 (.310) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1941-42 3-13 1-11 1942-43 3-13 3-11 1943-44 2-8 1944-45 6-5 5-5 1945-46 5-13 3-6

1946-47 1947-48

12-8 4-18

7-5 1-10

1946-47 John “Buster” Hiller 5 seasons 1948-53 40-71 (.360) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1948-49 9-11 6-6 1949-50 4-21 2-10 1950-51 8-15 4-8 1951-52 11-10 4-8 1952-53 8-14 4-12 Bill Osborne 6 seasons 1953-59 60-91 (.397)

Year Overall MIAC Notes 1953-54 11-12 8-8 1954-55 14-11 7-9 1955-56 11-14 6-10 1956-57 11-11 8-8 1957-58 5-19 2-14 1958-59 8-24 6-10 Ed Hasbrouck 5 seasons 1959-64 35-79 (.307) Year Overall MIAC Notes 1959-60 3-18 3-13 1960-61 7-17 3-13 1961-62 8-16 4-12 1962-63 7-15 4-12 1963-64 10-13 4-12

1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

Pat McKenzie 8 seasons 154-47 (.766)

Jim Smith 51 seasons 786-556 (.586)

Year Overall MIAC Notes 1964-65 9-15 6-10 1965-66 11-13 10-6 1966-67 17-7 11-5 1967-68 15-10 10-6 1968-69 20-9 12-4 RS, NAIA 1969-70 11-12 7-9 1970-71 12-12 10-6 1971-72 12-13 10-6

11-16 8-8 10-16 7-9 8-19 6-12 17-10 12-6 NAIA 14-12 11-5 NAIA 23-8 15-3 RS, NAIA 27-3 18-0 RS, NAIA 20-8 14-4 NAIA 18-9 12-6 16-11 13-5 NAIA 18-12 12-6 NAIA 20-8 16-4 NAIA 16-12 13-7 PO, NCAA 23-5 16-4 RS, PO, NCAA 19-8 16-4 RS 19-10 13-7 PO, NCAA 16-10 13-7 19-8 16-4 10-15 10-10 14-11 11-9 20-8 17-3 RS, NCAA 18-8 15-5 17-9 15-5 NCAA 12-12 10-10 14-10 12-8 11-12 10-10 12-11 10-10 20-7 14-6 PO, NCAA 22-6 17-3 RS, PO, NCAA 15-11 13-7 12-15 10-10 8-17 6-12 8-17 6-12 16-10 14-6 21-8 17-3 NCAA 14-12 11-9 14-12 12-8 14-12 11-9 14-11 10-10 16-11 11-9 12-14 11-9 15-11 13-7 16-10 14-6

Year 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23

Overall MIAC Notes 19-8 13-7 19-9 13-7 23-4 19-1 RS, NCAA 23-5 17-3 PO, NCAA 27-2 19-1 RS, PO, NCAA 3-4 2-3 23-5 17-2 RS, PO, NCAA 17-10 13-7

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Podcast Delves Deep Into SJU Basketball History It turns out, there is a real appetite out there for stories on the history of Johnnie basketball.

At least that’s what the past year has shown Tom Connell ’84 and John Russett ’80.

It was just over a year ago that Connell who played for SJU from 1980-84 before going on to a long career of his own as a teacher and head coach – and Russett - a former SJU student who retired from a career with General Mills and is now the president of Sixth Man Enterprises LLC partnered with longtime former Johnnies head coach Jim Smith to start the podcast “No Place I’d Rather Be.” Episodes in season one combined interviews with current head coach Pat McKenzie ’04 and members of his staff with historical topics from the 1960s and ‘70s like a look at the Johnnie/Tommie rivalry and the antics of the Rat Pack.

Season two episodes also focus on historical topics – including the second part of a conversation with former All-American Frank Wachlarowicz ‘79, a two-part conversation with former All-American Bill Sexton and a fascinating episode featuring Wachlarowicz and other members of the 1978-79 SJU team discussing that season’s NAIA District 13 finals win over Minnesota State-Mankato (then Mankato State) that blends in portions of the radio broadcast of the Johnnies’ 84-82 come-from-behind victory.

It also includes separate “On the Court” interviews with current Johnnie players and managers.

Smith, of course, is a central part of most episodes.

“The response has been really strong,” said Connell, who retired from his longtime job as a teacher at Edina High School in 2021 – the school where he spent 12 seasons as head boys basketball coach. “We host it on the Buzzsprout site, which features over 120,000 podcasts, and we’re consistently in the top 50 percent. That’s pretty good for a podcast like this.

“The feedback we’ve gotten has been really positive. I think this is a podcast that appeals to Johnnie fans and fans of the MIAC. But I’ve also gotten compliments from people who have friends that are Johnnies and who sent it to them. They started listening and enjoyed the stories as well.”

29 GoJohnnies.com

The podcast can be found at benchwarmersmedia.com or at locations such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others.

“This has been really fun for me personally to be engaged in the creative process and to get to meet some people I’d only heard about before,” Connell said. “I didn’t get to campus until the fall of 1980.

So all I knew about those guys on the 1978-79 team was what (Smith) used to tell us about them in practice when things weren’t going well with us.

“This is just a great format for sharing some of these stories and getting them out to maybe a wider audience.”

The podcast was a finalist for a People’s Choice Award for Outstanding Podcast in the sports category in 2023 (https://www.podcastawards.com) “The nomination is a testament to the great support we receive from our regular listeners,” Connell said.

“The Benchwarmers Media team of Connell, Russett and Ryan Russett (producer, editor and engineer) continue to research the history of Johnnie basketball - featuring characters across generations. We’re hoping that Johnnie basketball fans will see this article and check us out. There is plenty of room on this bandwagon.”

Gary Fasching

SJU Head Football Coach

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JIM AND ADRIENNE SMITH COURT AT SEXTON ARENA Presented by Kwik Trip Jim Smith never had the chance to coach Bill Sexton.

The longtime Saint John’s University basketball head coach did not arrive in Collegeville until 1964 – nine years after Sexton’s college career came to an end.

But Smith certainly heard about him plenty.

“At that time, there was no bigger name in Saint John’s basketball,” Smith recalls.

“He was the one everybody talked about.”

With good reason of course. Sexton did not just rewrite the SJU record book during his time in Collegeville. He essentially created it. His 1,480 points made him the school’s all-time scoring leader to that point, and the total still ranks fifth in school history.

He was the first Saint John’s player to earn All-MIAC honors twice - in 1954 and 1955 - and he became the first Johnnie to be named an All-American when he was selected to the All-NAIA third team in 1954.

Perhaps the highlight of Sexton’s distinguished career came during the final game of his junior season in 1954.

On that night, he scored 49 points in a victory over Macalester, a total that still stands as a single-game school record.

The performance also wrapped up that season’s MIAC scoring title. He entered play leading Pat Costello of Saint Mary’s by just three points.

“I don’t recall much of the specifics from a lot of the big games I played in,” he said.

“I know the charts say I was 19-for-32 from the field and 11-for-11 from the free throw line. I guess it was one of those games when I just got going.”

His senior year was equally spectacular as he finished with a team-best 511 points. And his involvement at Saint John’s did not end with his graduation.

In fact, it’s only grown stronger in the decades that have followed.

He went on to a successful career in the insurance business, and served as a member of the school’s Board of Regents from 1989-2001. He and his family, meanwhile, are among the school’s biggest donors. The current Sexton Commons on campus is named in honor of his parents. A $10 million pledge in 2004 created the Joyce and William Sexton Family Endowed Scholarship, as well as supporting the Abbey Guest House project and SJU athletics.

In 2000, he received the Fr. Walter Reger

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Award for service to his alma mater – the SJU Alumni Association’s highest honor.

And, of course, it was his gift that allowed for a renovation of the Warner Palaestra in 1997, which included a new wood floor in the basketball arena, which was named in his honor. In 2008, the court was redone thanks to the support of a group of former Johnnie basketball players - Sexton, Joe Mucha ’66, Michael Dady ’71, Tom Grudnowski ’72, Pat McKenzie ’79, Tim Kosiek ‘80 and John Wiehoff ’84.

The court itself was named in honor of Smith and his wife Adrienne while the arena remains named for Sexton - uniting their two legacies and their collective impact on the SJU basketball program.

“Saint John’s has played such an important role in my family’s life,” Sexton said.

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FLASHBACK: SJU EARNED FIRST MIAC TITLE IN 1968-69 Presented by McDowall Company Many talented players passed through the Saint John’s University basketball program over the years. But it wasn’t until the arrival of head coach Jim Smith in 1969 that the Johnnies began building toward MIAC title contention.

That process culminated during the 196869 season when SJU finished 12-4 in conference play, 20-9 overall and earned the first MIAC championship in team history.

“If you look at the history of Johnnie basketball, they had struggled for many years and there was a lot of coaching turnover,” said Paul Bernabei, a senior standout on the 1968-69 team who recently co-wrote a book on the history of SJU basketball with longtime Johnnie head coach Jim Smith.

“Then Jim arrived and brought a lot of stability to the program. He really got things turned around.”

Bernabei himself played a big role in helping make that happen, averaging 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 1968-69, and becoming the first SJU player to earn MIAC MVP honors.

have scored a lot more points but he made sure he got his teammates involved.”

Those teammates included fellow senior Jim Holmes, who added 11.9 points per game and joined Bernabei on the All-MIAC team.

Senior Joe Weber also made an impact, as did younger players like Jerry Barney (who averaged 10.2 points per game), Tom Grudnowski and Tim Muller (who would earn All-MIAC honors the following season).

The Johnnies began the season 1-4. But the team then went 14-2 the rest of the way in the regular season, clinching the conference title with an 88-57 victory over MinnesotaDuluth late in the year in Collegeville.

The team still had to wait on the results between Saint Mary’s and Concordia in Moorhead, though, meaning the players and coaches gathered in the bowels of the Old Gym (Guild Hall) while athletic director George Durenberger called someone at Concordia who provided play-by-play of the game’s final seconds.

all knew the history of basketball at Saint John’s and all the hard work we’d put in. So to finally reach the top was really satisfying.”

The Johnnies then took on Winona State in a best-of-three series to decide the NAIA District 13 title. Bernabei was the star – scoring a team-best 15 points to lead the way in a 53-50 road victory in game one, including a coast-to-coast layup with 22 seconds remaining that put the game out of reach.

He then scored 24 points as SJU took the series with a 66-61 overtime victory the next night in Collegeville.

That earned the Johnnies their first trip to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City, where the season came to an end with a heartbreaking 78-76 last-second loss to Henderson (Arkansas) State in the first round.

“We were in the basement, and let me tell you, that place was nicknamed Rat Hall for The loss stung, but the legacy of success a reason,” said Bernabei, who averaged the 1968-69 team established has 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game lingered long after any disappointment has “There was no doubt about it, he was a guy who made things happen for us that year,” that season, becoming the first SJU player faded away. to earn MIAC MVP honors. said Smith of Bernabei, who was inducted “We were building tradition,” Bernabei said. into the SJU J-Club Hall of Honor this past “But it didn’t matter. George was relaying “I think that season helped take Saint fall. “He could shoot the ball, but he was the messages to us, and when that game John’s basketball to a new level. And I’m also able to pass it. He probably could turned out in our favor, it was crazy. We proud of that.”

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