St. Thomas men’s and women’s basketball teams found out their NCAA playoff opponents Monday morning.
The men face Anderson University (Ind.) in Kenosha, Wis., in the opening round Friday as the women play Wisconsin-Whitewater Friday at Whitewater.
The men’s side of the bracket includes eight teams ranked in the top 25. No. 23 Anderson is 22-5 this year. This is Anderson’s first trip to the NCAA tournament in school history.
The men will be making their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament and 14th overall.
The only other MIAC entrant, men or women, into the tournament will be Carleton’s men, which beat the Tommies 73-67 in a MIAC playoff semifinal game last week.
The women’s opponent, Whitewater (20-7) got an at-large bid into the tournament after finishing runner-up in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
St. Thomas finished the season 21-7 and will be making its 18th tournament appearance after winning the MIAC tournament Saturday at St. Ben’s. St. Ben’s did not make the NCAA tournament.
St. Thomas is one of eight programs that has both its men and women playing in the tournament.
Ticket information will be available later today.
Ben Katzner can be reached at bekatzner@stthomas.edu
Congratulations to both the mens and womens bb teams. You overcame the disruption and disadvantage of not having a true home court this year. As an alumnus and fan, I’m proud of all the Tommie teams in post-season play. Glad the men will be playing within driving range and hope the women will be also.