Johnny Tauer, head men’s basketball coach at the University of St. Thomas, was recently interviewed by FOX 9 for a season preview.
From the interview:
Host: You mentioned the word unprecedented, and that’s exactly what St. Thomas is doing right now. It’s the first program in history to make the direct jump from Division III to Division I, which means for you, coach Tauer, St. Thomas could qualify for the NCAA Tournament this year. And we can track your progress right here on FOX 9. What would that mean for you, the city of St. Paul, and the University of St. Thomas if you all were to qualify for this tournament?
Tauer: I tell you, it’s hard not to get goosebumps just listening to you talk about that. There’s a lot of work to be done between now and then, but I do think players are acutely aware of the opportunity in front of them. In the last four years in Division I, we’ve taken every single game as a true blessing and opportunity to compete together. We know this is a unique opportunity this year and someday St. Thomas will get to March Madness.
I’m never gonna make any bold proclamations, but I do think we’re really excited about the foundation we’ve laid over the last four years with how many people have put tireless work and countless hours into it. But when you talk about March Madness, anybody who grew up around basketball knows that there is something special about that. And we’re very honored to be one of two Division I programs in the state of Minnesota.
