D3hoops.com Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University basketball team is ranked No. 12 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll released Wednesday, Oct. 23.

SJU (20-6, 18-2 MIAC) won its 11th MIAC regular-season title in program history and fourth in the last six seasons (no MIAC season in 2020-21) in 2023-24. The 20-win season was also the Johnnies' 15th overall and fifth in the past eight seasons. Four of the Johnnies' six losses were decided by three points or less. 

The Johnnies finished as the NCAA Division III leader in shooting percentage (.516) and three-point percentage (.409), and fourth in free-throw percentage (.804).

Pat McKenzie '04 was named the MIAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year for the third time of his career (2017-18 and 2021-22) in 2023-24 and begins his 10th season with a 174-53 career record, including a 131-33 mark in MIAC play. He returns a trio of All-MIAC honorees in senior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne), senior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) and senior guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.). Berg, Thissen and another starter from last season, senior wing Connor Schwob (Waconia, Minn.), return for the 2024-25 campaign thanks to the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Berg finished second in the MIAC in shooting percentage (.645/98-for-152) and was 10th in blocked shots (0.6 bpg.) in conference play. One of two Johnnies to start all 26 games last season, Berg finished third in NCAA Division III in shooting percentage (.650) and finished second on the team in blocked shots (15) and third in scoring (12.9 ppg.) in just 23.0 minutes per contest. He scored a career-high 28 points and was 9-for-11 shooting in the Johnnies' loss in the MIAC semifinals and averaged 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.0 minutes per game, while shooting 79.2 percent (38-for-48) from the field, over his final five contests.
 
A two-time All-MIAC honoree, Thissen led the Johnnies in assists (53) and minutes played (26.3 mpg.), and was second in scoring (13.7 ppg.). He became the 40th Johnnie in school history to eclipse 1,000 career points last December and finished this season with 1,255, which is good for 15th on the all-time list. Thissen earned his second College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honor following the season.
 
Vaughn led the MIAC in three-pointers made (60) and three-point percentage (.492, 60-for-122) in conference play, and was also first in free-throw percentage (.907, 49-for-54) but did not reach the statistical minimum. Nationally, Vaughn led Division III in three-point percentage (.490/76-for-155) and was ninth in free-throw percentage (.909/80-for-88). Vaughn was the other Johnnie who started all 26 games and led SJU in scoring (13.8 ppg.), three-pointers (76), three-point percentage (.490) and free-throw percentage (.909) overall. 

Vaughn enters his senior season third in SJU history in both three-pointers made (205) and attempted (477), and second in free-throw percentage (.885, 207-for-234). He needs 27 three-pointers to tie Patrick Strom '18 for second in school history and 18 points to become the 41st Johnnie in program history to reach 1,000 for a career.

SJU opens the 2024-25 season by hosting Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in Sexton Arena.

The D3hoops.com top-25 poll is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. Points are awarded on a 25-24-23-22-etc. basis.