5 must-watch games on St. Thomas' 2026-27 men's basketball schedule

St. Thomas has unveiled its complete 2026-27 men's basketball schedule, offering basketball enthusiasts several exciting matchups to follow throughout the season. Here are the five most compelling games that fans of mid-major basketball should not miss:

1. November 6: Minnesota vs. St. Thomas

The first matchup between the Tommies and Gophers as Division I programs takes place this season. After losing four of its top five scorers to the transfer portal in the offseason, Minnesota will be a heavy favorite, but the game promises to generate significant buzz.

2. January 7: St. Thomas vs. North Dakota State

As long as North Dakota State's head coach David Richman remains in charge, the Bison will likely be St. Thomas' biggest competition in the Summit League. Both teams' conference openers are scheduled for January 7 at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. With students returning from winter break, this should be an exciting matchup between two of the conference's top programs.

3. December 15: St. Thomas vs. UC San Diego

Jonny Tauer and his staff have done an excellent job scheduling competitive mid-major programs such as Presbyterian, Liberty, Princeton, Arkansas State, and UNC Asheville. Traveling to St. Paul on December 15 to face the Tritons, who finished the 2025 NCAA Tournament as a 12 seed and recorded 23 wins the previous season under head coach Clint Allard, is an exceptional opportunity for St. Thomas basketball fans.

4. Holiday Classic: St. Thomas vs. Liberty, Princeton, and UNC Wilmington

To celebrate the holiday season, St. Thomas will host a four-day tournament in Wilmington, North Carolina, from Thanksgiving Week. The four participating teams, all vying for their mid-major league titles, should create a thrilling series of games for fans to enjoy.

5. December 22: St. Thomas vs. Stanford

Assuming most fans cannot make the trip to Palo Alto, California, St. Thomas vs. Stanford promises to be an engaging matchup on television. With the Cardinal having a new-look roster without star point guard Ebuka Okorie, witnessing a team like St. Thomas face a power conference squad will be an entertaining experience.