The Daily OrangeSt. Thomas remains only undefeated team in Division III
By David F. Baer
Posted: 2/24/09, 1:03 AM EST Section: Sports
B.J. Viau will never forget his senior season at St. Thomas. He does not even know how to put the excitement and enthusiasm of the Tommies 25-0 start into words.
"I just do not know how to describe it all," Viau said. "It is on my mind every game, every practice. Just giving it my all, and winning."
St. Thomas focuses on taking everything one game at a time and nothing for granted. Its preseason goals, although not defined by numbers, were to constantly get better and build on each game. The Tommies have done that so far, starting 25-0, to remain the only undefeated team in Division 3.
"25-0 is certainly special in a way, but our goal has always just been to be perfect every day, to be 1-0 every game," Viau said. "It is great to be No. 1 right now, and we are enjoying where we are now because it presents us with the opportunity to be No. 1 at end of year."
The momentous start for the Tommies has already resulted in their fourth-consecutive conference title. They also won five straight from 1970-74.
The Tommies are finding their success not in one or two players, but in their entire roster. Their highest scorer is junior Joe Scott at 13.6 points per game, the only player averaging double-digits.
The team-first mentality has been a major key to Viau's and St. Thomas' success so far this season. Players have been replacing "personal accolades" with solid, fundamental basketball.
Scott first dawned a Tommies uniform last season after transferring from Division II UC-Colorado Springs, where he averaged 10.3 points per game and sank 58 3-pointers. He was used to scoring, and winning. He averaged 15.9 points for St. Thomas last season while hitting 75 treys.
However, he was all smiles after being held scoreless in a 71-49 rout of Hamline University on Feb. 21.
"He was just happy about winning the game, giving everyone high fives afterwards," Viau said. "That's a big turnaround for him. Now it is all about winning. That is the important part."
"I just do not know how to describe it all," Viau said. "It is on my mind every game, every practice. Just giving it my all, and winning."
St. Thomas focuses on taking everything one game at a time and nothing for granted. Its preseason goals, although not defined by numbers, were to constantly get better and build on each game. The Tommies have done that so far, starting 25-0, to remain the only undefeated team in Division 3.
"25-0 is certainly special in a way, but our goal has always just been to be perfect every day, to be 1-0 every game," Viau said. "It is great to be No. 1 right now, and we are enjoying where we are now because it presents us with the opportunity to be No. 1 at end of year."
The momentous start for the Tommies has already resulted in their fourth-consecutive conference title. They also won five straight from 1970-74.
The Tommies are finding their success not in one or two players, but in their entire roster. Their highest scorer is junior Joe Scott at 13.6 points per game, the only player averaging double-digits.
The team-first mentality has been a major key to Viau's and St. Thomas' success so far this season. Players have been replacing "personal accolades" with solid, fundamental basketball.
Scott first dawned a Tommies uniform last season after transferring from Division II UC-Colorado Springs, where he averaged 10.3 points per game and sank 58 3-pointers. He was used to scoring, and winning. He averaged 15.9 points for St. Thomas last season while hitting 75 treys.
However, he was all smiles after being held scoreless in a 71-49 rout of Hamline University on Feb. 21.
"He was just happy about winning the game, giving everyone high fives afterwards," Viau said. "That's a big turnaround for him. Now it is all about winning. That is the important part."
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