HOUSTON, TX – The reigning SCAC Tournament Champions are right where they belong—on top. The University of St. Thomas Men's Basketball team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title, earning 10 first-place votes from the league's head coaches.
Coming off an incredible 26-3 campaign, the Celts continue to raise the standard under head coach Anthony Medina, who enters his 11th season leading the program. Last season, Medina and his staff earned SCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors—his third time receiving the award—and guided UST to its third SCAC Tournament Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament's second round after hosting and winning at home in the opening round.
The Celts return three key starters from last year's lineup, including senior standout Angel Johnson, an All-SCAC First Team selection who led UST with 13.6 points per game and totaled 88 steals on the year. Joining him is sophomore Nathan Kongolo, a former All-SCAC Freshman Team honoree who averaged 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest, and veteran forward Charles Gitonga, who adds leadership and physical presence in the paint.
Medina has built a powerhouse program, posting an 80-12 record in SCAC play since joining the conference—giving him the highest winning percentage (.870) of any men's coach in league history with five or more years of experience. Year after year, the Celts have proven they're the gold standard of consistency, competitiveness, and championship culture in the SCAC. Medina states, "As a program, we are excited for the start of the new season and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. We are humbled and grateful to be selected to finish first, but recognize that the poll will not help us on game night. I am Looking forward to league play"
The preseason poll placed Colorado College second and Concordia (Texas) third, but the target is firmly on the back of St. Thomas as every team in the league looks to dethrone the defending champs. The Celts, however, have their eyes set on something bigger—another conference title and a deeper NCAA Tournament run.
The 2025-26 season tips off Saturday, November 8, as St. Thomas begins its title defense. The SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament will take place February 27 through March 1, hosted by Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
