UST Men's Basketball Dominates Conference With Record-Breaking Winning Streak

Watching Alex Eala step onto the court at the Birmingham Open this week, I couldn't help but draw parallels to what we're witnessing with the University of St. Thomas men's basketball team. Here we have a young tennis talent competing in a WTA 125 event—several tiers below the French Open's grandeur—while our UST squad has been tearing through their conference with what I consider one of the most impressive winning streaks in recent college basketball memory. Both scenarios represent different levels of competition, yet both showcase that special kind of dominance that transcends the stage they're performing on.

I've been covering college basketball for over fifteen years now, and what UST has accomplished this season goes beyond just winning games. They've completely rewritten the conference record books with 22 consecutive victories, smashing the previous record of 17 straight wins set back in 2014. The way they're playing reminds me of watching those dominant Gonzaga teams from the mid-2010s—there's just this palpable confidence that they'll find a way to win, regardless of the circumstances. Last Tuesday's comeback against their archrivals, where they erased a 15-point deficit in the final eight minutes, was the kind of performance that separates good teams from legendary ones.

What fascinates me about dominant streaks, whether in tennis or basketball, is how they reveal character under pressure. When Eala faces Fruhvirtova in Birmingham, she's dealing with the expectation that she should win at that level, much like UST faces every conference game where opponents treat them as their championship match. I've noticed that during this streak, UST has developed what coaches call "quiet confidence"—they don't celebrate excessively after wins because they expected to win all along. Their head coach mentioned to me last week that the team's mentality shifted around game seven of the streak, when players started holding each other accountable in film sessions without coaching staff having to intervene.

The statistical dominance is frankly ridiculous when you break it down. UST is outscoring opponents by an average of 18.3 points, shooting 49.2% from the field while holding opponents to just 38.1%. Their defense has been particularly transformative—they're forcing 16.5 turnovers per game and converting those into 21.8 points off turnovers. I tracked their defensive rotations during their last home game, and the communication and anticipation were at professional level. Their point guard, Marcus Johnson, has developed into what I believe is the best two-way player in the conference, averaging 17.8 points and 6.9 assists while consistently defending the opponent's best perimeter player.

What many casual observers miss about extended winning streaks is the psychological toll they take. Every team gives you their best shot—I've seen opponents hit career-high three-point percentages against UST, only to still lose by double digits. The target on their back grows with each victory, and the pressure mounts exponentially. I remember speaking with their senior forward after their 18th straight win, and he admitted that the team feels the weight of expectation every time they step on the court now. Yet they've developed routines to handle it, including what they call "streak amnesia"—deliberately not discussing the winning streak and treating each game as its own separate season.

The comparison to lower-tier tournaments like the Birmingham Open versus majors like the French Open is particularly apt here. While UST's conference might not have the national prestige of the Power Five conferences, dominance at any level requires the same mental fortitude and technical excellence. I've always argued that sustained winning, regardless of the competition level, builds championship DNA that translates upward. We saw this with Virginia Commonwealth University before their Final Four run—they dominated their conference for years before breaking through nationally.

From a tactical perspective, what impresses me most about UST is their adaptability. Early in the streak, they were winning with offensive firepower, regularly scoring in the high 80s. Then conference opponents adjusted, trying to slow the game down, and UST responded by becoming defensive stalwarts, winning three consecutive games without breaking 65 points. That flexibility reminds me of the great San Antonio Spurs teams—they can win playing any style, at any pace. Their coaching staff deserves tremendous credit for developing multiple identities within the same season.

As the streak extends to record-breaking territory, I'm noticing subtle changes in how they handle success. The celebrations have become more muted, the focus more intense during timeouts, and the players' body language suggests they're playing with purpose beyond just winning games. There's a sense of legacy building happening in real-time, and as someone who's witnessed numerous programs rise to prominence, I can tell you this feels different. They're not just winning—they're systematically dismantling opponents' will to compete.

Looking ahead, the real test will be how this regular-season dominance translates to postseason success. History shows that extended winning streaks don't always correlate with tournament championships—the pressure mounts, opponents have more time to prepare, and the margin for error disappears. But what I've seen from this UST team suggests they're built for March. Their balanced scoring—with four players averaging double figures—and deep rotation makes them less vulnerable to an off-night from any single player.

In my professional opinion, what makes this UST team special isn't the record itself, but how they've achieved it. They've shown resilience in close games, winning seven contests by five points or fewer. They've demonstrated depth, with different role players stepping up in critical moments throughout the streak. Most importantly, they've maintained hunger despite accumulating victories. As we approach tournament season, I believe this winning streak has forged a team that understands how to win under any circumstances, and that intangible quality might be more valuable than any statistical measure of their dominance. The true legacy of this record-breaking run won't be the number in the record books, but the championship mentality it has instilled in every player who experienced it.