University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

 

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Schedule	Schedule	Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics	Statistics	Statistics

 

Tournament Schedule
Date	Time	Teams (Home Team Listed Second)	Live Stats	Live Video	Box Score
Nov. 10	5:30 p.m.	UW-River Falls 56, Concordia-Moorhead 57	Live Stats	Live Video	Box Score
	7:30 p.m.	UW-La Crosse 68, UW-Superior 76	Live Stats	Live Video	Box Score
Nov. 11	2 p.m.	Concordia-Moorhead 61, UW-La Crosse 54	Live Stats	Live Video	Box Score
	4 p.m.	UW-River Falls 70, UW-Superior 75	Live Stats	Live Video	Box Score

   Merrill’s love of the program began when UWS wanted him to be a Yellowjacket.  That would date back to 1934 when, as a high school senior, he was actively recruited to play basketball at UW-Superior. He was never able to fulfill that honor since he contracted rheumatic fever, which at that time prevented participation in athletics. Regardless, he attended practices and watched from the bleachers knowing that the coaches wished they had him on the floor. He was highly optimistic and thankful despite the setback, and never felt sorry for himself.

He graduated from UW-Superior and began his teaching career in Watersmeet, Michigan where he utilized another gift, and a second love, music. He devoted many years to teaching music, including a stop in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, and then at East High School in Superior. As his career evolved, teaching carried him to administration, and he spent many years serving the school district as an elementary school principal. Thousands knew and respected him for his fairness and the respect he showed others.

Through all the years he maintained a strong devotion to the basketball program at UW-Superior. In his retirement, which lasted a rich 26 years, he rarely missed the early season practices where he’d size up the individual talent and heighten his expectation for a successful season. His relationship with the coaches and players is something of a legend. He was a regular at home games, sat at center court, and was the number one fan of the ‘Jackets. 

The character of the UW-Superior basketball program was evident when Merrill passed on April 8, 2008, as the coaches and entire team showed up for his visitation and stood among hundreds to pay their respects. No doubt, then-head coach Dave Buchanan and his players were not only acknowledging Merrill’s love and respect for their program, but they were also honoring Merrill with their love and respect for him. Merrill was literally one of a kind. A great man and friend to all at UW-Superior and in the community.

Since Merrill’s passing, his son Bruce continued his dad’s infectious optimism and support for Superior and the surrounding area while continuing his commitment to the UW-Superior basketball program. Sadly, shortly after retiring from almost 40 years with the National Bank of Commerce, Bruce passed away on March 15, 2023 at the young age of 62. Bruce and Merrill were the same - optimistic, never had a negative thought, friendly with all they met, and huge supporters of education, the community, and the UW-Superior men's basketball program.

The Merrill Thompson Classic, sponsored by National Bank of Commerce, is in its 13th season in 2023 and is the opening event for the Yellowjacket men’s basketball team. Thank you, Merrill and Bruce, for your service and support to UW-Superior and the community. Your legacies will live forever.

 

Tournament History
2022 • UW-Superior, UW-Platteville, Lawrence, Central
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 11	UW-Platteville 82, Lawrence 71	Box Score
	UW-Superior 63, Central 57	Box Score
Nov. 12	Central 80, Lawrence 43	Box Score
	UW-Platteville 77, UW-Superior 68	Box Score
2021 • UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, Finlandia, Saint John's
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 5	Saint John's 85, UW-River Falls 67	Box Score
	UW-Superior 97, Finlandia 52	Box Score
Nov. 6	UW-River Falls 83, Finlandia 60	Box Score
	Saint John's 67, UW-Superior 45	Box Score
2019 • UW-Superior, Saint John's, Nebraska Wesleyan, Marian
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 8	No. 8 Nebraska Wesleyan 78, No. 12 Saint John's 56	Box Score
	UW-Superior 60, Marian 55	Box Score
Nov. 9	No. 12 St. John's 71, Marian 43	Box Score
	No. 8 Nebraska Wesleyan 87, UW-Superior 51	Box Score
2018 • UW-Superior, Finlandia, Lawrence, UW-Stout
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 9	UW-Stout 79, Lawrence 74 (OT)	Box Score
	UW-Superior 76, Finlandia 63	Box Score
Nov. 10	UW-Stout 84, Finlandia 65	Box Score
	Lawrence 74, UW-Superior 62	Box Score
2017 • UW-Superior, St. Scholastica, Luther, UW-Stout
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 25	St. Scholastica 84, UW-Stout 63	Box Score
	UW-Superior 82, Luther 73	Box Score
Nov. 26	St. Scholastica 92, Luther 70	Box Score
	UW-Stout 67, UW-Superior 63	Box Score
2016 • UW-Superior, Hamline, UW-Eau Claire
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 18	UW-Superior 86, Hamline 82	Box Score
Nov. 19	UW-Eau Claire 95, UW-Superior 74	Box Score
2015 • UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, Minnesota Crookston, Valley City State
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 20	Minnesota Crookston 63, Valley City State 60	Box Score
	UW-River Falls 67, UW-Superior 55	Box Score
Nov. 21	Valley City State 98, UW-Superior 73	Box Score
	UW-River Falls 81, Minnesota Crookston 79	Box Score
2014 • UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, St. Scholastica, Northland
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 29	St. Scholastica 78, UW-River Falls 75 (OT)	Box Score
	UW-Superior 71, Northland 63	Box Score
Nov. 30	UW-River Falls 72, Northland 51	Box Score
	UW-Superior 96, St. Scholastica 62	Box Score
2013 • UW-Superior, Finlandia, Concordia (Minn.), St. Scholastica
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 30	Concordia (Minn.) 81, St. Scholastica 55	Box Score
	UW-Superior 86, Finlandia 46	Box Score
Dec. 1	St. Scholastica 74, Finlandia 55	Box Score
	Concordia (Minn.) 84, UW-Superior 62	Box Score
2012 • UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, Concordia (Minn.), St. Scholastica
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 24	UW-River Falls 69, St. Scholastica 43	Box Score
	Concordia (Minn.) 95, UW-Superior 90 (2 OT)	Box Score
Nov. 25	UW-River Falls 90, Concordia (Minn.) 84 (OT)	Box Score
	UW-Superior 72, St. Scholastica 54	Box Score
2011 • UW-Superior, Edgewood, Finlandia, Lake Superior State
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 18	Edgewood 78, Lake Superior State 77 (OT)	Box Score
	UW-Superior 88, Finlandia 75	Box Score
Nov. 19	Lake Superior State 89, Finlandia 72	Box Score
	Edgewood 73, UW-Superior 67	Box Score
2010 • UW-Superior, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester
Date	Teams	Box Score
Nov. 19	UW-Superior 77, Macalester 58	Box Score
Nov. 20	UW-Superior 71, Gustavus Adolphus 68	Box Score