What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
The buzz around Stevens Point this week isn’t just about the late winter thaw. For the first time since 2018, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team is heading back to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and folks in our corner of the Northwoods couldn’t be prouder.
Head coach Kent Dernbach inherited a program that had fallen on tough times — a 10-15 record just three years ago. Now he’s coaching in March, leading a squad that finished 19-6 and earned an at-large tournament bid. The transformation didn’t happen overnight, but it happened right here in our backyard.
“Anytime you put yourself in a position to make an NCAA Tournament you know you’ve accomplished something special,” Dernbach said. But he’s not satisfied yet, and neither are his players.
When Dernbach took over in 2023, he sold recruits on a vision that hadn’t materialized yet. He asked players to believe in what the program could become before they could see it on the court.
Junior Josiah Butler bought in. The Appleton native is now the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.6 points per game — second-best in the entire Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He became the 34th Pointer in program history to reach 1,000 career points back in January.
“The main reason I came here is because I believe in what coach Dernbach told me during the recruiting process,” Butler explained. “The ability for us to compete against anybody and hopefully compete for a national championship.”
That’s not just talk. UWSP knocked off five other tournament-bound teams this season, including a memorable 79-71 road win at UW-Whitewater in early January. They’ve proven they belong on this stage.
For those who’ve followed Pointers basketball over the years, this tournament appearance represents more than just a successful season. It’s about reclaiming a standard that defines this program.
UWSP has won four NCAA Division III national championships — in 2004, 2005, 2010, and 2015. The banners hanging in Quandt Fieldhouse aren’t just decoration. They’re a reminder of what’s possible when talent meets determination in a community that rallies behind its team.
“We believe this is the standard for our program, we should be competing here every year. Not that we take it for granted — it took a lot to get here — but this is where we expect to be at this point of the season.” — Josiah Butler
Junior Logan Baumgartner, who grew up dreaming of playing college basketball in March, gets to live that dream right in his home state. “Yeah, it’s kind of a dream come true to be playing in March,” he said.
The Pointers face University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday, March 6, at 4:50 p.m. The game takes place in St. Peter, Minnesota, hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College.
UMHB enters the matchup at 20-7, but history favors the Pointers. UWSP defeated the same opponent 76-51 back in 1998 during another tournament run. Of course, that was a different era and different players, but momentum matters in March.
Here’s what makes this year’s team dangerous:
This marks UWSP’s 16th appearance in the Division III tournament. They’re ranked 20th nationally in the final NPI ratings, a testament to the quality of basketball they’ve played all season.
Stevens Point might sit in Portage County, but the Pointers represent the entire Northwoods region. When UWSP succeeds, it lifts the whole community — from the students packing Quandt Fieldhouse to the families watching from home after a long day on the ice.
The university contributes roughly $300 million annually to the local economy. Success on the court brings additional visibility, pride, and yes, a few extra folks stopping by local restaurants and shops when tournament games roll around.
This year’s tournament is especially meaningful for the WIAC. Four conference teams earned bids — the most since 1997. UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville, and UW-Whitewater join the Pointers in the field, proving that Wisconsin basketball runs deep.
Dernbach keeps his team focused on the process, not the outcome. “We’re trying to get better and stack good days on top of one another,” he said. “If we can do that then the sky is the limit.”
The goal isn’t just to show up in March. It’s to be playing their best basketball when it matters most. That’s the formula that brought four national championships to Stevens Point, and it’s the same approach guiding this year’s squad.
Whether you’re planning a road trip to Minnesota to catch the game or settling in to watch from home, one thing’s certain: Pointers basketball is back where it belongs. And for a community that treasures both its outdoor traditions and its athletic achievements, that’s worth celebrating.
Tip-off is Friday at 4:50 p.m. Let’s see if the Pointers can make this March run one to remember.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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