Saint Mary’s Gaels
West Coast (22-11, 11-5)
Saint Mary’s started the season 3-4, with those losses coming against Utah State, Mississippi State, Harvard and UC Irvine. They did pick up a few decent non-conference wins and that put the Gaels on the bubble for most of the 2018-2019 campaign. Of course, Saint Mary’s won when it mattered most, upsetting Gonzaga 60-47 in the conference tournament final.
Big Wins: 11/14 at New Mexico State (73-58), 3/11 vs San Diego (69-62), 3/12 vs Gonzaga (60-47)
Bad Losses: 12/22 at Western Kentucky (68-71), 1/3 at San Francisco (72-76), 1/26 at Pepperdine (77-84)
Coach: Randy Bennett
Why They Can Surprise:
The Gaels can beat a team like Gonzaga by taking care of the basketball and playing solid defense. It was the defense that led to the win over the Bulldogs. The Gaels held Gonzaga to 37.5 percent shooting from the floor and just 11.8 percent from beyond the arc. If Coach Randy Bennett can keep his team playing defense like that, the Gaels will be a scary team to see in the NCAA Tournament. Taking care of the basketball will be equally important. The Gaels commit just 10.5 turnovers per game and the backcourt trio of Jordan Ford, Tanner Krebs and Tommy Kuhse certainly help in that regard. Ford is the team’s top scorer too, averaging 21.3 points per game and shooting an impressive 42.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Ford joins forward Malik Fitts to join a potent scoring duo. Like Ford, Fitts is a consistent outside shooter and the big man averages 15.3 points and a team high 7.6 rebounds per game. Nobody else on the team averages over nine points per game though and it will be important for somebody to step up and provide another scoring threat in the NCAA Tournament. It could be Tanner Krebs and his outside shooting or ability or senior center Jordan Hunter, who tallied 12 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Gonzaga.
Probable Starters:
Tommy Kuhse, Sophomore, Guard, 6.2 ppg, 2.9 apg
Jordan Ford, Junior, Guard, 21.3 ppg, 2.5 apg
Tanner Krebs, Junior, Guard, 8.9 ppg
Malik Fitts, Sophomore, Forward, 15.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg
Jordan Hunter, Senior, Center, 7.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Key Role Players:
Matthias Tass, Freshman, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Dan Fotu, Freshman, Forward, 2.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.5 (152nd in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.0 (36, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.3 (43, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.8 (181, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.6 (190, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.9 (32, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.0 (64, 6)
Rebound Margin: 5.5 (26, 2)
Assists Per Game: 10.5 (340, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 10.5 (17, 3)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NIT | First Round win over Southeastern Louisiana |
| 2018 | NIT | Second Round win over Washington |
| 2018 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Utah |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over VCU |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Arizona |
| 2016 | NIT | First Round win over New Mexico State |
| 2016 | NIT | Second Round win over Georgia |
| 2016 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Valparaiso |
| 2015 | NIT | First Round loss to Vanderbilt |
| 2014 | NIT | First Round win over Utah |
| 2014 | NIT | Second Round loss to Minnesota |
| 2013 | NCAA | Opening Round win over Middle Tennessee |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Memphis |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Purdue |
| 2011 | NIT | First Round loss to Kent State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Richmond |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Villanova |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Baylor |
| 2009 | NIT | First Round win over Washington State |
| 2009 | NIT | Second Round win over Davidson |
| 2009 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to San Diego State |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Miami |
| 2005 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Southern Illinois |
*all team stats through 3/10
