MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Men's Basketball will look to regroup over the week of Thanksgiving before welcoming Davidson (Nov. 24, 1 PM) and Utah (Nov. 27, 8 PM). The Gaels lost three in a row in the early going last season, and were able to right the ship to the tune of a 27-8 season and a top-25 finish, and will hope to have similar fortunes this season. In order to do so, they will need to find a way to break out of their recent offensive dryspell, which has them averaging just 53.3 points per game and shooting just 32.8% from the field over their last three contests.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Davidson Wildcats
Friday, November 24 at 1:00 PM
UCU Pavilion - Moraga, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Utah Utes
Monday, November 27 at 8:00 PM
UCU Pavilion - Moraga, Calif.
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DON'T HIT THE PANIC BUTTON YET
Over the past decade, Saint Mary's has experienced five other 3+ game losing streaks (2022-23, 2020-21, 2018-19, 2014-15, and 2013-14). In each of those seasons, however, the Gaels were able to reach the 20 win mark, and qualify for either the NIT or NCAA tournament. This includes last year's 27-8 season, and 2018-19's WCC Tournament winning team, which lost four in a row in the early going. While the three game skid is alarming, all three of the team's that the Gaels have dropped games to are quality, potential NCAA Tournament qualifying teams this year, and while Saint Mary's will need to win those games down the stretch, there is still plenty of time now to retool and regroup just five games into the young season.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Davidson enters their matchup with the Gaels at 3-2, ending their early two game losing streak on Tuesday with a home win over Boston University. So far this season, the Wildcats are 2-0 on their home court, but just 1-2 away from Belk Arena. Second year Head Coach Matt McKillop (son of legendary Davidson Head Coach Bob McKillop) looks to build on his team's 16-16 finish a year ago. The team returns three starters from a year ago, Grant Huffman, Connor Kochera and Reed Bailey, but will need to find a way to match the high volume scoring of graduates Foster Loyer and Sam Mennenga, who averaged a combined 31.5 points per game a season ago. Beyond their three returning starters, the team has relied on last year's sixth man, David Skogman, Villanova transfer Angelo Brizzi and freshman Bobby Durkin, to fill some of the lost production provided by Loyer and Mennenga last season. Like the Gaels, Davidson relies heavily on their stout defense, as their offense continues to find its form. The team has surrendered just 61.4 points per contest, good for top marks amongst A-10 schools. Davidson and Saint Mary's have only squared off once before, but the matchup came with some historical significance, as it featured future NBA stars Steph Curry (Davidson) and Patty Mills (Saint Mary's). The Gaels won that matchup in Moraga back in 2009, 80-68. It was Curry's final collegiate game and Mills' final game in Moraga, as both would go on to be drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.
ABOUT THE UTES
The Utah Utes come into Moraga well rested, having not played in eight days. Utah comes in with a 3-2 record, riding a two game losing streak, with losses at the hands of both No. 6 Houston and RV St. John's at the Charleston Classic. A season ago, the Utes finished 17-15 and were bounced in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament by Stanford. After a six win improvement from year one to year two, third year Head Coach Craig Smith, hopes to continue his upward trajectory, looking to bring the Utes to their first NCAA tournament since 2016. Utah returns four of five starters from a season ago, including 2022-23 first team all-conference honoree Branden Carlson. The 7-0 fifth year player picked up right where he left off from a season ago, averaging 19.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. The team also added a pair of Pac-12 transfers: Washington transfer Cole Bajema looks to fill the shoes of 2023 graduate and honorable mention All-Pac-12 selectee Marco Anthony, while 7-1 Colorado transfer Lawson Lovering gives this teams one of the more imposing "twin tower" looks in the entire NCAA. Despite all that size, the team ranks 11th in the NCAA, committing just 13 fouls per game, as the team demonstrates great discipline in their interior defense.
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