Saint Mary’s Gaels

[LIONS90045]

Saint Mary’s Gaels

Member: WCC
Record: W10 - L 6

Roster:

Luke Barrett 33 G 6' 6" 200 lbs JR Piedmont, CA
Cade Bennett 22 G 6' 0" 170 lbs FR Moraga, CA
Jensen Bradtke 50 F 6' 10" 220 lbs FR Sandringham, Australia
Alex Ducas 44 G 6' 7" 220 lbs SR Geraldton, Australia
Mason Forbes 25 F 6' 9" 230 lbs SR Folsom, CA
Kevin Gad 24 F 6' 6" 195 lbs FR Livermore, CA
Rory Hawke 14 G 6' 5" 190 lbs FR Townsville, Australia
Chris Howell 15 G 6' 6" 195 lbs SO San Diego, CA
Joshua Jefferson 5 F 6' 8" 220 lbs SO Las Vegas, NV
Aidan Mahaney 20 G 6' 3" 180 lbs SO Lafayette, CA
Augustas Marciulionis 3 G 6' 4" 195 lbs JR Vilnius, Lithuania
Andrew McKeever 45 C 7' 1" 255 lbs FR Livermore, CA
Jordan Ross 2 G 6' 3" 175 lbs FR Pleasant Grove, UT
Mitchell Saxen 11 C 6' 10" 242 lbs SR Seattle, WA
Harry Wessels 1 C 7' 1" 255 lbs SO Boddington, Australia

www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/roster/_/id/2608

Leading Scorers:

Aidan Mahaney G 13.4
Mitchell Saxon C 11.5
Augustus Marciulionis G 10.9
Joshua Jefferson F 9.3
Alex Lucas G 8.4

www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2608

The Gaels are led by All-WCC point guard Aidan Mahaney and burly center Mitchell Saxen. Mahaney does it all and has the talent to be an NBA player. Their 6 losses were all to respectable teams. I can see what they may be favored to take the WCC crown this season.

Gametime: Saturday, Jan 6, 6 pm in Gersten.
Video: ESPN+.

[LIONS90045]

Gaels are favored by 8.5.

[LIONS90045]

On WCC Pick’em, no one bet on the Lions to cover (so far)

[thx4leavinjimlynam]

Trying to take a birdseye view approach: college basketball has changed…dramatically. It is the Wild West. Every season is a new roster.

Of our core 11 this year, we have 5 returning players (Leaupepe, Merkviladze, Graham, Lewis, Issanza). They are playing 38 percent of our minutes.

The 6 new players (Harris, Wright, Johnston, Hill, Thiemann and McBride) play 62 percent of our minutes.

Last season, which we all, I think, agree was a very good season, we had 6 returning players from the 2021-22 team (Shelton, Leaupepe, Anderson, Merkviladze, Lewis, and Marble) and they played 66 percent of the minutes. New guys, 34 percent.

I don’t envy coaches having to start over every year. This is not an excuse for CSJ, he does a good job of attacking the portal, but in this new world of college hoops, he needs to figure out a way to keep a core and add pieces, not start over.

[waterboy]

I think CSJ was planning on leaving this year for a better program after all the hype about his recruiting prowess. Oops!

[LIONS90045]

27-26 good start
This game is winnable if we keep playing our best

[ALioninWinter]

Early second half is critical. It’s where the Lions tend to falter

[ALioninWinter]

Strong D in first half. Still too much standing around in offense but can’t argue with 54%. We’d have a lead if it weren’t for too many dumb errors. I know, BIG IF.

[LIONS90045]

Good time for Johnson starting to “feel it” from 3!

[lmu2008]

A win here would be good for our confidence.

[golions1444]

2 plays with game on the line and not one screen set

[lionlife]

Maybe this is what Stan envisioned. Five guys on the court who can get a decent shot and generally stay in front of their man tonight.

Johnston gets a lot of hate here, but he's been great.

[lionlife]

Ouch.

[lmu2008]

harris tripping over himself to lose the game is the epitome of our season.

[lionlife]

On the plus side, I'm slightly more confident in our chances against Gonzaga. Up to 10% from 0%.