Pac-12 Basketball: What would a conference challenge look like?

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 5: Thomas Welsh (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

UCLA Bruins vs Saint Mary’s Gaels

In an incredibly rare situation, the Saint Mary’s Gaels might actually be the favorite in this matchup. Jock Landale comes in the best college player either team has and could use this highlighted game to burst out in the national spotlight even more than last year.

Randy Bennett will look to have his best year since the Delavadova era, with four seniors in the starting lineup. Emmett Naar, Calvin Hermanson, and Ole Miss/New Mexico grad transfer Cullen Neal round out the foursome in their final years. Add that Saint Mary’s notoriously schedules soft, then this game is paramount down the road when it comes to getting an advantageous seed.

UCLA will be reloading with the early departures of Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf, and Ike Anigbogu, along with the graduations of Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford. Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh are the only significant contributors coming back, on a team that played little to no defense at times. The development and production of Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes will determine the ceiling for the Bruins this year.

UCLA will have the athletic advantage but Saint Mary’s will have the skill advantage in this game. In early nonconference games experienced teams tend to do better against reloading/rebuilding squads and with the seniors more desperate to get a huge win, the Gales win this one.

Prediction: Saint Mary’s

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