Can Saint Mary’s basketball finally topple Gonzaga, or will David continue to lose to Goliath? This will be one of the biggest questions all season.
Despite an obvious inability to beat the national runner-up Gonzaga Bulldogs, Saint Mary’s was still one of the best mid-major programs last season. This year, the Gaels return four starters and add more talent. This is the first season in a while where many basketball analysts expect the Gaels to win the WCC, and they have the potential to deliver. Let’s take a look at the Gaels starters, reserves, schedule and season expectations.
Projected Starting Five
Point Guard: Emmett Naar (Redshirt Senior)
After experiencing a dip in his production last season, Emmett Naar should be expected to reestablish himself as one of the best offensive players in the WCC. Although most of his production loss can be attributed to a drop in minutes played, Naar also experienced a decrease in his field goal and free throw percentages. If Naar can continue his solid assist rate and 3-point percentage, however, he could be a choice for All-WCC First Team.
Shooting Guard: Cullen Neal (Redshirt Senior)
There will be a lot of debate over who will start in the second guard spot, but I give the edge to Cullen Neal, a graduate transfer from Ole Miss. Neal has often been criticized for his inefficiency as a true point and should be more successful working off the ball. While he has turned the ball over at a disappointing rate, his shooting efficiency is relatively solid. The good news for the Gaels is that they have Jordan Ford and Tanner Krebs if Neal struggles.
Small Forward: Calvin Hermanson (Redshirt Senior)
One of the best catch-and-shoot players in the NCAA, Calvin Hermanson is a key piece for Saint Mary’s. Hermanson was second best scorer for the Gaels with 13.1 points per game last season. He is a very efficient shooter, averaging 43% from deep and 61% from two-point range. If he can continue to shoot with this efficiency, he should be a lock for All-WCC First-Team.
Power Forward: Evan Fitzner (Redshirt Junior)
Evan Fitzner may be one of the most underrated players in the WCC. He did take a backseat to Landale, Hermanson, Joe Rahon, and Naar last season though. Despite starting in every single game, Fitzner only averaged 15.1 minutes, during which he shot an impressive 42.9% from deep and hauled in 3.2 rebounds. With Jock Landale in the middle, Fitzner will still have an opportunity to play a stretch forward role on offense but will need to play a stronger interior defense due to the loss of Dane Pineau.
Center: Jock Landale (Senior)
Last season was a breakout year for Jock Landale, who averaged 16.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. If Landale can improve on those numbers and play even more effectively against the bigs of BYU and Gonzaga, he should be the easy favorite for WCC Player of the Year. Landale is an incredibly efficient scorer, averaging 61.1% from the field last season, and he is one of the best interior players in the country.