Busting Brackets
Fansided

Saint Mary’s Basketball: Keys to success against Wisconsin in 2019-20

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Jordan Ford #3 and Tommy Kuhse #12 of the Saint Mary's Gaels walk off the court after being defeated by the Villanova Wildcats during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. Villanova defeated Saint Mary's 61-57. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Jordan Ford #3 and Tommy Kuhse #12 of the Saint Mary's Gaels walk off the court after being defeated by the Villanova Wildcats during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. Villanova defeated Saint Mary's 61-57. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
1 of 4
Saint Mary's Basketball
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: Head coach Randy Bennett of the Saint Mary’s Gaels jokes with Jordan Ford #3 as they celebrate their 60-47 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs to win the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Saint Mary’s Basketball looks to start their abnormally tough non-conference schedule with a win against the Wisconsin Badgers. What will take to win this early neutral site game?

Saint Mary’s Basketball is a day away, and Gaels fans have a lot to be excited about. We are more than six months removed from Saint Mary’s miraculous postseason run, and some new additions makes this year look even more promising.

Not only did the Gaels find themselves in the AP Top 25, but they are also a projected NCAA Tournament team with a real chance to win the WCC. The additions of Kristers Korikz, Aaron Menzies and Logan Johnson should lead to improved regular-season success.

What may be most exciting about this season for the general college basketball fan is the difficult nonconference schedule that is rare for Randy Bennett’s squad. With games against Wisconsin, Utah State, Dayton, Arizona State and Nevada, it would not be a stretch to call this the most challenging slate in Gael’s history.

But, for now, the Gaels will be hyper-focused on starting with a win against Wisconsin in South Dakota.

WHO: No. 20 Saint Mary’s Gaels (0-0) vs Wisconsin Badgers (0-0)

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9:00 p.m. EST

WHERE: Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD

TV SCHEDULE: ESPNU

Even though this Gaels team should be improved from last season, their postseason run was not indicative of their regular season struggles. With Wisconsin representing the start of a more difficult regular-season schedule, it is not outrageous to have some concerns for the Gaels.

Let’s take a look at what must happen for the Gaels cash in on their status as the “favorite” in this contest.