Saint Mary’s Basketball: 2019-20 keys to matchup against Arizona State

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Jordan Ford #3 and Tanner Krebs #0 of the Saint Mary's Gaels react 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) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: Jordan Hunter (L) #1 and Jordan Ford #3 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Saint Mary’s Basketball will travel Wednesday, Dec. 18 to Phoenix to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils. What are the keys for the Gaels to come away with the ‘W’?

This will be Saint Mary’s most difficult contest before opening up West Coast Conference play at San Francisco on Jan. 2. Tip-off at the Talking Stick Resort Arena will be at 6 p.m. PT and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

ASU was picked to finish in the middle of the Pac-12 this year. The Sun Devils are not changing any minds about that prediction this season. ASU (8-2) is ranked #67 in the KenPom rankings, winning games you would expect them to win while losing at neutral sites to #42 Colorado (8-2) 81-71 in China and to #9 Virginia (8-1) 48-45 at the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.

Meanwhile, #44 Saint Mary’s (10-2) was picked to come in second in the WCC. The Gaels will be battling #41 BYU (9-4) for that runner-up position all season long behind #6 Gonzaga (11-1 and #2 in the AP Poll). Traveling to the Sun Devils backyard to play at a “neutral” site should be a challenge for Saint Mary’s, who has only played one true away game this season. That was an 89-77 win at #187 Cal (6-5) which is less than a 20-mile road trip from Moraga.

The Gael’s best wins were over #53 Wisconsin (5-5) 65-63 and #49 Utah State (10-2) 81-73 at neutral sites. Their worst loss was at home to #169 Winthrop (4-7) 61-59.

Saint Mary’s is in for what should be a close game down to the final minute. To win this one, the Gaels must excel in the following areas…