Countdown to Tip-Off: Saint Mary's Gaels and San Diego Toreros

We are entering the last week of October, which means basketball is inching closer and closer. With that, the next WCC Preview features the San Diego Toreros and the Saint Mary's Gaels.

The Toreros finished sixth in the WCC and the Gaels ran all the way to the Sweet 16. What do they look this year?

Saint Mary's Gaels

Returning starters:  Mickey McConnell, Matthew Dellavedova, Clint Steindl

Key additions: Rob Jones (TR), Kenton Walker (TR), Stephen Holt (91)

X-Factor: Clint Steindl, F

The reigning WCC Tournament champions return three starters from their Sweet 16 team. The two who are gone were essential to the Gaels, most notably center Omar Samhan.

Senior Mickey McConnell will try to pick up some of the slack. Along with sophomore Matthew Dellavedova, McConnell is part of one of the best backcourts in the nation. The pair averaged 25 points and near 10 assist per game last year and were exceedingly efficient shooting the ball.

McConnell shot 51 percent from three-point range last season.

The biggest key for the Gaels is replacing the rebounding prowess of Samhan. This will be the job of Kenton Walker and Rob Jones. Jones is eligible again after transferring from another WCC school, San Diego. Walker was efficient in limited action before transferring from Creighton.

Jones was the starting power forward for the 2008 WCC Champion San Diego team, which also defeated Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament. The Gaels have added a wealth of experience with these two.

The Gaels hope the biggest improvement comes from junior Clint Steindl.

Steindl improved quite a bit after the injury to Wayne Hunter last season. Though inconsistent at times, he showed he can be a game changer. His length allows him the capability to be a good defender. He shot 41 percent from three-point range last season. He will be relied upon more than last season and is key to the Gaels’ success.

Big games: 11/26-27 South Padre Island Invitational, 12/1 @ San Diego State, 12/23 @ New Mexico State 1/22 @ Vanderbilt

South Padre Island Invitational – This could be the first opportunity for Saint Mary’s will see a future WCC foe, BYU. If all goes according to plan, BYU and Saint Mary’s would play each other in the championship game. It will be no easy task to take down the Cougars. Jimmer Fredette is back and BYU is a favorite to take the Mountain West.

San Diego State – This will be the sixth meeting between the schools in five years. So these teams are familiar with each other, to say the least. Saint Mary’s is 3-2 against the Aztecs, but SDSU returns four starters to a team that made the NCAA Tournament, including sophomore Kawhi Leonard.

Vanderbilt – The Commodores held a 19-point lead over the Gaels while in Moraga, only to see it completely erased. Though they won, Vanderbilt learned not to underestimate Saint Mary’s. That will not happen this time. The benches are configured differently inside Memorial Gym, so communication could be an issue. This will be a big test smack in the middle of the conference schedule.

San Diego Toreros

Returning starters:  Chris Manresa, Devin Ginty, Matt Dorr

Key additions: Ben Vozzola

X-Factor: Ben Vozzola, G

No Brandon Johnson. No De’Jon Jackson. No Roberto Mafra. The Toreros will need to rely heavily on the senior leadership of Matt Dorr and Devin Ginty. Dorr is the only Torero with significant starting experience. The youth of the team must improve quickly for San Diego to have a chance in the WCC.

San Diego is in a rebuilding mode. Their four top scorers all graduated and two of the returning starters were not big time scorers. Ben Vozzola will be a key piece for the Toreros. His strength still needs to improve but he is a versatile scorer. Vozzola can finish at the rim and is good in a catch and shoot capacity.

Big games: 11/28 @ New Mexico, 12/11 @ San Diego State, 12/22-25 Diamond Head Classic

New Mexico – The Lobos finished as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were bounced in the first round. In the process, they also bid farewell to their two leading scorers: Roman Martinez and Darington Hobson. Despite the losses of Martinez and Hobson, New Mexico returns three starters and adds UCLA transfer, Drew Gordon. They will struggle to rebound the ball early on due to their youth and inexperience. But the same can be said about San Diego.

San Diego State – They are an early favorite to win the Mountain West, as are BYU and UNLV. The in-town rival returns Kawhi Leonard, who averaged a near double-double, and D.J. Gay, who shot 38 percent from three-point range last season. The Aztecs lost no significant player from last season.

Diamond Head Classic – The marquee names in this tournament are Baylor and Butler. San Diego draws Baylor first. The Bears are fresh off their Elite Eight run and added Perry Jones, one of the nation’s best recruits. Crucial for Baylor was the return of LaceDarius Dunn, who led the team in scoring last season. His status with the team is up in the air at this point, but this should not affect the outcome of this game. Baylor is long and athletic. More than likely, San Diego will play the loser between Mississippi State and Washington State as a consolation.