St. Mary's Gaels Should Get More Respect from the Media

I sat down on my couch in front of a nice TV waiting to see the Toreros of San Diego take on No. 23 St. Mary's Gaels on ESPN. The Nebraska-Oklahoma game was just wrapping up and once the game finished the broadcasters threw it back to the studio in preparation for the St. Mary's-San Diego game. What I heard made me irate. 

Studio analyst Jimmy Dykes, in discussing the St. Mary's Gaels, looked exasperated giving one of those "why do we even have to talk about this" sighs and proceeded to ask how St. Mary's was ranked and remarked, "They're not as good as people think they are."  He followed this up with a brilliant piece of halftime analysis, claiming that St. Mary's can't win on a neutral site because they're not big enough.

First off, Jimmy, how did you get on ESPN? Probably because you are a failed coach. No?  Oh, wait, I'm sorry, you are a failed assistant coach. What you are doing on a college basketball studio is beyond me considering you couldn't even become a head coach anywhere. 

Aren't you better suited for commentary at a hot dog eating contest? Oh, according to your ESPN bio, you do that too. Stick to hot dog eating contests Jimmy because you do not know what you are talking about.

St. Mary's is one of the best college teams in the country, and as a graduate of a rival university it pains me to say this. They are 11th in points per game, seventh in assists, third in field goal percentage, seventh in three-pointers made and first in the country in points per possession. 

Additionally, Junior Mickey McConnell has been nominated as one of 10 finalists for best point guard in the nation. The question, Jimmy, isn't how are they ranked. It should be, how are they ranked so low?

The Gaels are 22-4 and 10-1 in the WCC conference that includes perennial tournament dark-horse Gonzaga, 18-8 Portland and 16-11 Santa Clara. They became tournament darlings last year with a magnificent run to the Sweet 16, had a run to the quarterfinals of the NIT the year before and made the NCAA tournament in 2008. 

Over the past three seasons St. Mary's has established itself, one would think, as a major mid-major team. The fact that they are about to knock off Gonzaga in the WCC for the first time in 11 years should confirm that.

Alas, the Gaels of St. Mary's have not been given any respect, at least not from the likes of Jimmy Dykes and ESPN. St. Mary's is the Rodney Dangerfield of the NCAA: they don't get no respect. This is probably the result of playing in the frowned upon West Coast Conference.

It is a shame that a conference that fields three-time national champion USF, powerhouse Gonzaga, 2008 tournament Cinderellas San Diego and a powerful St. Mary's team can be so looked down upon. However, with the addition of national powerhouse BYU next season, the disrespect shown to the WCC should dissipate.

Unfortunately for St. Mary's, that does them little good this season. For West Coast teams, it appears that only way to gain some national respect is to win in the NCAA tournament. So, Gaels, go out and prove the likes of Jimmy Dykes wrong.