College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 26-8; 15-1; West Coast Conference regular season champions, list in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Randy Bennett (24th Year; 533-216 at Saint Mary’s, with 10 NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

PG Augustus Marčiulionis – 6’4″, 200 Senior

G Jordan Ross – 6’3″, 190 Sophomore

W Luke Barrett – 6’6″, 215 Senior

F Paulius Murauskas – 6’8″, 235 Sophomore

C Mitchell Saxen – 6’10”, 250 5th-year Senior

Experienced Reserves

F Ashton Hardaway – 6’8″, 210 Sophomore

C Harry Wessels – 7’1″, 275 Junior

Freshmen

G Mikey Lewis – 6’3″, 180 / Top 100 recruit

G Liam Campbell – 6’4″, 200

G Joshua Dent – 6’3″, 190 / Australia

W Rory Hawke – 6’5″, 200 (redshirt)

F Oliver Faubert – 6’9″, 215 / Canada

C Andrew McKeever – 7’1″, 275 (redshirt)

Heading into this offseason, Saint Mary’s sure had things figured out. The Gaels were going to have a proven core coming back with years of West Coast Conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances under their belts. To that, legendary head coach Randy Bennett was going to add the best freshman class in program history. For a program that’s been to four out of the past five Big Dances but is still searching for a defining postseason campaign, it looked like this was going to be the group that got it done. 

As Mike Tyson once said, though, ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth’. This spring, Saint Mary’s got punched in the mouth. 

First, promising forward Joshua Jefferson did something that’s been rare for the Gaels: he entered the transfer portal, and is now at Iowa State. Then, Bennett lost his top lieutenant in associate head coach and recruiting ace Justin Joyner, who has gone to Michigan. Soon after, Aidan Mahaney, the team’s leading scorer and a two-time All-WCC pick, hopped into the transfer portal. He’s now at UConn. Then, a huge part of that best-ever recruiting class, 4-star guard Zion Sensley, decommitted from the Gaels…and things got messy. Reports emerged that Bennett initially tried to block Sensley’s decision, being that he had already signed with the program. Like Mahaney, though, Sensley had come to Moraga, CA, largely because of his rapport with Joyner. Long story short, Sensley is now at UC Santa Barbara. 

To further complicate things, the WCC has gotten stronger around the Gaels while their comparative internal chaos raged. Their league now features Washington State and Oregon State, while teams like San Francisco, Loyola Marymount, and Santa Clara are looking strong. Suddenly, one of the most consistent programs in America for the last quarter century is at a crossroads, and it’s up to the guys who are still around to prove themselves all over again. 

There is still a very strong foundation in Moraga, and the two mightiest sills are point guard Augustas Marčiulionis and center Mitchell Saxen. Together, they’ve helped to lead Saint Mary’s to 79 wins over the past three years and added back-to-back WCC regular season crowns. Now, they’ll be asked to do even more. 

A somewhat surprising selection as the WCC Player of the Year last winter, Marčiulionis enjoyed his best season as a junior. A heady, intuitive, smooth-operating playmaker, Marčiulionis has proven that his understanding of and ability to execute the Gaels’ offense is supreme. He makes great decisions with the ball and tempo, keeping things organized and his teammates composed. He’s also a standout defender; Marčiulionis has the size and intensity to check quality scorers, and consistently makes their lives difficult. He’s also one of the Gaels’ most exciting players, often starting them in transition (such as it is) with a steal; as a junior, the man they call ‘Goose’ ranked third in the WCC in thefts. The biggest evolution in his game last year was that Marčiulionis has now become a genuine scoring threat, too. 

The Lithuanian guard is at his best when he gets all the way to the rim. That’s where Marčiulionis makes acrobatic shots, contested layups, and all sorts of entertaining passes. Marčiulionis makes good reads on the pick-and-roll, and when he finds a favorable matchup, exploits the opposing defense until they have no choice but to change tactics. His first two years, Marčiulionis was just a 36.7% shooter from the floor, and opponents didn’t worry much about his jumper. Last winter, though, Marčiulionis asserted himself off the bounce and even started to become a threat from the outside. Over the Gaels’ final 13 contests last season, Marčiulionis averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 assists per game – and during that stretch, he shot 40.0% from the land of trey. Along the way, he was named the WCC’s Tournament MVP, and Marčiulionis will need all of the confidence that those experiences gave him as ‘the guy’ in Bennett’s backcourt this winter. If Marčiulionis can become a consistent threat from downtown in addition to everything else he does, his evolution into this team’s biggest star will be well and truly complete. 

A veteran who has seen all sorts of battles in his time, Saxen is as reliable as it gets in the paint. A two-time first-team All-WCC pick and the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Saxen brings all the grit and toughness you would hope for from a fifth-year senior. More than a stout presence, Saxen makes plays defensively and both creates and cashes in opportunities on the other end. The WCC’s leader in blocked shots each of the last two seasons, Saxen took strides to cut his fouls last year and has become more clever in his approach to defending as the years have gone on. 

Over the past two seasons, Saxen has piled up 232 offensive rebounds, leading the conference each time. Last winter, he also managed 45 putback attempts, per Hoop-Math, and Saxen has become adept at tipping the ball towards teammates or quickly setting them up after one of his reloads. As a scorer, Saxen is undoubtedly a post-up big man. He’s worked hard to improve his touch and hands over the years, and though not particularly fluid, Saxen establishes great position and then takes advantage of good feeds. He can make short jumpers, but has not done so with tremendous regularity. Saxen is much more likely to be seen tossing in hook shots or a hybrid push shot, and he uses the backboard smartly on tip-in’s. With just a bit more shooting range, and more importantly an improvement at the charity stripe (he’s a 59.9% career shooter), Saxen can take a further step offensively. Bennett and Co are going to need featured scoring options, and a proven, in-house solution who already works the pick-and-roll well with Marčiulionis would be ideal. 

With Mahaney gone, the Gaels need for consistent, impact scoring has gone up considerably. This is not a run-and-gun outfit, as everyone always seems to remind Bennett in the postseason. Instead, Saint Mary’s is a program that’s been built on defense and rebounding. Last season the Gaels led the nation in defensive rebound percentage and ranked fourth each on the offensive glass and in opponent effective field goal percentage. Those numbers aren’t flukes: that’s who the Gaels have been. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, then, if a new scoring threat emerged who also added to that reputation?

Bennett may have found such a player in former Arizona forward Paulius Murauskas. Like Marčiulionis, Murauskas is from Lithuania. Like Saxen, he’s becoming a tough customer in the paint. And like Jefferson, Murauskas has strong passing skills plus a jumper that allows him to be a floor-stretching threat at the 4 spot. 

Though he didn’t play a huge role last year in Tucson, Murauskas has taken advantage of the chances he’s had to show what he can do. Murauskas scored 10 points in the first collegiate game he ever played, grabbed 10 rebounds in his second, and hyped the Wildcats fans with a couple of memorable triples during a 45-point romp over rival Arizona State in February. This summer, Murauskas did far more. Playing for his home country at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket championship, Murauskas led Lithuania to a fifth-place finish as top scorer. For the tournament, Murauskas averaged 18.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Murauskas was particularly effective on the offensive glass – music to Bennett’s ears – and showed off his range by nailing 14 triples across seven games. 

If he can carry that momentum to Moraga, Murauskas is going to get the run to blossom as a Gael. Murauskas has the skills to grow into a creative player, and he sees the floor well even while planning to crash his way towards the rim. Given that Saxen is not really a shooting threat, Jefferson presented great contrast prior to getting hurt last season. If Murauskas can pull defenders to the perimeter and then work to feed Saxen near the rim, it could further transform the team’s offense. Best of all, given the willingness he has shown to bring an attitude and fight for rebounds and defensive position inside, there is no doubting if Murauskas can adjust to the Gaels’ style of play. 

Like Marčiulionis, Murauskas is from Lithuania. Like Saxen, he’s becoming a tough customer in the paint. And like Jefferson, Murauskas has strong passing skills

Under Bennett, the Gaels have forged a tremendous reputation for developing players within the program. Over his four years (including a redshirt) on Moraga, Luke Barrett has developed from a deep reserve into last year’s 6th man. Now, the veteran wing is hoping to step out as a starter who can be counted on to do a little bit of everything. In keeping with players such as Kyle Bowen and the tradition of skilled brawlers that Saint Mary’s has featured over the years, Barrett backs down from no one. He’ll fight for rebounds against bigger players, and despite standing 6’6″, Barrett made 75.9% of his shots near the rim last winter, per Bart Torvik. A pugnacious defender who can rattle the other team, Barrett is quick enough to stay with scoring wings and has the versatility and strength to guard in the post. Bennett would love to see him cut down on an overaggressive foul here or there, and doing so would help to make Barrett one of the WCC’s most effective defenders. If Barrett can show the more consistent jumper that he displayed after the new year as part of the bargain, the Gaels will be better for it and he could average double figures.

Though Saint Mary’s lost Sensley, incoming freshman Mikey Lewis decided to stay in his home state and become a Gael. And given the team’s need for scoring and his natural skills, it seems likely that Lewis will play a lot right away. 

A consensus Top 100 recruit, Lewis is a scoring guard from Oakland, CA, who is particularly dangerous putting it on the deck and then striking from mid-range. He’s fast getting around the court, quick in tight spaces, and Lewis shows entertaining agility and daring getting where he wants to go in inside the arc. Lewis can get all the way to the cup, but often prefers to stop on a dime a free up space for short jumpers and runners in and around the lane. As he grows comfortable showing those skills, the hope is that Lewis will also find the stroke on his jumper consistently from beyond the three-point line. Lewis simply is not the shooter that Mahaney was, but few are. With his ability to penetrate, though, Lewis can spark a different sort of action – and opponents will have to worry about all of the Gaels’ guards when they put it on the deck. 

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

60.2 – Opponent Points Per Game (3rd)

0.280 – Free Throw Attempts Per FG Attempt (306th)

67.2% – Team FT Percentage (325th)

81.5% – Defensive Rebounding Rate (1st)

37.0% – Offensive Rebounding Rate (4th)

That’s because last year’s top freshman guard, Jordan Ross, is back looking to earn a big share of the minutes. In his debut, Ross saw action in 28 of the 34 games Saint Mary’s played, but it was very rarely much action. Now that he’s been in the program for two offseasons, Ross is familiar with what will be asked of him and should be able to let his talent take over. Like his counterparts, Ross makes his best plays around the paint, and can be explosive on the drive. In high school, Ross was an innovative finisher near the rim, and in a larger sample size as a sophomore, should display those talents. Given the development shown by so many young Gaels under Bennett, the prospect of a breakout from the former 4-star prospect is enticing. 

The Gaels have a couple of talented youngsters on the wing who are looking for a mulligan this fall. Though he prepped in California, Ashton Hardaway headed east as a freshman to play for his father, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway. There was plenty of tumult for the Tigers last year, though, and a multitude of mouths to be fed minutes. In the end, Ashton Hardaway’s best path to making a consistent contribution seemed to lie elsewhere, and now the lithe sophomore will see what he can do for Bennett. Hardaway can shoot the rock, and made 17 triples in just 246 minutes played last season. Though he doesn’t have the quickest feet out there trying to guard on the perimeter, Hardaway has the frame to continue adding strength and become another quality option as a stretch-4 for the Gaels. 

For Rory Hawke, it’s more than a mulligan. The Australian freshman took a redshirt year in 2022-23, and then went down again due to injury just six games into his freshman campaign. He does have the distinction of having begun his career four-for-four from the land of trey, but Hawke did so in limited minutes. Another tough-minded guy, Hawke came to Moraga with a reputation as a shooter. After two years marinating in the program, Hawke will be looking to step forward in a meaningful way this winter. 

The Gaels have a pair of sturdily-built 7’1″ guys to utilize off the bench, too. In just over nine minutes per game last winter, Harry Wessels was incredibly productive. While his scoring game is still evolving, Wessels was one of the best per-minute rebounders in America as a sophomore. With the Gaels having a backup who grabs 17.9% of all available offensive boards and 26.6% of the defensive clangs, it becomes easy to see why they’re an elite rebounding team. His availability to start the season is a question, as Wessels has been hampered by an injury in fall practices, but the big Australian will give Saint Mary’s a great 1-2 punch in the middle once he’s back. If Wessels can show a bit more confidence and maybe even a go-to move offensively, his evolution into SMC’s next stalwart center will be well on track. Andrew McKeever is going to see action – ready or not – while Wessels gets right. Coming off of a redshirt, McKeever knows what the Gaels’ coaches demand, and only needs to start doing those things consistently in order to earn his own place in the rotation. 

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

N Boise State – December 14

N Nebraska – November 17

N New Mexico/Arizona State – November 29

vs Utah State – December 22

N Southern Cal – November 28

Bennett and his staff will be incorporating a couple more freshmen into the rotation this year – if they’re ready. Another Aussie, Joshua Dent, looks like he’s ready to help out off the bench. A tough-minded perimeter player who can handle and shoot the ball, Dent has some classic attributes to be a successful Gael. He’s another product of the Australian Institute of Sport and is plenty familiar with playing against older, bigger guys. Reports indicate that Dent has increasingly pushed Lewis for the best backup minutes in the backcourt this fall. If that competition continues into the coldest months, Bennett & Co should have a guard rotation that can hang with good teams. Liam Campbell looks like the fifth guard at this point, while rangy Canadian forward Oliver Faubert has looked good in practices. He was tasked with covering Saxen at times during SMC’s recent Blue & White scrimmage, and for a kid that’s still adding WCC-level muscle, Faubert acquitted himself rather well. 

Saint Mary’s isn’t going to stop doing what works for them just because a couple of guys left this spring. The Gaels have become one of America’s best and most consistent programs because they know who they are and what they do well, and their deep commitment to that approach has yet to fail. 

“Our deal is to try and get a good shot and work until you get it. We tell ’em all the time just get singles, get singles, get singles, get singles. Don’t try and take a tough one,” Bennett explains his system. “So that’s just kind of how we play, and that’s how we’ve played for a long time. We have good guards, so we would play off those guys a lot and on-balls and we have a good inside-out game”

It’s not to say that an old dog can’t learn new tricks; after all, when the portal took a bite out of SMC, Bennett and his staff waded into that unfamiliar territory and landed impact talent. There’s no panic in Moraga. The Gaels’ evolution, stodgy as it may be compared to the freewheeling times in which they exist, is a fascinating thing to watch. The WCC hasn’t gotten any softer, and making a run in March remains the challenge it has always been – for everyone. Saint Mary’s is a program that has adapted successfully before, though, and the winning will continue.