St Mary's facing #1 team at home this weekend

Posted on: February 10, 2017 at 13:24:53 CT

They are currently 22-2, ranked #20. It will be the first time the #1 team has come there since Bill Russell's San Francisco team in the 1950's. Great opportunity for them.

St Mary's is currently 2nd in the nation in points allowed, after finishing 5th in the nation last year. They are currently 8th in the nation in FG%, after leading the entire nation in FG% last year. They are 4th in the nation in rebound margin. They lead the nation in fewest fouls committed, after finishing 4th in the nation last year. They are 17th in the nation in assists, after finishing 16th in the nation last year. They are 17th in the nation in fewest turnovers committed, after finishing 5th last year. That has led to them being 4th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio, after leading the nation last year. Those are all very coaching related metrics, and a clear style of play.

Their head coach is 54 years old. Over the last 10 seasons he is 184 games over .500. He has 1 instance (a 4th place finish) of not finishing 1st or 2nd in his conference each of the last 10 years. He doesn't make very much money, doesn't play in a high profile conference, their arena seats 3,500, and he doesn't have a big recruiting budget. One of their only 2 losses this season is on the road to the #1 ranked team. This is after inheriting a 2-27 team upon taking over the job.

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/bennett-builds-saint-marys-into-team-worthy-of-big-stage/

“This has always been the best option for me,” Bennett said. “As long as I thought we could compete for championships. That matters to me. If I didn’t think that was the case, that would be a problem. But we’ve won championships, so obviously we can do it.”

“Not to knock our women’s team, but our women’s basketball attendance outdrew our men’s basketball attendance,” athletic director Mark Orr said. “We were so far off the national radar. I can’t imagine being further off of it. What Randy has done for the basketball program has put the whole college on the national map.”

One of the keys to Saint Mary’s success has been the year-to-year improvement of players under the teaching of Bennett and his assistants — five of whom are now head coaches around the country.

“After you get past the McDonald’s All-Americans, there really isn’t all that big a difference between players,” Bennett said. “It comes down to who works hardest, who’s got the best attitude and who’s willing to be unselfish for the betterment of the team. There are a lot of guys who want to be good, but it’s only on their terms.”

Edited by FIJItiger at 13:35:00 on 02/10/17