Gaels report: Strategy and personnel

April 16, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Strategy and personnel · Notes, quotes · Getting inside

THE GOOD NEWS
Nearly all the top players return next season, and freshman G Patty Mills only figures to get better after having one season of American college basketball under his belt. Diamon Simpson could be the best all-around player in the conference next season. The Gaels have established themselves as a force in the WCC and a name on the national scene. They now expect to win, and they have enough returning talent to duplicate what they did last season.

THE BAD NEWS
Gonzaga is still in the WCC and the Bulldogs won't be getting any worse. Plus, other teams in the conference, namely San Diego, are improving too. The Gaels have yet to show they can win the big game, and there is still a concern when they play teams with size on the inside. And there is always the threat of losing coach Randy Bennett, who someday is likely to leave for a more lucrative job.

KEY RETURNEES
Patty Mills, Diamon Simpson and Omar Samhan will be the heart of the team again, and Wayne Hunter, who redshirted the season, will be back to add some speed and defense in the backcourt. Ian O'Leary will also be back to do a little bit of everything and give the Gaels some muscle. None of the Gaels incoming freshmen is highly rated, but Bennett seems to get something out of newcomers.

ROSTER REPORT

--St. Mary's has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1959, when the Gaels won their one and only NCAA Tournament game against Idaho State.

--Diamon Simpson had 12 rebounds in the loss to Miami, giving him a 9.6 average for the season, virtually tying him for the conference lead in that category.

--Patty Mills played every minute of the Gaels final two games -- 45 minutes in the overtime loss to San Diego and 40 in the loss to Miami.

--Todd Golden made 34 of his first 37 foul shots this season, but he was 12-for-19 over the final seven games and 4-for-9 in the last three.