St Marys Schedule Upgrade

[MBAGael]

We are also going to Western Kentucky and New Mexico State. Baby steps...hopefully CAL will be better this year too.

[Spike94]

That is much better. It won't happen overnight. I am very happy the Gaels are doing better.

[MBAGael]

For what it’s worth, nbc has LSU 24 in their preseason poll.

[primal23]

Good on them for working on improving their schedule! Can’t fix everything overnight but it’s a start! And not a bad team either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[webspinnre]

Certainly a step in the right direction.

[SCU]

To chip in, for what it's worth...

Santa Clara gets USC in Leavey, and is playing in the "Vancouver Showcase", a four-team OOC tournament with Texas A&M, Washington, and Minnesota.

We all (SCU fans) had hoped Sendek would have us farther along by now (to say he's underwhelmed given the huge budget increases and latitude he was given is an understatement, but it has only been two seasons), but one power conference team coming to Leavey plus two neutral site games against high majors is a good step. Our OOC performance and subsequent RPI were egregious, and a lot of fans and donors are QUITE unhappy...

[bartruff1]

Sendek sure has a first class resume ......

[gaels87]

SMC Is getting dangerously close to a respectable schedule - just added a neutral game vs. New Mexico

Neutral - LSU & New Mexico
Road - New Mexico St, Western Kentucky
Home - Cal, Harvard, Bucknell

Wish we had this last year.....

[willandi]

SMC Is getting dangerously close to a respectable schedule - just added a neutral game vs. New Mexico

Neutral - LSU & New Mexico
Road - New Mexico St, Western Kentucky
Home - Cal, Harvard, Bucknell

Wish we had this last year.....

Glad to hear it! Thanks!

[gaels87]

Gaels add a 4-team invitational in Vegas to the schedule
SMC Opens up with Utah State and then will play either Arizona St or Mississippi State

This added to the already scheduled games:
Neutral - LSU & New Mexico
Road - New Mexico St, Western Kentucky
Home - Cal, Harvard, Bucknell

As an SMC fan, this is the first time in 9-10 years that I can say that I am happy with the schedule and the excuses go out the window. Just wish Bennett would have stepped up over the past 6-7 years. I know it is almost impossible for us to get home games against quality opponents and I appreciate the willingness to get creative and schedule the 4 neutral court games in vegas.

[willandi]

Gaels add a 4-team invitational in Vegas to the schedule
SMC Opens up with Utah State and then will play either Arizona St or Mississippi State

This added to the already scheduled games:
Neutral - LSU & New Mexico
Road - New Mexico St, Western Kentucky
Home - Cal, Harvard, Bucknell

As an SMC fan, this is the first time in 9-10 years that I can say that I am happy with the schedule and the excuses go out the window. Just wish Bennett would have stepped up over the past 6-7 years. I know it is almost impossible for us to get home games against quality opponents and I appreciate the willingness to get creative and schedule the 4 neutral court games in vegas.

It's looking good. Thanks are due to your schedulers. Perhaps not getting in the dance last season made them realize that they had to do something.

Gonzaga started out their 'anyone, anytime, anywhere' and had to play a lot of teams on the road with no home games in return. It was only after they showed that they could win those road games that the national ratings services took note and made it to where a loss to the Zags was not a black mark. Mark Few then was able to get some home and home series and that has morphed into what we are seeing now, the Tarheels, Creighton, Arizona and more.

As SMC schedules more OCC games, on the road and neutral, against better competition, as they have this year, their scheduling will continue to improve, they will get into the dance and their players will see their own stock rise as national attention shines its light on them.

Thanks!

[sittingon50]

Thanks for the heads up 87.

[SCU]

Rumor that Santa Clara visits Haas Pavilion and the Cal Golden Bears this fall... in addition to what I posted before, i.e., hosting USC at home and playing in a tournament with Minnesota, Texas A&M, and Washington up in Vancouver. Pretty decent slate for Santa Clara.

[TexasZagFan]

NMSU is a very tough place to play. SMC can expect a crowd larger than 10K, and they love their Aggies.

Fond memories of the Pan Am Center, our first “sports date.” We sat in the UTEP section, of course.

[OZZY]

SMC has lined up a series of games in Australia / New Zealand this northern summer.

They are playing Australian NBL teams while here and have had some decent results (Jordan Ford been torching everyone).

I'm actually going to see the game against, what appears to be the strongest team they will face down under, tomorrow night.

Coached by Australian Basketball Legend, Andrew Gaze, the Sydney Kings boast a line-up including

Andrew Bogut
Daniel Kickert
Brad Newley
Jerome Randle (Cal)
Brian Bowen (McD All American)
David Wear
Kevin Lisch
Dane Pineau
Deng Deng
Tom Wilson
Kyle Adnam

Here is their websites brief Bio's

http://www.sydneykings.com/news/article/38882-introducing-the-new-look-sydney-kings

Although a pre-season game for the Kings (they played Japan without Rui last week) they will be a very formidable opponent.

I'll let you know what I think of the Gaels after the game.

I'll be especially interested I seeing how their bigs fare as the Kings have a formidable and experienced front court.