College Basketball · WCC · 2026-27
Saint Mary's Gaels
2-0 · Coach Mickey McConnell (new)
Power Rankings
#44▲17
Who is best right now.
+19.6points per 100 possessions vs an average D-I team
Last week: +15.3 (#61)
Preseason: #61
Full Power Rankings → Compare to another teamRating breakdown
Adjusted for every opponent and home court. Power = offense minus defense.
Projected record
25-6
- Conference record
- 13-3
- Conference title
- 79%
- Outright title
- 66%
- Luck
- +0.3
Actual results so far plus the rest of the seasonplayed out 10,000 times with the win chance for each game (non-Division I opponents count as 97% wins). The title is the regular-season crown; conference tournaments aren't included. Later rounds of holiday tournaments are added once the opponent is known.
Why #61 in the preseason
What the computer saw going in
- →Last season: #28 in the country (+23.9), 27-6.
- →27% of last season's minutes are back.
- →5 transfers in, led by Jeremy Dent-Smith (Stanford, 8.2 ppg), Thomas Ndong (California Baptist, 4.9 ppg), Vangelis Zougris (Louisville, 2.6 ppg). Transfers moving up a level are counted cautiously.
- →1 ranked freshman: Darius Bivins (#72).
- →Lost Paulius Murauskas (18.4 ppg, now at Arizona State), Dillan Shaw (7.5 ppg, now at Arizona State), Mikey Lewis (13.9 ppg, now at Texas).
- →New head coach: Mickey McConnell, replacing Randy Bennett. A coaching change usually costs a little in year one.
The preseason rating counts for about five games, then real results take over.
Teams like Saint Mary's
The closest matches across all 365 Division I teams, based on the current ratings.
This season
Everyone who has played, most minutes first: per-game numbers from the box scores, updated after every game.
| Player | G · GS | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mantas JuzenasG · Sophomore · #619 ranked | 2 · 2 | 33.5 | 14.5 | 11.0 | 5.0 | 47.6 (10-21) | 37.5 (3-8) | 66.7 (6-9) |
| Joshua DentG · Junior · #94 ranked | 2 · 2 | 32.0 | 12.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 57.1 (8-14) | 55.6 (5-9) | 100.0 (3-3) |
| Vangelis ZougrisF · Senior · #604 ranked | 2 · 2 | 22.0 | 13.5 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 100.0 (12-12) | — (0-0) | 42.9 (3-7) |
| Darius BivinsG · Freshman · #666 ranked | 2 · 0 | 22.0 | 11.5 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 52.9 (9-17) | 75.0 (3-4) | 100.0 (2-2) |
| Jeremy Dent-SmithG · Senior · #906 ranked | 2 · 0 | 22.0 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 28.6 (4-14) | 25.0 (1-4) | 100.0 (7-7) |
| Rory HawkeG · Sophomore · #1581 ranked | 2 · 2 | 20.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 75.0 (6-8) | 60.0 (3-5) | 33.3 (1-3) |
| Thomas NdongF · Senior · #668 ranked | 2 · 0 | 17.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 77.8 (7-9) | 100.0 (1-1) | 75.0 (3-4) |
| Jazz GardnerC · Junior · #3303 ranked | 2 · 2 | 13.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 55.6 (5-9) | 50.0 (1-2) | 0.0 (0-1) |
| Kevin GadF · Senior · #1157 ranked | 2 · 0 | 9.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 44.4 (4-9) | 42.9 (3-7) | — (0-0) |
| Cooper LewisG · Freshman | 1 · 0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 (2-4) | 66.7 (2-3) | — (0-0) |
| Flynn PavelyC · Freshman | 1 · 0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100.0 (1-1) | — (0-0) | — (0-0) |
| Luke FennellG · Sophomore · #1876 ranked | 2 · 0 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 57.1 (4-7) | 25.0 (1-4) | — (0-0) |
| Trent MacLeanF · Freshman | 1 · 0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 (1-1) | 100.0 (1-1) | — (0-0) |
| Sam CurvyG | 1 · 0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — (0-0) | — (0-0) | — (0-0) |
Projected rotation
The preseason model's minutes projection for each player with a track record (college stats or a recruiting rank), most minutes first. Players without one aren't projected here; This season above lists everyone who has played.
| Player | How he got here | Proj. min | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua DentG · Junior |  Returning | 35 | 13.2 pts · 2.5 reb · 5.6 ast |
| Jeremy Dent-SmithG · Senior |  Transfer from Stanford | 17 | 8.2 pts · 1.7 reb · 1.5 ast |
| Thomas NdongF · Senior |  Transfer from California Baptist | 16 | 4.9 pts · 6.5 reb · 0.4 ast |
| Vangelis ZougrisF · Senior |  Transfer from Louisville | 15 | 2.6 pts · 2.4 reb · 0.6 ast |
| Salih AltuntasC · Sophomore |  Transfer from Miami | 14 | 1.6 pts · 1.9 reb · 0.1 ast |
| Rory HawkeG · Sophomore | Returning | 12 | 2.4 pts · 1.2 reb · 0.3 ast |
| Luke FennellG · Sophomore |  Transfer from Syracuse | 12 | 1.1 pts · 0.6 reb · 0.4 ast |
| Darius BivinsG · Freshman | Freshman · #72 recruit | 11 | — |
| Mantas JuzenasG · Sophomore | Returning | 8 | 2.1 pts · 1.4 reb · 0.3 ast |
| Kevin GadF · Senior | Returning | 6 | 1.4 pts · 1.3 reb · 0.7 ast |
Gone from last season: Paulius Murauskas (18.4 ppg, to 
Arizona State), Dillan Shaw (7.5 ppg, to Arizona State), Mikey Lewis (13.9 ppg, to 
Texas), Andrew McKeever (8.2 ppg, to 
Iowa), Harry Wessels (4.8 ppg), Liam Campbell (4.9 ppg, to 
High Point)
Roster
Everyone on this season's roster, with this season's numbers for anyone who has played. Names link to player pages, ranked players first.
| # | Player | How he got here | Pos | Class | Ht / Wt | Hometown | This season | Last season | Rank · Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Joshua Dent | Returning | G | Junior | 6-3 · 190 | Wollongong, NSW | 12.0 pts · 2.5 reb · 4.0 ast (2 G) | 13.2 pts · 2.5 reb · 5.6 ast (33 G) | #94 · +1.86 |
| 35 | Vangelis Zougris | Transfer from Louisville | F | Senior | 6-8 · 245 | Athens, Greece | 13.5 pts · 4.5 reb · 2.0 ast (2 G) | 2.6 pts · 2.4 reb · 0.6 ast (27 G) | #604 · +0.76 |
| 0 | Mantas Juzenas | Returning | G | Sophomore | 6-6 · 205 | Kaunas, Lithuania | 14.5 pts · 11.0 reb · 5.0 ast (2 G) | 2.1 pts · 1.4 reb · 0.3 ast (26 G) | #619 · +0.75 |
| 1 | Darius Bivins | Freshman | G | Freshman | 6-0 · 175 | Washington, DC | 11.5 pts · 1.5 reb · 4.5 ast (2 G) | — | #666 · +0.69 |
| 18 | Thomas Ndong | Transfer from California Baptist | F | Senior | 6-10 · 245 | Montreal, PQ | 9.0 pts · 3.0 reb · 1.0 ast (2 G) | 4.9 pts · 6.5 reb · 0.4 ast (32 G) | #668 · +0.69 |
| 2 | Jeremy Dent-Smith | Transfer from Stanford | G | Senior | 6-1 · 200 | Hawthorne, CA | 8.0 pts · 1.5 reb · 3.5 ast (2 G) | 8.2 pts · 1.7 reb · 1.5 ast (33 G) | #906 · +0.45 |
| 24 | Kevin Gad | Returning | F | Senior | 6-6 · 205 | Livermore, CA | 5.5 pts · 1.0 reb · 0.5 ast (2 G) | 1.4 pts · 1.3 reb · 0.7 ast (7 G) | #1157 · +0.28 |
| 11 | Salih Altuntas | Transfer from Miami | C | Sophomore | 6-11 · 275 | Istanbul, Türkiye | Hasn't played | 1.6 pts · 1.9 reb · 0.1 ast (32 G) | #1220 · +0.25 |
| 8 | Rory Hawke | Returning | G | Sophomore | 6-5 · 200 | Townsville, QLD | 8.0 pts · 2.0 reb · 1.0 ast (2 G) | 2.4 pts · 1.2 reb · 0.3 ast (32 G) | #1581 · +0.05 |
| 9 | Luke Fennell | Transfer from Syracuse | G | Sophomore | 6-6 · 190 | Melbourne, VIC | 4.5 pts · 2.0 reb · 1.0 ast (2 G) | 1.1 pts · 0.6 reb · 0.4 ast (10 G) | #1876 · -0.07 |
| 32 | Jazz Gardner | New to Division I | C | Junior | 7-0 · 250 | Pasadena, CA | 5.5 pts · 1.0 reb · 1.5 ast (2 G) | — | #3303 · -0.62 |
| 20 | Cooper Lewis | Freshman | G | Freshman | 6-3 · 195 | Lehi, UT | 6.0 pts · 2.0 reb · 0.0 ast (1 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 5 | Flynn Pavely | Freshman | C | Freshman | 7-0 · 250 | Frenchs Forest, NSW | 2.0 pts · 1.0 reb · 1.0 ast (1 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 3 | Sam Curvy | Freshman | Freshman | Hasn't played | — | Not ranked yet | |||
| 42 | Trent MacLean | Returning | F | Freshman | 6-10 · 205 | Thousand Oaks, CA | 3.0 pts · 0.0 reb · 0.0 ast (1 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 25 | Jalen Lewis | New to Division I | F | Junior | 6-9 · 245 | Oakland, CA | Hasn't played | — | Not ranked yet |
| Sam Curvy | — | G | 0.0 pts · 0.0 reb · 0.0 ast (1 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
Schedule
Projected scores and win chances come from the current ratings and update every morning.
| Nov 2 |  vsIllinois State | W90-85Box score → |
| Nov 4 |  vsNorth Dakota State | W105-64Box score → |
| Still to play · computer projections | ||
| Nov 8 |  vs (N)NevadaLake Tahoe Classic | Projected 76-75SMC: 51% to winSaint Mary's: 51% to win Compare |
| Nov 13 |  vsUIC | Projected 79-71SMC: 76% to winSaint Mary's: 76% to win Compare |
| Nov 16 |  vsPortland State | Projected 85-64SMC: 96% to winSaint Mary's: 96% to win Compare |
| Nov 20 |  vsSaint Louis | Projected 81-80SMC: 53% to winSaint Mary's: 53% to win Compare |
| Nov 22 | vsMenlo(non-D1) | Upcoming |
| Nov 26 |  vs (N)#20UCLARady Children's Invitational | Projected 75-80SMC: 36% to winSaint Mary's: 36% to win Compare |
| Nov 27 | Rady Children's InvitationalChampionship or placement game | Opponent TBD |
| Dec 1 |  vsHofstra | Projected 81-65SMC: 92% to winSaint Mary's: 92% to win Compare |
| Dec 5 |  atOklahoma State | Projected 78-84SMC: 32% to winSaint Mary's: 32% to win Compare |
| Dec 9 |  vsNew Mexico State | Projected 87-69SMC: 94% to winSaint Mary's: 94% to win Compare |
| Dec 12 |  atNew Mexico | Projected 77-80SMC: 42% to winSaint Mary's: 42% to win Compare |
| Dec 18 |  vsIona | Projected 82-63SMC: 94% to winSaint Mary's: 94% to win Compare |
| Dec 22 |  vsHarvard | Projected 81-66SMC: 90% to winSaint Mary's: 90% to win Compare |
| Dec 29 |  vsPrinceton | Projected 82-63SMC: 94% to winSaint Mary's: 94% to win Compare |
| Jan 2 |  vsSan DiegoConference | Projected 87-70SMC: 93% to winSaint Mary's: 93% to win Compare |
| Jan 6 |  atDenverConference | Projected 82-70SMC: 86% to winSaint Mary's: 86% to win Compare |
| Jan 13 |  vsPortlandConference | Projected 89-68SMC: 96% to winSaint Mary's: 96% to win Compare |
| Jan 16 |  atPepperdineConference | Projected 84-71SMC: 87% to winSaint Mary's: 87% to win Compare |
| Jan 20 |  vsPacificConference | Projected 78-67SMC: 84% to winSaint Mary's: 84% to win Compare |
| Jan 23 |  vsLoyola MarymountConference | Projected 84-71SMC: 87% to winSaint Mary's: 87% to win Compare |
| Jan 27 |  atSan FranciscoConference | Projected 80-69SMC: 82% to winSaint Mary's: 82% to win Compare |
| Jan 30 |  vsSanta ClaraConference | Projected 84-76SMC: 76% to winSaint Mary's: 76% to win Compare |
| Feb 3 | atPortlandConference | Projected 86-71SMC: 89% to winSaint Mary's: 89% to win Compare |
| Feb 6 |  atSeattle UConference | Projected 77-71SMC: 70% to winSaint Mary's: 70% to win Compare |
| Feb 9 | vsSan FranciscoConference | Projected 83-66SMC: 92% to winSaint Mary's: 92% to win Compare |
| Feb 13 | atLoyola MarymountConference | Projected 81-74SMC: 72% to winSaint Mary's: 72% to win Compare |
| Feb 18 | atPacificConference | Projected 75-70SMC: 68% to winSaint Mary's: 68% to win Compare |
| Feb 21 | vsPepperdineConference | Projected 88-68SMC: 95% to winSaint Mary's: 95% to win Compare |
| Feb 24 | vsSeattle UConference | Projected 80-68SMC: 85% to winSaint Mary's: 85% to win Compare |
| Feb 27 | atSanta ClaraConference | Projected 81-79SMC: 56% to winSaint Mary's: 56% to win Compare |
WCC standings
| # | Team | Conf | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Mary's | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 2 | Santa Clara | 0-0 | 3-0 |
| 3 | Pacific | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 4 | San Diego | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 5 | San Francisco | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 6 | Pepperdine | 0-0 | 2-1 |
| 7 | Seattle U | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 8 | Loyola Marymount | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 9 | Portland | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 10 | Denver | 0-0 | 0-2 |