The Gaels were also recently picked to win the West Coast Conference in the preseason coaches poll. / Photo courtesy SMC Athletics
Gaels Men’s Basketball Check in at No. 23 in Preseason AP Poll
This marks the fourth time in eight years Saint Mary's has made the poll.
The start of men's basketball season is just around the corner in Moraga, and the Saint Mary's Gaels continue to have a positive buzz around their program, as they check in at No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Top-25 Poll. It is the first time since the 2019–20 season that the Gaels have appeared in the AP Preseason Top-25 poll, and the fourth time in the last eight years (2023–24, 2019–20, 2017–18, 2016–17).
The Gaels wrapped up the 2022–23 campaign ranked No. 19 in the final AP poll, and they earned a five seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team returns three starters from a year ago, including 2022–23 Kyle Macy Freshman All-American Aidan Mahaney. The Gaels were also picked to win the WCC in the preseason coaches poll.
Saint Mary's will take part in a charity exhibition matchup with the University of Hawaii on Friday, October 20, before their season opener against Stanislaus State in Moraga on November 6. The Gaels will square off with two other programs ranked in the AP Preseason Top-25 this season (No. 11 Gonzaga and No. 17 San Diego State) as well as two more programs that received votes (Boise State and New Mexico).
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READ MORE: This story as it was originally published at SMCGaels.com.
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