Saint Mary’s is playing for what?

Saint Mary’s was totally snubbed by not making the NCAA tournament. The fact that team that was ranked 25th in the AP poll at the time of selection Sunday did not make the tournament is crazy to me, and I am still trying to figure out why. This is what does not make sense to me Saint Mary’s ended the season with a record of 28–5, which included dominance of the West Coast Conference by having a 16–2 record in conference games. Their season was also defined by some pretty big wins against rivals and much better teams which include beating Gonzaga on their home court, and beating BYU both times they played this season.

The only argument that I can understand is the fact that their schedule was not the strongest. For me when you clean up your conference like that and only do not get in due to the fact that Gonzaga is just a little bit better must be very frustrating. They have already showed they have the talent to hang with Gonzaga who will be playing in the Sweet 16.

Another reason they should have gotten in is because they have one of the best players in the country. Their center Jock Landale is insanely good and is a forced to be reckoned with down low. Landale averages 21 points, and 10 rebounds per game. He is also SHOOTING 64 percent from the field. When watching you would think his percentage is a hundred because it seems like he never misses.

Back to reality as the Gales will be playing tonight to earn a chance at the NIT championship game. Matched up against a tough Utah team this could either be a very close game or a one sided affair. Either way I can only see this game ending with one outcome with Saint Mary’s on their way to MSG to play in the finals. There is no way that at Utah team can match up with the Gales, as the Gales are 18–1 this year on their home court and as a whole the team is shooting 53 percent from the field. So for a team that should have been in the NCAA tournament, it looks like they will have to settle for a NIT championship.