The Saint Mary’s men’s basketball team was ranked No. 19 in the first USA Today Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll of the 2016-17 season, released Thursday.
The Gaels enter 2016-17 coming off their winningest season in program history. SMC went 29-6 in 2015-16 and won its third West Coast Conference title since 2011 while making it to the NIT Quarterfinals. Saint Mary’s returns 99 percent of its scoring from last season, including all five starters and nine total letterwinners.
Co-West Coast Conference member Gonzaga, which comes to McKeon Pavilion on Feb. 11, is ranked No. 13 in the poll.