by Sports Xchange

G Jorden Page, G Matt Dellavedova and F Mitchell Young all played for the Australian Under-19 team in the world championships over the summer, and Dellavedova played on the Australian national team. Page and Dellavedova should help immediately, and their familiarity with each other should help.

Freshman F Tim Harris will help if his wrist heals quickly, and redshirt freshman Tim Williams should give the Gaels some needed inside muscle and could conceivably start.

Kenton Walker II is already on the squad after transferring from Creighton, but he can only practice until he becomes eligible to play next season. Rob Jones will arrive in December and will be eligible to play next fall.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Gaels' first three games, all at home, against New Mexico State, San Diego State and Vanderbilt, will be challenging and will provide a good assessment of Saint Mary's talent.

The fact that Saint Mary's got Vandy to come to play in its 3,500-seat gym, which is tough on opponents, is an accomplishment in itself.

The Gaels could win all three games, or they could lose all three, and the results could set the standard for the season.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The early departure of a key player to the NBA is something new for the Gaels. It shows the quality of player Saint Mary's is producing now, but it is not at the point where it can lose a player of Patty Mills' caliber without feeling the effects.

The Gaels will be a factor in the WCC race as long as Randy Bennett is the coach, and he has already been around longer than many expected. The Gaels may not be a title contender this season, but that should be just a one-year situation. They are still the second-best program in the conference.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Wayne Hunter, G Mickey McConnell, G Matt Dellavedova, F Clint Steindl, C Omar Samhan

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Phil Benson is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot. Coach Randy Bennett was hoping Benson will be able to play some when the season starts.

--Freshman F Tim Harris has a wrist injury that limited his participation at the start of practice. If he has no setbacks, he should be all right when the season starts.

--C Ben Allen averaged a team-high 14 rebounds per game during the Gaels' six-game trip to Australia over the summer.