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Moraga, Calif. • When it comes to the way they've historically played on offense, there might not be two more polar opposites in college basketball than BYU and Saint Mary's.
The Gaels are excellent in the half-court game, slowing it down and emphasizing shot selection, efficiency and execution. That precision is a big reason why coach Randy Bennett's club is 12-1, has an RPI of 27, a KenPom rating of 19 and is ranked No. 19 in both major polls.
The Cougars (11-4) have generally stressed playing fast and scoring in transition, though not so much this year as in previous seasons, thanks to a stronger inside presence with sophomore center Eric Mika and freshman forward Yoeli Childs.
In other words, Cougars coach Dave Rose is borrowing pages from the playbook of Saint Mary's as the WCC powers prepare for their first matchup of the 2016-17 season on Thursday at McKeon Pavilion.
"Our ability to speed up this game, I don't think is as important as it has been in the past," Rose said.
Instead, shot selection will be the key for the Cougars, who are 2-0 in WCC play, but will have to come up with an atypical performance to win in Moraga for the first time since 2014.
"We need to get the ball into the paint," Rose said. "We need to do it with passes into the post, and we need to drive it in there. And then, obviously, we need to hit big shots."
That's what Saint Mary's does as well as any team in the country. With all five starters back from one of the most efficient offensive team in the nation last year, the Gaels are No. 13 in field goal percentage (50.1), 20th in assists (17.7), 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.59) and third in scoring defense (57.8 ppg.).
A role player when SMC went 29-6 last year and made it to the NIT quarterfinals, center Jock Landale — one of seven Australians on the roster — has emerged as one of the top inside players in the country. The 6-foot-11 junior is averaging 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and will face off for the first time against the 6-10 Mika, who shined in the Cougars' 60-57 win at McKeon three years ago and is averaging 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, second in the WCC in both categories.
Rose said Landale's improvement in his ability to pass out of double-teams and find open players has made the Gaels better than they were last year; junior Calvin Hermanson, sophomore Evan Fitzner, junior Emmett Naar and senior Boston College transfer Joe Rahon round out SMC's starting five. Senior Dane Pineau and sophomore Kyle Clark are the primary reserves.
The Cougars have seemingly improved as well, especially on defense and with their shot selection. BYU is shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range the past six games, after ranking among the worst teams in the country from beyond the arc through its first nine games. Leading the charge has been freshman guard TJ Haws, who has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
While Saint Mary's is loaded with experience, the Cougars have only four guys who have played at the intimate gym where fans are on top of the action — Mika, Nick Emery, Jamal Aytes and Corbin Kaufusi. This will be the first hostile crowd they face this season, because the crowd at Loyola Marymount last Saturday was largely comprised of BYU fans.
"This will be the first game where the gym is definitely full of more fans that want us to lose than win," Rose said. "It is an emotional place because everything is really close. I hope that we are ready for what we are going to see here. It is the best team that we've played, the most experienced group that we've played, and there is a lot on the line. … So we are in really unfamiliar territory as far as experience is concerned. And hopefully our guys will be ready for it."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU vs. Saint Mary's
P At McKeon Pavilion, Moraga, Calif.
Tipoff • 9 p.m. MT
TV • ESPNU
Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, Sirius XM 143
Records • BYU 11-4, 2-0 WCC; Saint Mary's 12-1, 2-0 WCC
Series history • BYU leads 12-8
Last meeting • BYU 70, SMC 59 (Feb. 4, 2016)
About the Gaels • They were ranked as high as No. 11 in the country before a 65-51 home loss to UT Arlington on Dec. 8. … They get big production from their front line of center Jock Landale (17.6 points, 9.6 rebounds) and forward Calvin Hermanson (11.6 ppg.). Landale is shooting 63.8 percent from the field. … They are 23rd in the nation in free-throw percentage, 76.0 percent.
About the Cougars • They rank third in the nation in rebounds (44.8 rpg.) and are 23rd in scoring, averaging 84.4 points per game. … Sophomore center Eric Mika is second in the country in free throws made (105) and attempted (138). … They have won four of the past six matchups with Saint Mary's and won 60-57 at McKeon Pavilion in 2014.