It’s never easy for mid-major basketball programs, but the St. Mary’s Gaels have found a way to sneak into the national spotlight in recent years. Fans can no longer rely on finding cheap St. Mary’s basketball tickets because of how much the Gaels have raised their profile in recent years. In fact, space is so limited at home games that you should consider yourself one of the lucky ones if you’re able to score last-minute St. Mary’s basketball tickets.

The Aussie Way

For most of the 21st century, the Saint Mary’s basketball program has had a strong connection to Australia. The Gaels have had at least one Australian player every season since 2001, leading the student section to embrace the connection by waving Australian flags. In fact, some of the best players in program history have hailed from Australia, including future NBA stars Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills.

Steady at the Wheel

Part of the reason for Saint Mary’s success has been consistency at head coach. Randy Bennett took over in 2001 but resisted the urge to pursue other jobs. Sticking with the Gaels has led to sustained success inside the West Coast Conference, even if St. Mary’s is forever overshadowed by rival Gonzaga. The Gaels nip at Gonzaga’s heels just about every season and occasionally topple them for WCC supremacy. St. Mary’s has also found a way to gain national attention, most notably in 2010 when they pulled off two upsets in the NCAA Tournament to reach the Sweet 16 as a no. 10 seed. That run helped set the stage for continued success for St. Mary’s as one of the strongest mid-major programs in the country.