SAINT MARY'S GAELS
Aussies make major impact in Moraga

SMC's Matthew Dellavedova is expected to make a national splash this season. Photo: Tod Fierner

Junior Matthew Dellavedova, a national honors candidate as a point guard for the Gaels, played extensively for the Australian National Team during the summer and is expected to feature prominently when the Boomers play in the 2012 London Olympics.

The Maryborough, Victoria, native was selected as one of 14 players who traveled to London for an Olympic test event that provided the host an opportunity of for a "dry run" of its operation for the 2012 Games. He finished among the top four players on the Aussie side in scoring, posting an average of nine points per game. Dellavedova also finished second among all the players in the five-team event in assists, averaging 3.8 per game.

In London, the Australian side defeated China, Croatia, Serbia and Great Britain and dropped a narrow contest to France, which was led by a trio of NBA stars that included Tony Parker. A few days after that event, the Boomers traveled to Spain to play the world's second ranked team in a pair of friendly exhibitions. The home side prevailed in both games, but Dellavedova gained valuable experience playing against no fewer than six NBA players in the two games.

Former Gaels starndout Patrick Mills, an NBA standout for the Portland Trailblazers who has signed to play with the Melbourne Tigers during the league's lockout, led the Aussies in scoring, while SMC's all-time leading scorer, Daniel Kickert, also saw time on the squad, giving the Gaels a trio of players on the Australian National Team.

Saint Mary's senior Clint Steindl and junior transfer Matt Hodgson also saw significant action as they represented Australia at the Four Nations Tournament and the World University Games, both in China over the summer. All-time women's leading scorer and rebounder Louella Tomlinson also represented Australia at the World University Games on the country's women's team.

Saint Mary's returns four starters and seven letter-winners from its team, which went 25-9 last season and advanced to postseason play for the fourth straight season. Under coach Randy Bennett, the Gaels have become one of the nation's hottest mid-major programs and have won 25 games or more in each of the last four season and five times in the last seven years.

Dellavedova joins all-West Coast Conference star Rob Jones, a San Francisco native; Steindl; and forward Tim Williams as the team's returning starters. Transfer center Kyle Rowley and guard Paul McCoy are expected to make an immediate impact, while sophomore guard Stephen Holt looks ready to make a name for himself after earning WCC all-freshman honors a year ago.

Tickets for the upcoming Saint Mary's basketball season are currently on sale through the school's official athletic website,smcgaels.com, or by calling its athletic ticket office at 925-631-GoTx (4689). Various ticket packages are available.

Also, make sure to keep track of the Gaels all season long through Facebook (facebook.com/smcgaels), Twitter (@smcgaels) and other social media sites.