Saint Mary’s lost several key players, but expectations are still high with Marciulionis returning

Life in the West Coast Conference was quite different since the last time Saint Mary’s stepped on a basketball court.

The Gaels experienced a bit of a talent drain, headlined by the departure of Aidan Mahaney, last year’s leading scorer and a Campolindo High graduate, to Connecticut. That alone would’ve shocked the system. Then, two weeks prior to WCC media day, Gonzaga bailed for the new-look Pac-12, a decision that will leave the conference’s top-dog status up for grabs when the Zags officially join their new conference in 2026.