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Early top 25 for 2017-18 college basketball: Post-early entry deadline

By Chris Stone

March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) dunks to score a basket against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) dunks to score a basket against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels center Jock Landale (34) reacts after he scores a basket against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels center Jock Landale (34) reacts after he scores a basket against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

22. Saint Mary’s Gaels

Notable departures: Dane Pineau, Joe Rayon
Notable returnees: Kyle Clark, Evan Fitzner, Stefan Gonzalez, Calvin Hermanson, Tanner Krebs, Jock Londale, Emmett Naar
Notable newcomers: Kristers Zoriks, Cullen Neal

The Saint Mary’s Gaels were one of the most underrated teams in the country last season. They entered the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a legitimate chance to beat the No. 2 seeded Arizona Wildcats, but came up short. Luckily, they’ll likely have another shot at a March run this season with much of their roster returning and a legitimate starting piece incoming.

The Gaels are known for their grinding pace and wildly efficient offense. 6-foot-11 Jock Landale is the literal centerpiece of the attack. Lansdale averaged 24.0 points and 13.4 rebounds per 40 minutes during his junior campaign and his interior efficiency helped give Saint Mary’s the fifth best 2-point field goal percentage in the country. Landale will be surrounded by shooters once again this season to help create the potent offense.

One of those shooters will be Ole Miss transfer Cullen Neal. The 6-foot-5 guard is a career 37.0 percent 3-point shooter over 449 attempts. Neal averaged 16.0 points per 40 minutes last season and will provide some needed perimeter scoring punch after the departures of Dane Pineau and Joe Rayon.