MORAGA, Calif. — Applause rung out in McKeon Pavilion on Sunday afternoon when Saint Mary's name was called out during the CBS March Madness selection show as the team and Gael faithful learned where they will be headed for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament: Hartford, Connecticut.
Saint Mary's earned a No. 11 seed and will take on No. 6 Villanova on Thursday. It will be the 10th time in school history that the Gaels have made it to the Big Dance and second time in the past three seasons.
SMC fans may remember Villanova from the teams' last meeting in the 2010 tournament where the 10-seed Gaels upset the 2-seed Wildcats 75-68 to advance to the Sweet 16.