With Big 12 play just a week away, the Longhorns face one of their stiffest tests as they close out the non-conference portion of their schedule. The Saint Mary’s Gaels come to town riding a five-game winning streak and boasting an upset win over Oregon in November. The Ducks have since dropped off the map, so that win might not be the calling card it once was. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that SMC is going to be a pushover — this team can win in a multitude of ways.

The Gaels hope that this is the season in which they finally get over the hump in the West Coast Conference. Forever a league dominated by Gonzaga, the WCC seemed up for grabs last year when the Gaels took out the Bulldogs early in the season. But SMC dropped four straight games in February, and Gonzaga slipped past to win yet another league crown. This year, Saint Mary’s is clearly the stronger team, but nothing would give them a bigger boost heading into WCC play than a road upset over the Horns.

By the numbers

St. Mary’s is currently 4th in Ken Pomeroy’s RPI approximations and has amassed that 11-1 record against the 23rd-toughest schedule in the country. The Gaels are at their best when pushing the tempo and forcing their opponents into mistakes, but the scary thing is that Saint Mary’s is just as effective in the half-court game. Their offensive numbers are nearly as good as those of the Longhorns, but the Gaels have a leg up because their defensive efficiency is roughly five points better.

The key players

It all starts and ends with freshman point Patrick Mills. The kid is a speedy, unflappable guard who can attack off the dribble, shoot the three, and is absolutely stellar in transition. He’s also got an eye for the court, as he constantly feeds the pair of big men down low for Coach Randy Bennett.

As you’ll hear endlessly during today’s broadcast, Mills is an Aborigine from Australia, one of three active Aussies on the Gaels roster. Ben Allen is also from Oz, although he will have to sit the season after transferring from Indiana.

Diamon Simpson is one of the big men who will create problems for the Longhorns down low. He was named Player of the Month for the WCC in December, and has an array of solid post moves. He’s averaging nearly a double-double so far this year, with 12.2 PPG and 9.6 RPG for the Gaels. Although SMC doesn’t play a style similar to Wisconsin or Michigan State, rebounding was a big concern in both of those losses and could play a big role in today’s game.

The other big threat is the mohawked Omar Samhan. He’s a beast of a man, checking in at 6’11” and 265 pounds, which means that only one player on Rick Barnes’ bench truly matches up with him. The problem with using Dexter Pittman to slow down Samhan is that he’s a liability in the kind of up-and-down game we’re likely to see today. It is likely that Samhan will face a steady rotation of players, if freshmen Alexis Wangmene and Clint Chapman have found their way out of Coach’s doghouse.

Forward Ian O’Leary reminds me a lot of Connor Atchley in that he’s a white forward who has surprising range. Although he’s about four inches shorter than Connor, O’Leary can still play both inside and out. He’s only averaging roughly eight points per game so far, but with the problems Texas typically has at guarding the three-point line, O’Leary could threaten to score more.

Tron Smith is an electric guard off of the bench who is averaging over 21 minutes per game for the Gaels despite never starting a contest. He can absolutely jump out of the gym and is a solid scoring threat as well, averaging nine points per game so far this year.

What to look for

Don’t get frustrated – The Gaels are an excellent defensive team, and the Longhorns have struggled recently at putting the ball in the basket. If scoring is as difficult as to can be expected today, Texas cannot get frustrated and let it change their game plan.

Battle on the glass – These are quality big men for the Gaels, and the Longhorns have let bigger teams push them around on the boards. Texas cannot afford to let a team that is this good clean up on the offensive glass and earn extra possessions.

The guard situation – A.J. Abrams is expected back from injury, but how effective will he be? D.J. Augustin has picked up a pair of fouls early in the first half against both TCU and Michigan State, crippling the offense with his time on the bench. If both can play solid games today, it opens up Justin Mason as a solid sixth man, and it instantly increases the potency of the Texas offense.

If you’re in Austin and even considering going to this game, please make it out to the Drum. Saint Mary’s is an excellent basketball team, but the average fan will see their name on the schedule and think it is just another creampuff. Texas can’t afford to have a half-empty, quiet arena in this ballgame. SMC does not usually play in arenas this big, and a rocking crowd of 14- to 16-thousand people would certainly shake them.

For those Longhorns out on the West Coast, please note that Fox Sports Net Plus will be airing the game in the Bay Area, while fans across the country with ESPN Full Court can also check this one out.