The No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s Gaels are set to face the No. 10 seed Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 3:15 p.m. ET at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. This matchup marks the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Vanderbilt in seven years, while Saint Mary’s arrives with a strong reputation built on its stellar performance in the West Coast Conference.
Saint Mary’s comes into the tournament with an impressive record of 28-5, having secured the West Coast Conference regular-season title for the second consecutive year. Additionally, the Gaels achieved the impressive feat of sweeping their rival Gonzaga for the first time since the 2015-16 season. However, their tournament aspirations took a hit when Gonzaga upset them 58-51 in the WCC championship game. Despite the loss, both teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament, with Gonzaga already winning their opening-round matchup against Georgia.
The Gaels have enjoyed significant success recently, winning 18 of their last 20 games, including eight straight before the WCC title game. They possess the conference's best defense, allowing only 60.7 points per game and leading the league with an impressive rebounding average of 39.8 boards a night. This potent combination of defense and rebounding has made Saint Mary’s tough to beat.
On the other side, Vanderbilt comes into this game with a record of 20-12 and finished 10th in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Commodores, coached by first-year head coach Mark Byington, faced numerous challenges but prepared them for this tournament by taking down several ranked teams throughout the season. They recently lost in the opening round of the SEC Tournament to Texas.
Vanderbilt's offensive strategy is up-tempo, as they rank 30th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, and they average 79.6 points per game, despite giving up 74.8 points on defense. Their top players include junior Devin McGlockton, averaging 10.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, alongside sophomore Jaylen Carey.
As for the betting odds, Saint Mary’s is favored to win the game by 4.5 points, with the Over/Under set at 135.5 points. The moneyline stands at -190 for Saint Mary’s and +155 for Vanderbilt. Experts are predicting a close match, with some analysts forecasting a final score of 64-57 in favor of the Gaels.
The Gaels’ strong performance in the WCC has been notably supported by their three key big men: Paulius Murauskas, who averages 12.5 points and 8 rebounds, Mitchell Saxen, who contributes 10.6 points and 7.9 rebounds, and Luke Barrett, with averages of 9.8 points and 6.7 rebounds. Saxen had an outstanding performance in the WCC title game, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds. The team operates under the leadership of two-time WCC Player of the Year, Augustas Marciulionis, who leads the squad with 14.3 points per game, ranking behind only one other player in the conference with his assists total of 202.
Despite Saint Mary’s defensive prowess, they face a challenge as the Commodores’ leading scorer, Jason Edwards, averages 17.0 points per game and presents a serious threat from beyond the arc. Tyler Nickel, another key player for Vanderbilt, has successfully hit over 1.5 threes in 15 of his last 24 games and is shooting at an average of 2.7 three-pointers per game, making him a potential game-changer.
This matchup promises to be a gripping clash of styles, highlighted by Saint Mary’s slower pace of play compared to Vanderbilt's up-tempo strategy. As Coach Byington noted, “It’s easier to slow a team down. We’re not going to be able to speed them up.” The Gaels may not have faced as many high-caliber opponents as Vanderbilt, but they've shown resilience against strong offenses, as evidenced by their performances against Gonzaga.
In terms of predictions, many analysts believe that Saint Mary’s will advance to the Round of 32, while some foresee Vanderbilt covering the spread. For fans tuning in, the game will be broadcast live on TruTV.
This exciting first-round matchup showcases the contrasting tactics between the Gaels’ dominance in the paint and Vanderbilt’s perimeter shooting capabilities. With the stakes high and a spot in the next round on the line, both teams will look to rise to the occasion in what promises to be an exhilarating encounter. As the fans prepare, the anticipation builds for what could be a defining moment for both programs in the NCAA Tournament.
