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Saint Marys College begins the most promising season in school history with a challenging opener, a Friday night (11 p.m. ET) home contest against Nevada, another team with high hopes.The Gaels are ranked in the Associated Press preseason poll for the first time, coming in at No. 17, and they are picked to finish second behind Gonzaga in the preseason West Coast Conference coaches poll.Its easy to see why expectations are high.The Gaels return all five starters from a squad that last season tied for the WCC regular-season title, beat Gonzaga twice and set a school record for wins while going 29-6.Despite all that, St. Marys failed to get an NCAA Tournament bid, something that seems well within reach this season.Dealing with such high expectations is something new for the tiny school located in rural Moraga, Calif., and its new for Randy Bennett, who is beginning his 16th season as the Gaels head coach. He is trying to avoid the big-picture possibilities and focus on the little things that got St. Marys to this intersection.Even as attention multiplies, the Gaels are going with their we first mantra.When asked to name his No. 1 goal, Bennett said, I think just be who we are, try to be better all the time. Were trying to stay focused as opposed to worrying about rankings.The Gaels must stay true to their reliance on patience, sound fundamentals and excellent three-point shooting. They are not going to overwhelm anyone with athleticism.That identity will be tested in the opener against an athletic Nevada squad that made remarkable progress last season in Eric Musselmans first year as the Wolf Packs head coach.Musselman, who had been the head coach of two NBA teams (Golden State and Sacramento), transformed a Nevada team that had won just nine games the year before he arrived into a 24-win team that won the College Basketball Invitational postseason tournament last season. With four starters returning, the Wolf Pack were picked by the media to finish second in the Mountain West Conference this season, behind San Diego State.Nevada has one player who could present major problems for the Gaels -- sophomore forward Cameron Oliver, who was named to the Mountain Wests preseason all-conference team after averaging 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.61 blocks as a freshman.Obviously he had an unbelievable freshman season, said Musselman. Cam is a great, great shot-blocker. Hes an elite floor-runner. He proved last year he can knock the three down.Sometimes Cam doesnt know how good he can be in the post. We want to continue to throw the ball down to him in the post like we did in the CBI (when Oliver averaged 19.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in six games).Musselman is concerned about his teams defense, and that could be a problem against a St. Marys team that last season led the nation in field goal percentage (50.4) and was ninth in three-point percentage (40.6).Nearly every St. Marys starter can shoot from long range, and Stefan Gonzalez returns after hitting 52.6 percent of his threes (40 of 76) while coming off the bench a year ago.Three St. Marys players -- Emmett Naar, Dan Pineau and Joe Rahon -- were named to the WCCs 10-man preseason all-conference squad. Naar and Pineau are two of the seven Australian players on the Gaels roster, which is perennially filled with players from Down Under. Cheap Jerseys From China . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. http://www.cheapwholesalejerseyschina.com/ .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Jerseys NFL Wholesale . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Cheap Jerseys USA . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium.Rafael Benitez has agreed a three-year deal to stay on as Newcastle United manager. Sky Sports News HQ reported earlier on Wednesday that the Spaniard had struck a deal to extend his tenure, despite failing to prevent the teams drop to the Championship.The 56-year-old signed a three-year contract when replacing Steve McClaren in March, but the agreement was reported to include an option to cancel at the end of the season. However, the club have managed to persuade Benitez to remain at St James Park and announced the news on Wednesday evening. Benitez shakes hands with managing director Lee Charnley after signing his new contract A statement on the clubs website read: Newcastle are delighted to confirm that Rafa Benitez will remain as Newcastle United manager, after signing a new initial three-year contract.On Wednesday afternoon the Spaniard put pen to paper on the deal which will keep him on Tyneside until at least the summer of 2019. Benitez will have day-to-day responsibility for all football-related matters at the club. Rafa convinced How Newcastle persuaded their man to stay on Although the club dropped out of the top flight, Benitez reignited their campaign in the last two months, leading them to three wins and a six-game unbeaten run, which culminated in a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham on the final day of the season.Benitez said: I am extremely pleased to be staying at Newcastle United. The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence for me in my decision to stay, as was my relationshhip with Lee Charnley and all the staff.dddddddddddd Newcastle odds-on for promotion Toons Championship odds slashed after Benitez agrees to stay This is a huge club and I wanted to be part of the great future I can see for Newcastle United.Managing director Lee Charnley added: When we brought Rafa to the club in March, we knew he was a phenomenal manager and everything we have seen from him since has only served to reinforce that.We are therefore delighted to have secured his services for the next three years and I believe with Rafa as manager it gives us the best possible chance of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking and delivering success for this football club beyond that. Newcastle fans urged Benitez to stay despite the clubs relegation It is clear that Rafa has connected deeply with the clubs supporters and we do not underestimate the role they have played in his decision to stay.He has captured the hearts and minds not just of the fans, but of everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him at the club thus far. As a world-class manager we had no doubt in our minds as to the importance of retaining him at Newcastle United.A further announcement regarding Benitezs coaching staff will be made in due course. Also See: How Newcastle convinced Rafa From the Bernabeu to Burton Wijnaldum devastated at drop When does your season start? ' ' '