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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
 Dellavedova's dominance
By Joe Kaiser

 As is typically the case this time of year, Randy Bennett's Saint Mary's Gaels are looking like a team that could make a lot of noise if they do in fact get into the NCAA tournament. And right now, it looks very likely that they will. With star point guard Matthew Dellavedova entering the final stretch of his stellar college career, this could spell doom for any team that has to face the Gaels in March.

The crafty 6-foot-4 Australian has been a model of consistency since he first stepped foot in Moraga, and that's been no different in his fourth year at the school. He's averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 assists a game this season, and remains the steady 3-point threat he's always been. You might remember this one, which may go down as the shot of the year.

Here is ESPN's Seth Greenberg with more on why Dellavedova poses such a matchup nightmare for any team he faces.

Seth Greenberg
Dellavedova's basketball IQ is off the charts
"At 6-foot-4, Dellavedova can see over the defense, and his ability to see all five defenders makes him impossible to plan for. Every defensive player needs to be alert on every possession when Dellavedova is on the floor. In transition, if you turn your head, it will result in a layup. And in the half court, Dellavedova is a threat every time he comes off the ball screen. He sees rotations and delivers the ball on time and on target. As a coach, you can prepare for a player's athletic ability or shooting ability (even if doing so still doesn't enable you to stop them), but it's almost impossible to get your players to account for an opponent's basketball IQ. Dellavedova has a PhD in seeing plays before they develop, and he might have the highest basketball IQ in the country. His intangibles and toughness set the tone for the Gaels, and you cannot undervalue the experience he gained last summer as a member of the Australian Olympic team."