Just a few hours earlier than Augustus Marciulionis celebrated his twenty third birthday with a Saint Mary’s first-round win within the NCAA Match, his well-known father known as right into a San Francisco radio present Friday from their native Lithuania.
Naturally, Sarunas Marciulionis, a former Warriors star and two-time Olympic medalist, was requested how he compares to his son, the West Coast Convention’s two-time reigning participant of the 12 months.
“He’s a better defender, for sure,” the elder Marciulionis informed KNBR 680-AM co-hosts Greg Papa and Greg Silver.
Elite protection is important Sunday if Saint Mary’s is to achieve its second-ever Candy 16. The No. 7-seed Gaels are plotting to upset No. 2 Alabama, school basketball’s highest-scoring crew. Tipoff is 3:10 p.m. PT in Cleveland’s Rocket Area (TNT).
Augustus Marciulionis figures to attract the marquee matchup, towards All-American guard Mark Sears.
“He plays with a lot of pace. He tries to get to the basket. He’s going to shoot deep 3s,” Augustus Marciulionis informed reporters Saturday in Cleveland. “He’s going to be a key cover, he’s a good player and I’m excited for that matchup.”
Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett’s follow-up response: “Augustus is a good player and he’s played against good ones the last four years. Sears is good. They have others that are good, too. But he’s the head of the snake, for sure, and he’s constantly attacking.”
Stopping Sears, a fifth-year guard averaging 18.8 factors per recreation, won’t be a one-man job. Not when Alabama has others to assist pump out an NCAA-best 91.1 factors per recreation. And never when Saint Mary’s swarms with the nation’s fourth-best protection (60.5 factors per recreation).
“It won’t be a one-on-one matchup. It’ll get down to team coverage,” Bennett added.
That team-oriented method saved Saint Mary’s afloat Friday with a 59-56 win over Vanderbilt. The Gaels have been down 12 factors when, solely 4 minutes into the second half, Marciulionis picked up his fourth foul and headed to the bench for a spell.
His teammates rallied and Marciulionis ultimately rejoined them in shaking off early-game taking pictures woes, with the fourth-year guard making a pair of go-ahead 3-point baskets with 7 and 4 ½ minutes remaining. He additionally made two free throws with 1:15 remaining for what stood because the profitable factors.
Fellow level guard Jordan Ross, in addition to fifth-year senior Mitchell Saxen, have been greater influences within the Gaels’ comeback, however Marciulionis’ capability to complete sturdy supplies confidence for Sunday’s second-round encore.
Not dangerous for a child Bennett first met 22 years in the past, when he traveled to Lithuania to assist at Sarunas Marciulionis’ basketball academy.
“When he picked me up at the airport, he had this little 1-year-old sitting on the little middle part in the car, and he’s buzzing around. That was Augustas,” Bennett humorously recalled Saturday to reporters. “I was like, this is crazy, he doesn’t even have a seatbelt on and he’s whipping around these streets.”
Augustus popped up unexpectedly on Bennett’s recruiting radar years in the past, and now the coach marvels at how that “innocent kid” has grown right into a big-time chief, particularly the final two seasons.
Sarunas Marciulionis mentioned on KNBR about his son’s path: “After the second season, he had thoughts to maybe look somewhere else. But we decided ‘No.’ He went such a long way and Coach Bennett is a legend, so, ‘Be patient and your time will come.’ We made the right decision to stay and he’s had a successful third and fourth season.”
All 4 seasons have featured an NCAA Match look, together with a first-round upset final season and second-round exits in 2022 and ’23.
“We didn’t come here just to win one game. We’ve done it before,” ahead Luke Barrett mentioned. “We’re trying to leave a legacy on this program and do something special.”
Added Marciulionis: “The excitement is gone, and we’re just focused on playing a good team in a tough environment, and that’s our job.”
The first process will likely be stopping Sears, who totaled 22 factors (11-of-13 free throws, 1-of-5 3-point taking pictures, 10 assists) in Alabama’s 90-81, first-round win over Robert Morris.
“Mark is a big-time competitor, as you see in the way he plays. He kind of sets the tone like competitive-wise,” Alabama teammate Chris Youngblood mentioned. “If he’s on, he’s a point guard, so naturally we follow.”
Identical may very well be mentioned for Marciulionis and the Gaels.
“Every time I think of Marciulionis, I think of Sarunas,” Alabama coach Nate Oats mentioned Saturday. “… I loved watching his dad play. He could really shoot. He’s crafty. He’s skilled. He’s tough. I loved watching him play.
“If (Augustus) Marciulionis played in our pace, he’d probably score more points, but he’s very good at what they need him to do,” Oats added. ” … He’s good. He’s powerful. He’s artful. He hits massive pictures in massive video games for them, and he is aware of run their crew, and it’s onerous to get him out of his rhythm. You’ll be able to inform he most likely grew up watching plenty of basketball, watching his dad and all of the NBA gamers play. I don’t know the child in any respect. I’ve watched him on movie, and I’ve a bunch of respect for him.”
