Gaels Crack First AP Top 25 in 18 Years

Saint Mary's Todd Golden (24) celebrates with members of his team, from left, Lucas Walker (12), Omar Samhan, second from left, Carlin Hughes (3) and head coach Randy Bennett, right, after defeating San Diego State in their basketball game at the John R. Wooden Classic, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, in Anaheim, Calif. Saint Mary's won 69-64. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill - AP)

Southern Cal (6-3), which lost consecutive close games to Kansas and Memphis, dropped out from 24th after a two-week run in the poll.

The Big East has five ranked teams, the Pac-10 four and the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 three each. Then comes three leagues with two each, the Big Ten, the Southeastern Conference and the WCC.

The last time there were two WCC teams in the poll was the preseason poll and first regular-season poll in 1973-74 when San Francisco and former member UNLV were 11th and 19th.

"That was way before I was born," junior Ian O'Leary said before getting back to current matters like Tuesday night's game at Southern Illinois. "We're not content. If we lose this next game we're right back out. We can't settle on this."

The last time the Gaels were ranked the top players on the team coached by Lynn Nance were Robert Haugen and Erick Newman. Saint Mary's finished 25-5 that season, losing to Clemson in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

This group is being led by freshman Patty Mills, who had 37 points in the win over Oregon.

"Patty sets the table for everyone," Bennett said of the point guard who helped Australia qualify for the 2008 Olympics. "I thought from day one our depth was pretty good. We had too many guys who could contribute on a good team. Two of those games could have gone the other way. But they've pretty much controlled their own destiny in terms of the start of the season."

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.