A quiet confidence permeates the Saint Mary's program these days.
After years of being in the West Coast Conference shadow cast by Gonzaga, the No. 13 Gaels have stepped into the sun, and the immediate future is as bright as it's ever been for Randy Bennett's squad.
The Gaels (21-2, 10-0 WCC) have won a school-record 16 straight games, and that includes a three-point victory at Gonzaga on Jan. 18. The Gaels go for 17 in a row against San Francisco on Thursday night in Moraga, Calif.
While the streak is a great accomplishment and means the Gaels won't be sneaking up on anyone come NCAA Tournament time, winning 17 straight indicates only that the team has been consistent and maybe a little lucky.