Although the season ended with disappointing losses in the conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament, St. Mary's had an excellent season, spending much of the season in the top 25.

It was the school's best team since at least 1989 and may have been the best since Tom Meschery played there in 1959. The accomplishment is more impressive considering the Gaels won just two games the season before Randy Bennett arrived.

The Gaels were picked to finish second, which is what they did, but they were not expected to get into the national rankings, so they exceeded expectations.

There is no reason to believe this season was a fluke, and the Gaels should be just as good next season, assuming Bennett stays. He will be pursued by higher-profile programs and it's probably just a matter of time before he leaves St. Mary's.

The Gaels will be nearly as talented next season, since they return their two all-conference players, G Patty Mills and F Diamon Simpson, and their No. 3 scorer, C Omar Samhan. They lose two important backcourt players -- Todd Golden, the team's best perimeter shooter, and Tron Smith, a reliable offensive and defensive force off the bench -- but the return of Wayne Hunter, who redshirted the season, will help offset those losses.

St. Mary's was not happy with the way things ended this season, though. They lost three of their final four games, and blew leads while losing their last two games -- against San Diego in the WCC semifinals and against Miami in the NCAA Tournament.

The Gaels still have two major barriers to cross -- beating out Gonzaga and making some hay in the postseason. Bennett has yet to win a postseason game.

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