Gonzaga cracks Top 10

Spokane school's basketball team has highest ranking ever

NICHOLAS GERANIOS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPOKANE -- Two wins over lowly Portland and a loss by Oklahoma State vaulted Gonzaga to No. 9 in The Associated Press basketball poll on Monday, the first appearance in the Top 10 in the school's history.

Gonzaga also became the first Washington state team in the modern era to reach such a high poll ranking.

The Bulldogs (20-3, 7-1 West Coast Conference) were ranked 11th last week.

"This is great for the program," coach Mark Few said. "As I've said before, I think this program is to the point where it deserves the respect it is now getting.

"We've lost the Cinderella tag, and have demonstrated the past three years have not been a flash-in-the-pan thing," Few said of the Bulldogs' three deep runs into the NCAAs.

Few said the Bulldogs' final six regular season games pose challenges.

"We just have a bigger target painted on us," Few said. "Plus, we go to two of the toughest gyms in our league this week. They'll be ready and waiting for us."

The Bulldogs visit Santa Clara on Thursday and San Diego on Saturday.

But their toughest remaining opponent is likely Pepperdine, which handed Gonzaga its only conference loss to leave the Bulldogs second in the WCC. The Waves travel to Spokane on Feb. 16.

Last week, Gonzaga beat Portland 102-76 on Wednesday in Spokane, and 94-80 on Saturday night in Portland, as the Pilots fell to 5-17.

Oklahoma State's loss to Kansas State dropped them from No. 9 to No. 14 in the latest poll, making room for the Bulldogs.

There are some dark clouds on the Bulldog horizon. Starting center Cory Violette and key reserve Ronny Turiaf continue to be hobbled by ankle injuries suffered in Wednesday's game. Turiaf did not play on Saturday, while Violette had nine points and seven rebounds in limited minutes.

Gonzaga's success is quite a departure from the less-than-storied tradition of Washington college basketball.

Washington State has not appeared on the AP poll since 1983. Washington was last ranked in 1998. Eastern Washington has never been ranked.

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