SCU Baseball Makes "Waves" in Men's Basketball Victory

Season Ticket Holders have wondered all year:  where are the Ruff Riders?  

I get it, the SCU Men's WCC season has been a fight for "middle earth" in league as the "Big 3" did battle to sort out good win-loss records vs good teams.  It's now all sorted out with the "alpha dogs" Gonzaga proving it's in a different league.

All that said, something happened this week at Leavey.   Something good.   Not only did the Broncos finish off two games for wins; one of which was against a touted Pepperdine team coming off a 5-2 league start and a BYU upset, the other, the emergence of a new force in our student rooting section:  The SCU Men's BASEBALL team.

You read this right - The Baseball team.

They "rocked" Leavey AND totally rattled our opponents.

In the minds of all the Season Ticket Holders, they annihilated the so-called Ruff Riders' reputation; not just by showing up in volumes, but yelling in a "volume" that shook up the other teams and set a new season decibel record!   Joined by the Bronco band they were a chorus to be reckoned with. 

So much so, that with the game in the balance and LMU shooting critical one and one free throws, they shouted down the LMU shooters who missed 3 shots that turned a nail biter into an easy finish. 

Awesome.  Check them out.

So, on behalf of our Season Ticket Holders and fans, I wanted to give both a "shout out" and a challenge.   A shout out to the Baseball team and Band and a challenge to the Ruff Riders.  Show up...Anyone can come to one big game, Gonzaga, but that doesn't cut it...

OK, you can blame the team, the schedule, and make all kinds of excuses - but the team SHOWS UP - and you don't do your part to support them.  

At least the team is making the effort...

So, to Coach Dan O'Brien and the team - you rock - keep the mojo going... And THANKS for the energy.  The Zags will feel and hear your presence on Feb 5th!

For more Men's Bball info, follow me on Twitter @Fcrary.

The Broncos "Mid-Term" Report Card

SCU students are in winter quarter classes and mid-terms are ahead.  

Since it's a little past mid-season, I thought it is appropriate to give our Broncos a mid-term report card.  I'll focus on conference results and give a grade at the end.  

BTW, I do not grade on a "curve".

My pre-season forecast was a 13-16 season, with possible upside to 16-13 and a WCC record of  8-10.  As of this article, with 11 games to go, the team is right on those numbers.  

Current Season Record:  9-10

Current WCC Record:      3-4

Predicted Season "Final" Record:  13-16   Upside: 15-14

Predicted WCC "Final" Record:       8-10    Upside:  9-9

To reach those final numbers, they must pass an upcoming series of 11 "tests".  

The WCC syllabus is unfolding as most thought:

Gonzaga is dominating. 

St. Mary's (7-0) is hanging around; having played the easiest part of their WCC schedule first.  BYU (5-3), once considered the threat to the Zags, is now focused on trying to get an NCAA at-large bid; after a shocking loss to Pepperdine at home and St. Mary's on the road.  

Pepperdine (5-2) is the "surprise" so far; beating BYU and taking Gonzaga to the last 2 minutes.

The Broncos results - middling along at 3-4 - no upsets and expected losses to the "big" 3 and Portland on the road.

Our "homework" assignments for the last 11 games:

Plug the "D"  Our opponents are getting way too many good looks and out shooting us on 2pt field goals 46% to 39%.  The man-man match ups have not been in our favor and teams have our zone figured out.

Give the "O" Some Flow  We need to "move it, move it".  Teams are all over Jared and Brandon.  We are 9th in the WCC in FG%, PPG, and average # of Possessions/game and we've shown we can't dribble our way out. I like the move to have Denzel "handle" more up the floor and that he's shooting more aggressively.  If we can get our spacing right, we can pass to an open Jared or Brandon vs settling for the one-on-one dribble drive late in the clock.

Get a "go to" Play  Call it a "reset" button.  We tend to get lost in the flow of the game and have long scoring lapses known as "runs" by the other team.  

WCC teams have us wired.  Stop Jared and control Brandon.  It's working.  Jared is shooting 34% and Brandon 32%.  It may not be necessary to always try to go to JB or BC.  Maybe we can look at the spots on the floor where Denzel (46%), Matt (44%), or Nate (47%) shoot their highest percentage based upon their shot charts as an option?  The data is there.  Might help us find some rhythm and stop a drought. Making their "go to's" might create better shot opps for both our big scorers.  

Sounds easy, right?  NOT.  These are hard assignments.  You can't just memorize them.  You can't "cram".  You have to learn, react and answer in "real time" with the court as their classroom.

Based on the body of work thus far, my mid-term grade is a C.

We've won the games we should have and, so far, haven't won a "statement" game.  I hope the "MO" from beating USF carries on for the next 11 "tests".  

Tonight begins the road to their "final" grade.  Maybe we can amp it up by living up to our pre-game video that this is OUR house.

If we can beat Pepperdine on Saturday, I would me give them, in the words of the late, great Stewart Scott a "B" for Boo-yah....and some swagger as we go on the road to BYU.

Classes start at 8:00 pm tonight in Leavey.

I'll be taking attendance and have my gradebook.....

The Broncos Need to Get "Out of the Zone" for WCC Wins

Most teams dream of being "in the zone" when they take the floor.

Our Broncos need to get "out of the zone" to win more this important weekend in the Northwest and the remainder of their WCC schedule.

Before you say I'm crazy, let me explain.

The WCC has us figured out.  Talented guards, perimeter oriented. More than 33% of our points come from 3 pt shots; much higher than the WCC average.  

Their game plan:  make it as hard as possible to get good looks from the 3 pt area.  Play an up top, switching man-man focused on Jared and Brandon.  THEN, use a 2-3 matchup zone to shut down Jared running off baseline screens.  

It's working......

We are 9th in the WCC in scoring, 9th in FG%, 6th in 3 pt FG%, and 9th in FT%.

We average 10-12 LESS possessions(chances to score) than the top 4 WCC teams. (Portland 73, Zags 70).  

But, maybe the BEST evidence that our opponents strategy is working is that our best shooter - Jared is not getting enough shots - and the ones he's getting are tough looks.  

Would you believe Matt Hubbard has almost as many shots? Brandon has taken nearly 30 more than Jared and shooting a much lower percentage. 

We in the Chairbacks thought rebounding was the issue, too many put-backs.  Nope, we can still be better, but we're 6th in the WCC. We are 4th in offensive rebounding.

To counter the above, we went "down" to Nate against San Diego and he was productive, maybe his best game.  BUT, Jared got only 6 shots....

It's not all about Jared but he's a key piece of this team growing AND going places...

So this weekend, that's why we need to get "out of the zone".  Solve it, bust it, shoot it - literally.

How?  That's what our coaches will need to create in their game plan against two very tough inside-out teams and coaches who know us very well.

Let the chess game begin.  

As season ticket holders and fans we'll be "zoned in" - watching and listening.....

A "split" would be great - a shocker even better.  That would be a zone we haven't been in - but want to be.....

For more Bucking Bronco info, follow me on twitter @Fcrary.