Senior Night - What a Night!

SCU threw some great parties Saturday night and the best of all them may have been the one at Leavey where we beat St.Mary's 71-70.

It wasn't about fundraising like the Golden Circle - but it did "raise" something as important - expectations about where our MBB needs to be - competitive with the top teams in the WCC.

It was also about gaining R E S P E C T.  

The clincher from Jared Brownridge with 7 seconds left was even more astounding than his step back 3 pointer at the buzzer to beat the Gaels last year.
  
Brownridge's "tear drop" was so high off the glass that it could be a case study for the SCU Physics Department to rethink Newton's Law of Gravity.

The party started with the emergence of Jarvis Pugh.  His "cat quick" mid-court steal and hang glider dunk were a booster shot of adrenalin.  

Denzel Johnson played his best game on senior night in front of family and friends including NBA hall of famer Gary Payton.  He drilled some "party favor" 3's mid second half that kept us close.

Senior Brandon Clark's gritty play and key free throws gave us a chance.  

Then, the final pass to the closer, who put the Gaels away.  How far away...well, bye bye to their NCAA bid...

And most of all, the Season Ticket Holders and fans felt something missing for a long time - Proud...

And you know it's a feeling we should have every game, not once or twice a season.  A feeling that is needed to take this incredible franchise to a level where teams dread playing us.  A feeling we belong and can compete; rather than a one game upset victory.

The same feeling we had back in the day when teams came to play the Broncos in the San Jose Civic Auditorium; the basketball equivalent of the "Hurt Locker".  

Opponents who drove the lane against SCU were met by the Ogden brothers (who were in attendance last night) to slow you down and if that didn't work, there was an "in your face" Dennis Awtrey to make the stop. Opposing teams woke up the next day and felt like they'd be in an alley fight - sore.

Our house - Pride...Respect..

We gained a measure of both Saturday night.  But we need the party to continue in Las Vegas and from there "double down" on our commitment to competing at a higher level. 

Reboot, retool, and re-invest in Athletics and Men's Basketball.  

It's a matter of respect and pride....

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