One of Coach Sendek's most important team goals is learning.
The 2016-17 season was the first chapter in what we hope becomes the story of SCU Men's Basketball returning to national relevance.
So, what did we learn from that first chapter?
We have a proven coach and a staff that develops players and can win despite LOTS of obstacles. The days of "O-fer" are "O-ver."
Gonzaga's run for the NCAA title was great for the WCC, but also laid bare how far we have to climb to erase 20 years of a lack of inertia and oh, of course, investment.
So, it's time for Major NOT Mid-Major R & R!
Rebuild.
Re-invigorate.
And to do that, we have to Recruit...
This will be Coach's first incoming class. Currently there are four players committed; three underclassmen and a graduate transfer from Princeton. With the departures of Tony Lewis and Akil Douglas, two spots are open.
Here's what Coach Sendek told me about the recruits. To view their video package, please click on the provided links.
Shaquille Walters 6'5: "he's long, athletic, very quick, can shoot from range, slash and finish, and we loved his feel for the game."
Josip Vrankic 6-9: "very versatile, strong Bball I.Q. and a great passer. Can play lots of spots on the floor."
Matt Turner - 6'3: "a premier shooter, can also slash, and we love his competitive spirit."
Henry Caruso - 6'4: Transfer from Princeton
"Princeton was
one of the best stories of the season, winning 22 games and nearly upsetting
Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament. The crazy part is it happened without Caruso. The 6-4 wing led
the team in scoring (15 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg) in 2015-16, but a foot
injury cost him most of the 2016-17 season."*
BTW, he shoots it at 52% from 2pt and 45% from 3pt for an EFG%** of over 58%. Translation - a much needed offensive boost.
Mid Major Madness comments Re: SCU Recruits:
“Two three-star guards that turned down Power Five’s could make an instant
impact for the Broncos in Matt Turner (offered by Seton Hall, Pitt, Virginia
Tech) and Shaquille Walteres (offered by Arizona state). Turner is a combo guard that can shoot it with
the best of them, while Walters is a 6’6 English wing that is still growing into
his game. Canadian Josip Vrankic started
for the U18 FIBA Americas runner-up team.
The Combo forward has a ton of upside to his game.”
It's nice to see our newcomers getting some good "ink." What's really nice is that the staff has been able to get recruits who could have an impact NOW. On paper, a MAJOR upgrade.
More good news is we have up to six open spots for 2018-19. Replenish, Recharge, and by 2019-20, hopefully, be Reckoned with.
While, my confidence level is high that the coaches will reinvigorate SCU "on" the court, we all still have major work to reinvigorate and re-engage the SCU fan base "off" the floor.
This may be the bigger of the two challenges.
Just as we've lost our way on the court for the past decade or so, we've also lost our way, our voice, and pride off the court. Fans, season ticket holders, students, faculty, alums, the community near SCU, have forgotten what it's like to have something to cheer about.
It's like we've become a bunch of Eeyores. We're "conditioned" to expect mediocrity, afraid to stand up and be heard. A "doubting Thomas" syndrome.
Pride is a tough thing to lose and hard to get back.
It takes not just courage, but BELIEF.
You know, the coaches and players feel it. The team always plays hard, but they'll play even harder if they feel we've got their backs by making noise and creating a "home court" culture like we had in the Awtrey, Ogden era. When it meant something to be a Bronco and teams coming to our home court (The Civic) knew they would face a tough team and oppressive fans in their face...
We all have R & R to do. This is our part of the "learning" process that Coach teaches: to learn to trust and believe.
To become Bronco's again. Loud, rough, impatient, and hard to handle; both on the floor and in the stands...
* Source: Mid-Major Madness
** EFG% - Effective FG % takes into consideration the extra value (50%) of 3pt shots made in addition to 2pt shots.
Also on facebook at: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco
Twitter @Fcrary
Also on facebook at: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco
Twitter @Fcrary
