Santa Clara Men's Basketball - The Panic Button

 

                                                                                                                         

The promise of the most experienced roster in eight years under Coach Sendek was expected to make a lot of noise this season.  So far the noise they've made is a loud crash.  A 1-3 start is the reverse of what Bronco fans and, I think, Coaches planned on.  The season started with a good road win vs St. Louis and then devolved into chaos with bad losses to ASU, North Dakota State, and a drubbing by a good Nevada team. 

Is it time to push the panic button?   Maybe.

The players seems as confused as the fans.  On offense, there doesn't appear to be a set of "go to" plays when one is needed.  This team wants to score early in transition, a good thing, but not by solely jacking up 3's from long distance early in the clock.  Our core lineup is shooting 10.6% from three on an average of 31 threes per game.  Our second unit is much better; shooting 45% from three on 50 fewer attempts.  Our defense is allowing opponents to enjoy a 42% clip from deep.  Not a great combination.  

Curiously, our Achilles Heel from last season, turnovers are 25% less at under 10 per game.  Our assists are down 30% from our average last season.  Tough to get assists when you are struggling to make shots.

In game adjustments are hard to notice, as it seems we are desperately hoping for a "reversion to the mean" by playing the same way.   The problem so far is what is the new mean?   One bright spot is from one of our players new to the system, Elijah Mahi, a JC transfer who is leading the team in scoring at 17 ppg while shooting over 60%.  Clearly, something different is needed to get this talented roster on track.  

Time for the panic button?  Not quite yet.  However, it would be a big boost to win six of the next seven games against teams we would expect to beat, with perhaps a loss against either the Colorado State/ Washington game.  Emerging at 7-4 from the next three weeks would restore some confidence and momentum to finish the pre-season and head into the WCC schedule.  

Certainly, the season expectations of a post season berth will be in play over the next three weeks.  We'll know if we're on track or will need a WCC tournament championship upset to meet the expectations this roster and Bronco fans expect. 

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - My Interview with New Athletic Director Heather Owen

 

                                                                                                                 

On November 5th President Julie Sullivan, the Board of Trustees, and the search committee made the decision to hire Heather Owen as Santa Clara Athletics' Director.   The hire comes at a pivotal time for all Santa Clara teams and, most notably, for Men's Basketball.  While great strides have been made in MBB, we remain parked in third or fourth in the WCC behind perennial powerhouse Gonzaga along with St. Mary's and USF.  

The timing couldn't be better now that our MBB Athletic facilities are of national quality, removing one of the biggest obstacles for recruiting more talent.  We are poised to able to make the move to higher level of competitiveness with goals to make the NCAA tournament frequently.  

While the opportunities are great, so are the challenges to actually achieve them in the new NCAA world as a result of the legal judgement allowing "pay for play."  This opportunity to be on a level with Gonzaga, Xavier, Villanova, Creighton, and Marquette has been talked about for the last 10 years, but to my knowledge a specific plan with accountability has yet to be implemented.  President Sullivan has stated "we're not where we need to be in Men's Basketball."  This is not a slap at Coach Sendek nor his staff, rather a clear recognition of the immense value to the entire University that a top 25, NCAA tournament level team fosters.  

So, what was it about Heather Owen that prompted her selection?  President Sullivan said Heather, "As a leader, she has the smarts and strategic and operational acumen needed to achieve excellence and, importantly, the candor, calm, and trustworthiness required to successfully manage the challenges faced in building a highly competitive program."  

Quite an endorsement.  In our conversation, it was evident that she understands top level success given her tenure as Stanford Athletics department senior administrator and more importantly her competitive basketball career playing in three NCAA final fours for Tara VanDerveer.  When asked what made Tara Vanderveer so successful for so many years, her answer was that she had a keen eye for talent and developed it into sustained top ten level program.  Tara was demanding and got the most from her players.  

Heather stated plainly it's all about talent.  She recalled a Tara Vanderveer quote "that you can't win the Kentucky Derby riding on a donkey."  That quote summarizes the magnitude of what Heather and we face in MBB.  Our roster this year is a good one; maybe the overall best in the Herb Sendek eight years.  Our talent level has progressed based on Santa Clara's history, but not fast enough to challenge Gonzaga or St. Mary's.  Even USF has landed talented big men and certainly guards.  Our 6-19 record versus the Dons since 2016 is evidence of their strides. 

I really enjoyed hearing from Heather about what we want to become in MBB, but given where we are and have remained, it's a tall order even for Heather who is 6'4".

It's seems to me to be a radical change that's needed, not an SCU strong suit.  We have a history of being too patient for results.  I think 28 years for an NCAA invite is patient enough.  IMHO, this aspiration to compete at the level mentioned will require changes and upgrades far surpassing the current or any funding level in any SCU sport.  

Two examples for MBB are NIL and direct payment to athletes from the University budget.  NIL is the "Name, Image, Likeness" that, in the past, was outside of direct University purview; where corporate or other sponsors could contract with athletes and compensate them for using their images, whether social media, ads, etc.  This has now become essentially "unregulated" as a result of the NCAA lawsuit settlement.  Want a 5* recruit either from high school or the transfer portal?  There is a going rate and it's not cheap.  I don't know our budget, but the Zags purportedly drop $ 3+ mil here.  No wonder their roster is always stacked.  Want to help, call Heather.  The ante is $ 3 Mil for openers.

In March 2025, the lawsuit will likely be ratified or modified where athletes can be paid directly for their services by Universities.  Welcome to Jerry Maguire.  Want talent.  "Show me the Money!" 

These are only two of a number of  areas that Heather and her team will have to navigate for MBB to make a legit try to move up.  The Bronco athletic staff so far seems impressed.  I do believe there is sincere motivation from Heather to be a difference maker here as she was reported to be at Stanford.  For Bronco season ticket holders and fans the former "go slow" process for change at SCU has worn itself out.  Slow is not part of Silicon Valley culture and we should take that to heart.  

It's clear Heather has the tools to succeed.   We'll see soon enough if she can use those tools to "build" athletics and, in particular, Men's Basketball into an NCAA tourney level program.  

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - Should We Expect Great Expectations?

 

                                                                                                                 

In 2013, SCU Athletic Director Dan Coonan declared with great enthusiasm a "new day" for Santa Clara Athletics when Fr. Michael Engh convened an elite panel to study and recommend the path forward for Athletics.  

In July 2014, the SCU Board of Trustees approved the President's Blue Ribbon Commission Plan for "national relevance" for Bronco Athletics and, in particular, Men's Basketball.  This became a piece of the SCU 2020 strategic plan.  The results for Men's Basketball during this seven year period was three winning seasons without any WCC titles, NIT or NCAA invites.  That's not national prominence.  The only National program was Women's Soccer with six NCAA appearances and, yes, a National Championship College Cup in 2020.

From 2021-2024 there was significant improvement in Men's Basketball.  Four consecutive winning seasons, three 20+ win seasons, two NBA first round draft picks, and two NIT invites.  Our NBA picks got us great national press and exposure; yet for all this improvement, we remain in 3rd and 4th place in the WCC.  

In January 2023, current President Julie Sullivan initiated the Impact 2030 strategic plan that mentions Women's Soccer and Men's Basketball as part of the "Belonging for all Broncos" strategic priority to engage and foster pride in our students.  This 2030 plan, I believe, will be the third time Men's Basketball is mentioned, but this plan is silent on the goal of national prominence.  

For Bronco season ticket holders and fans, we aren't sure if we're hoping for "third times a charm" or "playing the three card monte shell game?"  

No doubt, from 2020-2024, our athletics facilities and staff finally enjoyed the makeover  that the University academic areas have flourished from for the past 20 years.  But if you read the Impact 2030 recap of results from the 2020-2024 strategic plan under National Prominence, there is no mention of Athletics in the "University on the Rise" summary. 

We have been down this road before with Father Locatelli and Father Engh, and, now President Sullivan in addition to previous Athletic Directors Dan Coonan and Renee Baumgartner plus coaches Kerry Keating, Herb Sendek, and staff.  

It would be nice to see a set of Goals for Athletics and, in particular, Men's Basketball, that have specifics and accountability.  President Sullivan, The Trustees, and new A.D. Heather Owen are openly talking about and seem committed to rising another level to challenge Gonzaga and the other big five national Catholic Universities in Men's Basketball.  

It's a perfect time to "go for it" with NCAA sports and Men's Basketball becoming a free agent market - to go get more talent.  Find it and NIL it.  It works for Gonzaga, Creighton, Xavier, Villanova, and Marquette.  The thing is, many of our donors love having their names on a building.  How about a WCC championship or consistent NCAA invites instead?  That's unprecedented national PR exposure.  I love Rhodes Scholars, but I also love basketball All- Americans like we used to have.  Who gets more press for the University? 

Our coaches, while piling up consecutive 20 win seasons, come from conferences where four teams usually get NCAA invites due to the strength of the league competition.  Not the WCC.  Just not going to happen, unless you win the league or the conference tournament.  That's not going to change when Gonzaga bolts for the Pac 10 or 12 or whatever number of teams.  We will still have to deal with St.. Mary's, USF, and others that will challenge for that title and maybe only one NCAA ticket.

I think season ticket holders want either to be bold or fold.  Use this season of winning to build a war chest of what it takes to go to the next level.  We have the roster to make a statement this year.  

How?  Make the NCAA tournament this season.  Then, although the way above my pay grade, maybe SCU to the PAC 12 in 2026?  Sound crazy?  With Gonzaga moving to the PAC 12 they must have assurances the league will survive.  Washington State and Oregon State are moving from the WCC to the Pac 12 in 2026 as well.  

The upside is, it would help our scheduling with more selective non-conference games because the league competition would be much stronger.  It would signify a real commitment to this notion of rivaling Gonzaga and the other teams mentioned above.  Our coaches built their resumes in the PAC 12 type leagues, so it's not a foreign concept.  For recruiting, better players want better competition.  

The downside is we forego the possibility to win league titles or tournaments and qualify for NCAA's in a weakened WCC.  It's is definitely a cheaper solution.  The other risk is similar to our Achilles Heel of the past 30 years - money, commitment, and accountability.

If we want to be truly National, we need to earn it.  

If it all doesn't' work out, we can always go down to a level of recreational sports and continue to be a strong academic presence in Silicon Valley.

So, should we expect great expectations?  We hope so.  We would love to see the Broncos as a horse to ride into an NCAA tourney!

Next up.  My interview with our New Athletics Director - Heather Owen.

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - It's a Numbers Game

 

                                                                                                                   

AI - Artificial Intelligence is dominating media headlines as a definitive way to solve massive data intensive problems.  It's use in NCAA Men's Basketball will revolutionize the speed and insight provided to coaches stemming from analytics that capture every detail from every player and every possession.  

It's a numbers game that will become the basis of how "Money Ball" will take over college athletics.  Our new A.D. will have to integrate all the current best practices of traditional college athletics with the rapidly unfolding "money ball" world where the price tag of top talent just got a huge raise. 

Coaches, who for most of their careers, have relied on years of experience and judgement, now have added tools in building competitive rosters, scheduling, game planning, and in-game decisions based on actual situational statistical facts.  They'll need new tools, as the long standing model of recruiting young players and developing them like Jalen Williams has morphed into buy now, win now through the new free agency NCAA transfer portal.  

This is a pivotal year for the Broncos.  The petabytes of NCAA basketball analytics predict success when a team has a roster of returnees and transfers that played more than 60% of the previous season's minutes and teams that execute the "Four Factors" better than their opponents.  SCU's returning roster minutes - 76%.

The four factors in order of importance are: 

Effective FG% Efficiency:  A formula that combines a teams two and three point percentages.   Performance Weight:  40%, SCU 2025 National Rank:  90

Protecting the Ball:  Turnovers.  Performance Weight:  25%, SCU 2024 Rank:  277

Controlling the Boards:  Rebounding.  Performance Weight:  20%, SCU 2024 Rank:  18

Converting at the Line:  Free throw %.  Performance Weight: 15%,  SCU Rank: 215

Here are the projected numbers for the Broncos in 2024-2025.  The predictions are based upon the actual performances of every player on our current roster versus every team on our schedule and using every players total offensive and defensive possessions from last season.  These come from multiple sources.  

Current pre-season NCAA team rank 99.  Expected record 18-12.  WCC Season projection has us tied for 4th with USF.  Projected effective roster talent:  WCC, 7th.  Roster Experience rank:  WCC, 3rd.  Offensive efficiency rank: NCAA  90; WCC, 3rd.  Defensive efficiency rank:  NCAA, 112; WCC, 5th.  NCAA tournament chance:  Seeded 11%; Auto bid 6.4%; Total Odds 6.9%.

On Offense, we have two players ranked in the WCC top 20 - #18 and #20.  Gonzaga has six, USF with five, and St. Mary's five.

On defense, we have one player ranked in the top 10 in the WCC and two others top 20.  Gonzaga, St. Mary's and USF own the other 17 top spots. 

While projections are just data backed assumptions, it's clear we have work to do.  The data doesn't project roster improvement, just the value of the talent and returning roster minutes and experience.  How can our coaches get the maximum development and improvement from our players?  Can we adapt our system of play on offense and defense to unlock the talent that might be unique in this roster?  The top teams, Gonzaga and St. Mary's, are exceptional at creating mis-matches both on offense and defense that propel them to the number # 1 offense and top 20 defense.  

Identifying the improvements needed is easy.  Correcting them is much harder and a big hill to climb for the Broncos.  NCAA tournament level teams in the WCC and on our schedule average rank on offense was 41 and defense 40.  SCU was 107 and 134.  Their turnover rates average 10/game versus SCU at 13.  That amounts to about 100 possessions for the season at an SCU offensive point per possession rate of 109.8 or 110 more points.  I think we all know where we could have used those extra points.

In spite of the hill to climb, we are still in the mix for post season and with some upsets and no losses to 200 plus ranked teams an NCAA.   We're going to need to go full "Podziemski" mode this season - overlooked, underrated and come out of nowhere to impose our will on our opponents.  Post some "numbers" we can all be proud of and prove the prognosticators wrong!

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - Major Decisions

 

                                                                                                                     

The search for the next SCU Athletics Director should be nearing final interviews with an anticipated selection by September 1st.  Many positive things have happened under Renee Baumgartner, Coach Sendek, and staff in the past eight years.  

While all the upgrades have created a new foundation and successes in SCU Athletics and Men's Basketball, at the end of the day our MBB NCAA ranking has not materially changed since 2010.  We are still stuck in the middle at fourth and a few thirds in the WCC.  Our successive 20 wins seasons are a vast improvement in winning, but the level of competition has risen faster than our ability to claw our way out of the mid-major label and into serious NCAA invite consideration. 

Our new A.D. will have some "MAJOR" decisions to make as will our University Administration and Trustees if we are to compete on a level with the Zags and St. Mary's as well as other nationally established Catholic University brands.  Here's a short checklist of what the above schools are doing and what we need to do to rise to the next level.

The Roster:  Any analytics site that covers Men's Basketball will show that talent drives the results.  Talent arrives though several means.  It takes a keen recruiting eye, a network to access top level prospects in the portal and high schools along with Coaches who can develop talent and a team that can achieve NCAA level tourney results.   SCU talent has improved, but we have just one player with a performance rating in the top # 20 in the WCC at # 19.  The Zags have 6, St. Mary's 6, and USF 5 in the top 20.

Our Facilities are top 25 caliber.  Our reputation and visibility has grown with two first round NBA picks and the coaches who developed them.  It would be huge to have a top 25 team ranking to equal the level of our facilities.

NIL Money needs a Big boost and the new Santa Clara NIL exchange could help.  To successfully recruit skilled transfers and top level high school prospects, NIL money is the tie breaker and trump card SCU needs to have in its arsenal.  IF, we really aspire to play with the Zags we have to pay like the Zags.  To get us in the game, send your $4 million check to Santa Clara Men's Basketball.  

Improved Analytics in NCAA Men's Basketball has exploded; providing top level coaches with sound data driven insights into player performance by being able to review the outcome of every players' total season offensive and defense possessions and rank it versus any specific opponent, player, or other metric.  More on this next article.  Powerful.  

Student Engagement is the "in game" energizer for top 25 teams.  Their students are all in and fill arenas.  SCU student engagement has improved slightly, but is woefully behind our competition.  

Community Engagement is another area offering major benefits.  Our WCC competitors have figured out building a loyal, local fan base that supports their teams.  Winning, conference titles, and NCAA invites is the kindling to ignite local families to enjoy Division 1 competition. While we fill the stands with half time community dance teams, others fill them with paying season ticket holders.  

Marketing has improved somewhat during the past eight seasons.  Budgets are always a problem, but to season ticket holders it appears we act like a small program rather than plan events for what we want to become.  The Zags staffs are not just staff, they're program development and delivery managers.  "Kraziness in the Kennel" has achieved near "Burning Man" level type student and community support.  It's the kickoff event in Spokane.  At Midnight!  Rightfully, their success has inspired this, but maybe we should consider something bigger.  The pre-game Bistro in the AEC and the pre-season preview held in Leavey draw the same 50-75 die hard SCU Basketball fans - not 5,000.   

There are no easy solutions to the above, but it could be beneficial to lay out a new strategy.  Particularly, since this season we will have perhaps our most talented and experienced team in the Sendek era that has real potential to deliver another 20 wins and a post season invite.  We need a 3 point shot of adrenaline in our program.  

This is the season to make it happen!

                                                                                                                                

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - My Conversation With SCU President Dr. Julie Sullivan

 

                                                                                                                          

In March of 2022, the decision was made to hire Dr. Julie Sullivan as the 30th President of Santa Clara University.  The selection was notable for a number of reasons.  It broke the tradition of a Jesuit priest at the helm and the first woman to lead Santa Clara into the future.  

It was a bold move coming at one of the most critical junctures in SCU history;  developing the University strategy going forward following the Pandemic.  How would her past nine years experience at St. Thomas University, in Minnesota, translate to Silicon Valley to meet the challenges of maintaining and, more importantly, dramatically expand the national reputation of the University?

A key ingredient to me, besides her considerable credentials, was her leadership in making the decision to elevate St. Thomas Men's Basketball from NCAA Division 3 to Division 1.  BTW, this transition had never been done before in NCAA Men's Basketball.  The reasons for making the move stemmed from the desire to significantly raise the profile of the University.  Their team, the Tommie's had a 14 year run of trouncing every team in their league to the point where the league booted them out.   They are now thriving in Division 1.

The message is, we now have a President who firmly grasps the significance of success in Athletics and, particularly Men's Basketball, to building a national reputation.  A concept Gonzaga figured out 25 years ago.  Their stat line since 2000:  25 straight NCAA tournament invites, 22 outright or shared WCC titles, 9 straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, and, by the way, more than a tripling of their endowment.  Their 20/20 strategic plan that began in the year 2000 admits Men's Basketball saved Gonzaga from significant financial woes.  

Enough history.  As I said in my last column - The next A.D. hire will tell us all that we need to know re: Athletics and Men's Basketball.  Here's what President Sullivan had to say during our conversation.  

I shared with her two major things Season Ticket Holders, Alums, and Fans want to know about Men's Basketball.   They are: What NCAA teams match the competitive level are we seeking?  Will we have the backing of the Trustees and donors to fund this order of magnitude jump?  

She made an impression in her first four words, "Please, call me Julie."  No fluff.  Her command of the state of Santa Clara Athletics and Men's Basketball was evident.  She is keenly aware of the stranglehold that Gonzaga and SMC hold on the WCC and said "we're not where we need to be."  

When asked about the level and experience of the A.D. candidates we are targeting, she sent me the position description and highlighted the search committee members who plan to make a decision by the end of August.  BTW, there are strong people on the search committee who know Basketball.  In addition, the current slate of University Trustees has more members that believe Athletics and Men's Basketball needs to play a bigger role in growing the University's national profile.

She wasn't taking pot shots at Renee or Coach Sendek, rather stating we need to dethrone or compete at a level equal to Gonzaga; acknowledging their significant head start.  She was not reluctant to say we need to be at a similar competitive level as Xavier, Marquette, Villanova, Creighton, as well as Gonzaga.  Nor was there hedging that making NCAA tournaments often was the goal.  Given St. Thomas' unprecedented move from D3 to D1 and $150 million in infrastructure makeover money raised, what she and St. Thomas athletic director Dr. Phil Esten accomplished was remarkable.  Maybe he should be our next phone call?  

Athletics is already a significant number in the University budget, but with the recent NCAA lawsuit settlement and resulting changes in NIL, the budget will need to grow much larger.  As an example, estimates have Gonzaga Men's Basketball NIL money last season approaching $3 million.  SCU has made strides growing our NIL, but the strides will need to turn into leaps to get to the higher competitive level we seek. 

The new A.D. will report to her as part of the President's cabinet and will be given latitude to make the changes necessary if results to build SCU into a higher level national Brand fall short.  She is a believer in two other major fundamentals to expanding our Brand.  First, energizing the students is "hugely important."  Secondly, building community within SCU and Silicon Valley.  Both have been severely lacking as it relates to Men's Basketball.  Many of our current students have little clue of SCU athletics past or present.  Unless it's games versus St. Mary's, USF, or the Zags, other than the Rough Riders, Leavey is less than one-third full of it's 4,500 capacity.  This is not the case with the schools mentioned above located in smaller areas.  They sell out and are sources of pride to their surrounding communities. 

As Bronco Fans we've heard this before about achieving more success at higher levels.  Those plans fell short and needed a more sustained effort.  There's no doubt we are consistently winning more, but still idling in third in the WCC.  The media buzz from two first round draft picks and two NIT's has been so much better, but we still have a big hill to climb.  The biggest thing I took away from our call is President Sullivan's knowledge and conviction of the opportunities national success in Men's Basketball offers.  

I can't remember another President who's knowledge was even close.  There is a sincere, grounded, authenticity to the strategy and I'm hopeful there's immediate action once the A.D. is announced.  This is a potential monumental change with potentially monumental rewards.  Oh, and by the way, call her Julie!

Next up: What will need to change to approach this new competitive profile on Men's Basketball.

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - Now What?

   

                                                                                                                         

The hiring of Santa Clara's next Athletic Director will tell Bronco season ticket holders, fans, alums and students all they need to know about the trajectory and future of Athletics and, in particular, Men's Basketball.  

When Dr. Renee Baumgartner was hired nearly nine years ago as Santa Clara's Athletics Director, the selection was met with great optimism and skepticism.  Skeptics didn't feel she had the "creds" and optimists believed her past stops at bigger name schools and energy would help take Athletics, especially Men's Basketball, to another level.  

Renee's hiring came on the heels of the 2015 SCU President's Commission on Athletics which declared, among other goals, that it was their intent to achieve and maintain a National Reputation in Men's Basketball.  Her first major move was to hire Coach Herb Sendek as Men's Basketball coach who came from stints at N.C. State and Arizona State.  Again, the idea was to take us to another level to rival Gonzaga who has dominated the WCC for the past 25 years.

Fast forward to now.  Four recent 20 win seasons, two NIT's, and back to back NBA 1st round draft picks and we are definitely at another level; a winning level in Men's Basketball.  

The question has to be asked, is this the level we aspire to?  Can we build off the successes of Renee and Coach Sendek and become a legit "national" level program to match our national level facilities, or are we satisfied with winning and settling for third in the WCC and our "mid-major" label?  

Due to the changing NCAA landscape, this may be the biggest decision in Santa Clara history regarding Athletics that Dr. Sullivan and the Trustees will have to make.  In the past, the University has not compromised building out our Academic facilities or hiring the best Professorial talent.  IMHO, until recently, Athletics has not been a strategic part of the mission on the Mission campus.  

Other small religious based Universities figured out 25+ years ago that using Athletics and, in particular, Men's Basketball as a strategic weapon that built National recognition and Endowments that funded key aspects of their Academic and facility needs.  Witness the successes of Villanova, Marquette, Xavier, and of course, Gonzaga.

The challenge will only get more expensive and harder as transfer portals, NIL pay for play, and the recent $2.8 billion NCAA legal settlement with the Power Conferences will change the landscape of the NCAA.  You're talking about perhaps the most significant changes since Title IX was adopted in 1972.

We've been down this road before and punted until 2015-16.  

The choices and financials associated with becoming truly National are equally daunting.  One choice is to pack it in, go down to non-scholarship Division 3, like Chapman or Lewis and Clark, and have athletics be more like intercollegiate intramurals; an extracurricular activity at minimal cost.  BTW, there are more schools in Division 3, (434) than in Division 1, (352).   With the legal settlement mentioned above, this will be an option as the cost of Division 1 will rise dramatically as athletes will have to be compensated by the Universities and/or NIL corporate contracts.  

Another choice is to invest.  Make the commitment to actually become national rather than just buzz words.  Why settle for mid-level in Men's Basketball?  The optics and financial payoff of success are enormous.  

Even with the recent improvements, much will need to change.  First, and foremost, is hiring a "been there, done that" Athletics Director who has the mandate and funding from the Trustees to get to National.  National means no less than a top 40 and preferably a top 25 ranking.  These are NCAA invite worthy rankings.  

Following that, staff, facilities, marketing, fundraising, both community and alum outreach,  fan experience and much more will need upgrades.  Our basketball schedule will need to continue the upward competitive level from last season.  This cannot be a "words only" get to National like the 2015 declaration from the Commission on Athletics.  

The search committee is nearly in place.  The "draft" board of candidates will follow and hopefully by end of summer we might know where SCU Athletics and Men's Basketball are headed.  

For season ticket holders and fans, we hope we don't settle for less than we can become.  So, now what?