Santa Clara Men's Basketball - Is This the End of the Beginning?

 

                                                                                                                            

After a 30 year drought, the Broncos returned to the NCAA Tournament and battled a legacy blue-blood Kentucky team to the final three seconds before they made a miracle 40 ft buzzer beater to send the game into overtime. Only UCLA, under the great John Wooden, has won more NCAA titles than the eight owned by Kentucky.

It was perhaps one of the most exciting and painful three seconds in Bronco history.  As hard as the loss was in overtime, it had the effect of having Santa Clara Men's Basketball go viral on a global basis on every sports and news outlet imaginable.  A loss yes, but also a huge win.

It's interesting to note, that since the 1950's we have achieved consecutive years NCAA bids in at least three different decades; only to have it slip away back into anonymity for long spans of 18 and now 30 years.  

That's why I ask, "Is this the end of the beginning?"  Is it the new beginning of a sustained University and Athletic Department goal driven effort to make NCAA's annually or frequently like St. Mary's or let this opportunity slip away like in the past?  Those who were lucky enough to attend in St. Louis witnessed fans and season ticket holders on fire and loud in support of this team.  Maybe Coach Sendek's dream of filling Leavey for most every game can now be made a reality.  What a concept!

It will not be easy or for the faint of heart.  It will take a clear and measurable vision, backed by lots of money, and not accepting mediocrity along the way to growing the SCU franchise.  Everyone has to be all in including trustees, fans, season ticket holders, students, and, of course, staff.  That includes all of us chipping in to fund this fundamental shift of SCU becoming a more legit recognizable National brand like Gonzaga has enjoyed for 25 years running.  

The process has already started.  The WCC has changed as Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Washington State leave and Denver joins to form a 10 team conference.  SCU was 15-1 versus this remaining lineup last season.  St. Mary's will be without Randy Bennett, who is leaving to coach Arizona State.  The Gaels still have four starters and two solid bench players returning. This may change quickly, as players declare their intentions ahead of when the transfer portal opens April 7th.  

WCC coaches are evaluating likely roster scenarios for transfers out and in.  Santa Clara did an awesome job in the portal and high school recruiting last season.  Our NCAA press coverage should open new doors for more high major transfers into our program.  We have three high major transfers on our roster now who validate that other high major players will thrive at SCU.  The Broncos will not be exempt from current players announcing for the portal and transferring.  

The opportunities for NCAA bids remain the same.  Earn an at-large bid or win your conference tournament.  The NCAA tournament has plans to add more play in games for teams who can earn a berth into the final field of 68 teams.  With the new WCC, the Broncos have both qualification avenues as real opportunities with Gonzaga leaving and it's stranglehold on the WCC tournament.  

We'll know a lot more on April 7th when the portal opens.  In any case, it's a great time to be a Bronco and see if we can capitalize on the NCAA tournament success.  That's an opportunity 30 years in the making!

Next up:  The Portal: Should I stay or Should I go?

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - Defying the Odds

 

                                                                                                                            

When the 2024-2025 season ended with a upset loss to Pepperdine in the WCC tournament quarterfinals followed by a giveaway loss to the University of Alabama Birmingham in the second round of the NIT, Bronco fans were left wondering where do we go from here?  Add to that, three of our best scorers left via the portal or graduated.  

Once the NCAA basketball settlement was approved, it boosted NIL payouts to players into the stratosphere.  This seemingly left Mid-Majors, like SCU, with the stark reality of how can we compete and continue to elevate a multi 20 win season program that last won a WCC Conference title in 1997 and last NCAA invite in 1996.  The odds didn't seem great. 

With only three players returning for 2025-2026 that played significant minutes, the roster rebuild was daunting.  The coaches are constantly recruiting and landed their four incoming Freshman class early.  

When the transfer portal opened they were ready to strike.  Bronco fans wondered how much impact do two SCU first round NBA draft picks really have in harnessing much better talent.  Let's just say, we are proving that you don't have to be a high major program to grab high major talent.  The portal yielded three top high major transfers from Iowa, Villanova, Michigan State, and one from the NBA G-League.  When the dust settled, we had a roster with 10 new players, six of which were Freshman.  

Despite all of the above, here we are 26-8.  Defying the odds.  It's a testament not only to our coaching staff, but to a unique group of players who truly play for each other and not for themselves or scouts like some recent players.  No egos about the starting lineup or minutes played - it's about competing and winning.  

The WCC Conference was ranked 6th best out of 31 Conferences in the NCAA this season and yet we had our best conference record finishing 3rd with a 15-3 record with NO losses to teams below us.  Even mighty Gonzaga lost to Portland this season.  This record was monumental in keeping our hopes of an NCAA at-large bid alive heading into the Conference tournament.  

Looking at our overall record, there were two losses that hurt our resume for an NCAA bid opportunity.  A second half loss to ASU when leading by 10 points late in the game and a disastrous loss to Loyola Chicago in Santa Cruz.  The road to the NCAA was crystal clear during the WCC tournament. A must win over vasty improved Pacific and a semifinal win versus our nemesis St. Mary's.  

Loyal Bronco season ticket holders and fans had seen this movie many times before.  Crushing losses at crunch time.  NOT THIS TIME!  This team, for all its foibles, has no rear view mirror and lives in the moment.  We shut down Pacific in the WCC quarterfinals.  A team that won 18 games this year, doubling their win total from 2024-2025 and setting up the showdown with St. Mary's in the semifinals.  

The odds against beating St. Mary's weren't great with them holding a 17-5 win record against us since 2016.  Our convincing win at Leavey against St. Mary's proved we had both the talent and toughness to send the Gaels packing in the WCC semifinals rematch.  It was a war.  Physical and chippy.  After several Bronco comeback runs from losing small leads, we were the intimidators with Elijah Mahi and Sash Gavalyugov scoring at will in the paint against the Gael's vaunted defense.  The final blow was the "night-night" 28 ft three pointer by Sash to seal the 76-71 win.  It was epic.  

Those Broncos in attendance and watching on television felt huge pride and vindication that 30 years of being known as that little nice Catholic school in Silicon Valley with a basketball team suddenly morphed into a WCC contender and a #10 NCAA seed.  

Our move up actually wasn't that sudden given five 20 win seasons in the past six years, but this statement win at crunch time at a highly visible venue was a coming out party that put us squarely in the mix for our NCAA at-large selection.  For those of us who have been around SCU basketball a long time, it felt as good as the Nash team 1993 upset of Arizona.  

If there are any questions as to what NCAA bids and success mean to the visibility and stature of schools that dare to compete at that level, just witness the last week's buzz about Santa Clara on every national media sports and news outlets.  It's huge.  I mean, we can't even get much press in the local SJ Mercury.

Our Friday first round NCAA game in St. Louis is another statement opportunity versus Kentucky; a true legacy "blueblood" program.  Their estimated $25 million dollar roster dwarfs ours; yet gives us another rare opportunity to "defy the odds." 

No matter what happens, the odds are in our favor for the future by parleying this season's success into more national level success.  And those odds we all can get behind!

     

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - "Don't Stop Believin" - The Roller Coaster Continues

 

(The below song is appropriately by the band Journey. If you wish to Play it while reading. Click the link. It will take you to a new window and you may see an ad.  If so check, "skip" and the song will play and you can return to the Bucking Bronco Blog window.)

Don't stop Believin' 

     

                                                                                                               

Last week allowed Bronco season ticket holders, alums, and fans to experience the pride and thrill of a resounding season sweep of the USF Dons on Saturday in San Francisco, followed by pure frustration after a dominating loss in Moraga to St. Mary's.  

After a resounding SCU win versus the Gaels in Leavey eight days ago, we witnessed that our team has as much talent and grit as the perennially dominant top two teams Gonzaga and St. Mary's.  That reality came crashing down Wednesday night as the roller coaster of this season hit its apex and slid down the tracks having lost the opportunity to secure the second seed in the WCC tournament AND put a legitimate NCAA tournament invite in doubt.

It was a reminder of last year at Leavey when we played a good first half and then collapsed in the second half in another St. Mary's rout.  Our "Chairmen of the Boards" were on sabbatical Wednesday night, surrendering 51 Gael rebounds; 21 that were offensive for a +30 margin.  The last time that happened was in 2015 against Gonzaga.  

It happens to lots of other good teams as well.  I mean Gonzaga lost to 5-12 Portland this season.  It's not so much that we lost in one of the toughest road arenas to play in, but it was the way we lost.  On offense we had only 8 assists; half our average.  We were not moving and cutting and were left with late in the clock tough shots or a difficult drive into traffic in the paint.  I guess the best news from this game is that Allen Graves appears healthy and scored 20 points in the loss. 

Despite this, all is not lost with the higher expectations for finishing this season.  The only game that matters is the next one - Oregon State.  Another must win.  Following that, as the 3rd seed in the WCC tourney, we will play in the quarterfinals against either Oregon State, Pacific, or USF to get into the semis and another shot at - you guessed it, most likely St. Mary's.  Love to have that on a neutral court!  

Everything considered, given the newness of this roster and the transfer out of key players, a record of 23-7 is great and, frankly, unexpected except by our coaches.  So let's not stop "believing" and get behind this team for a strong finish and post season opportunities!

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - Don't Stop Believin' - The Roller Coaster Ride Continues

Last week for the Broncos allowed Bronco season ticket holders, alums, and fans to experience the pride and thrill of a resounding season sweep of the USF Dons on Saturday in San Francisco followed by a dominating loss in Moraga to St. Mary's.  

Don't stop Believin'

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - An "Ike" End To A Strong Week

                                                                                                                 

   

The Broncos entered last week at 12-1 with both momentum and confidence after great road wins at Pacific and Washington State.  After our gritty home win versus a tough Seattle team Wednesday, we looked ready to deliver a memorable home win and send the Zags off to the Pack 12 losers in their final game at Leavey.

Unfortunately, the Zags had other ideas and left a boisterous Leavey full house with an "Ike" (pronounced Icky) feeling after a convincing 92-84 win. 

The Broncos' game plan was to make it as difficult as possible for their star, and likely WCC MVP, Graham Ike to get the ball down low or in the middle of the paint.  When he did get the ball, we were to collapse on him and force a pass out to his teammates who would have to shoot from distance versus Ike at the rim.  It worked for six minutes before he erupted for 17 first half points; carrying his team to a five point halftime lead.  More of the same occurred in the second half, yet the Broncos regained the lead 60-55 before the Zags final onslaught secured the game and win.  Two thirds of our game plan worked, in that they shot 17% from 3pt and 65% from the FT line. 

Our guys fought hard all game and we can be proud of their effort and competitiveness.  Once Ike opened up the paint, we were unable to stop the Zags parade of easy shots and putbacks from offensive rebounds.  The numbers are staggering.  They shot 63% from the field in the second half; including a woeful 1-9 from 3pt range.  They were 72% from 2pt range for the game.  Lots of layups.  Their more experienced roster's defense was uber aggressive forcing key turnovers down the stretch of both halves.  

Gonzaga will leave a legacy that may never be matched again in the WCC.  From 1999 through 2025, they've won 25 regular season WCC conference titles and 21 conference tournament titles.  Fortunately, for the rest of the WCC, they are off to the PAC 12 to build a new legacy and will be investing to become dominant as a high major program. 

The Broncos are 22-6 and have a lot to play for.  The three remaining games are at USF, St. Mary's, and the final game versus Oregon State at Leavey.  Winning these games will secure the second seed in the WCC tournament, complete the first ever season sweep of St. Mary's in Coach Sendek's tenure and finish with his teams best ever record.

Last but not least, the above scenario leaves the hope of an NCAA at-large bid alive after 30 years of not a sniff.  NCAA selection committees are prone and pressured to selecting power conference schools with lesser resumes for the almighty TV revenues, but nothing hypes ratings more than Cinderella teams advancing.  If we win out, why not SCU?  

In his post game comments, Mark Few said "the Broncos gave us all we could handle in both games this year and make no mistake, they are an NCAA tournament team and will likely win games in the Tournament."  Maybe that's a compliment to us or more likely a ploy to get a them a higher seed in the NCAA tournament by playing up their level of competition.

Our other option to get into the NCAA Tournament is to win the WCC conference tournament and get the automatic bid.  This season, all things considered, has been remarkable, but now it's time to "make our mark" and finish what we started.  It will also make the taste of the "Ike" loss last Saturday sweet revenge!

  

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - The Ball Is In Our Court

 

                                                                                                                     

The Broncos have won eight in a row and stand atop the WCC standings at 12-1, ahead of Gonzaga and St. Mary's.  We haven't been able to say that since 1997.  Feels good.  

This run included signature wins over USF, St. Mary's and running the table on the remaining six; four of which were on the road.  Previous season's troubles with away games at LMU and Pacific were avoided with our defense and offense responding to close out those games.  

It has been fun to watch this cobbled together, young roster of recruits from high school, and the portal come together and playing their best basketball of the season.  We have three freshman and two sophomores that play significant minutes alongside our two juniors and two seniors. It's hard for opponents to figure out how to play and beat this team.  We can do a bit of everything.  We can shoot you out, rebound you out, full court press you out, and steal you out of any game.  We have 11 guys that can just keep on coming with high energy.  In this inaugural season of the NCAA settlement, NIL has made Men's Basketball a pay for play sport, with the transfer portal the talent marketplace.  It's amazing for us to have this opportunity.  

The growth and emergence of our younger players include leading scorer Christian Hammond, Bukky Oboye, KJ Cochran, Sash Gavalyugov, and, last month, the meteoric rise of Allen Graves, who just earned his fourth freshman of he week award, has us playing at a high level.  Elijah Mahi, Brenton Knapper, and Jake Ensminger have provided important stability and on court leadership.  We have 4 players ranked in the top 10 in overall performance in the WCC - a first.  Creds to the Coaching staff who have tailored our game plans to take maximum advantage of our rosters unique skill sets.  

We have five games remaining while the Zags and SMC have six.  We have three at home - Seattle, Gonzaga, Oregon State and two away at USF and SMC.  None of the top three teams have an easy run to end their schedules, and, in fact, all play each other with Gonzaga playing at St. Mary's in the final game of their season.

That's why I say the ball is in our court.  Continue on with the same strategy of going 1-0 five more times.  We are 12-0 on our home court and need to "hold" court in the two away games. Be swarming, physical, opportunistic, and energetic.   With Graves on a roll, it gives our offense a real inside - outside punch where opponents must protect the rim opening up better 3 point shot options for our best shooters.  On defense, Graves and Oboye present a shot snuff factor teams respect.  If Graves doesn't swat it, he steals it, with nearly 30 steals in Conference play alone.

The WCC conference is ranked sixth best in the NCAA.  Anyone can beat anyone as proven by Portland knocking off Gonzaga last Wednesday.  The WCC tournament and post season bids are there to be earned.  Normally, the WCC is a two bid max conference, but may possibly get three this season as the conference is now ranked 6th out of 32 in the NCAA.  Nevertheless, the Broncos need to play their way into the NCAA tournament to leave no doubt they belong.   

Great opportunity knocks.  The ball is in our court.  Can we answer?  Let's let the horses run wild!

Santa Clara Men's Basketball - There's No Place Like Home - But It's Time To Be Road Warriors

 

                                                                                                                 

 

The Leavey Center has been great to the Broncos and completely inhospitable to our opponents.  

Our 12-0 home record reflects the pride and drive of the coaches and players to compete on every possession with full energy.  We saw this on display last Wednesday against USF generating 14 turnovers and 12 steals resulting in 25 points, all while shooting 51% from 2pt and 46% from 3pt range.  

Their play is chaotic and frenzied with relentless ball pressure end to end.  They are both mindful and mindless; knowing where the ball needs to go for the best shot.  If the shots don't fall or we commit silly turnovers or fouls, they just "play on" to the next possession; letting go of what just happened to make something happen.  It's not pretty, but it's working.  A record of 18-5 and 9-1 in league is proof.  

While "there's no place like home" we need to be stout road warriors as five of the next eight games are away.  A well known warrior training code is the "only easy day was yesterday."  Wednesday was a great home win versus nemesis rival USF and today at LMU will be another stern test.  LMU is the first of three road games in a row.  It's much like the six consecutive away games early in the season where we were 3-3.  The team at this point in the season is much better, but the challenge is just as great.  LMU has been a thorn in our side by beating us in LA last season.  They relish the spoiler role as their season has not been up to their expectations. 

The other road games are at Pacific, Washington State, St. Mary's, and USF.  Home games include  Seattle, Gonzaga, and Oregon State.  No need to break these games down, they're all hard.  After 30 years of waiting, there's a lot of banter and hype about potential NCAA bids for this team.  The tournament is certainly in play and is the stated goal of both the Coaches and players.  Going 6-2 in the remaining games with only potential losses to Gonzaga and St. Mary's should earn the at-large bid or we get the automatic invite by winning the WCC Tourney.  We can win ALL these games.  

One thing we know, there's no quit in this group.  They will win or lose with the same energy; shots falling or not.  Underdogs we might be, but this team represents the true spirit of a Bronco - wild, untamed, spirited, and a powerful force to be reckoned with!