SCU Men's Basketball - The "Fifth" Perspective

                                                                       


With two games remaining we are in a position to place fifth in the WCC.  I guess when the media predictors pick you to be ninth, fifth looks much better.  The cliff-hanger home win vs # 50 ranked USF made us think, we have something going on here.  Helps to erase some of the sting of the big scoring margin losses to the top three, after which you may have felt like you should drink a "fifth" of something.

We could fall to sixth if we lose @ LMU who would then own the tiebreaker with us.  Nothing is set and there's a lot to shake out, but worst case we finish sixth.

So, is it better for us to be fifth or be sixth going into the tournament?  My recommendation is, gimmie five...

Here's why.  IF SMC, USF, and BYU all finish at 11-5, then USF should end up in second place as they own the tiebreaker with BYU, as they beat them twice and St. Mary's split with them.  St. Mary's should fall to third as they split with USF and BYU lost to USF twice.  Got that?? 

Fifth means we will probably play USD or Pacific.  It also means if we win that one, we would most likely play BYU in quarterfinals. 
Sixth means we play either Pepperdine or Portland.  If we win that round we would play St. Mary's in the quarters.  

IMHO, I like our chances vs BYU on a neutral court vs St. Mary's who dissected us twice this season. We were in the game with BYU in Provo; where arguably we were a couple of phantom calls away from overtime.  We weren't really close with either St. Mary's efforts eventually losing by 11 at home, but were down 23 points midway through the second half.  Our records vs both is not good, but St. Mary's just seems to pick us apart where BYU has a more run and gun approach; subject to some really poor shooting spells and turnovers.  

So, I'll take Fifth on this one.  At the end of the day if we win the first two tourney games we run into the Zags.  The Fifth Estate wouldn't give us very good odds on that one...

So, I'm going with Fifth, even if I have to "take the fifth" to not self incriminate, but I guess I've already done that.  This equates to a 17 win season.  Not that anyone cares about history, but that would be only the third time in the past 19 years with more than 17 wins.   Three....Ugh.  

Ironically, the quarterfinals is the fifth Men's game of the tournament and if we get there it would be our fifth consecutive win - Karma.   


Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco

SCU Men's Basketball - Are We in Position to Finish This Season?

                                                             

With a record of 13-12, are we in position or out of position to finish our season with a winning record? 
  
Last week's games typified our entire season.  A superb road win at Pepperdine and then a close road loss at USF.  A seesaw year that began with significant roster changes that has resulted in too many turnovers per game.

Not that history matters, but you have to go back 10 years to find a higher T.O. number.  The stat that is our Achilles' Heel this season is the points scored against us via turnovers.  In a sampling of eight recent games, four wins and four losses, the points scored against us off turnovers is 124.  More grist in league play, we are averaging more turnovers, 14.4, than assists; 11.

It's an awkward position to be in when most of your starters are playing out of their normal position.  On top of all that, four starters are in their first year in Coach Sendek's system.  I guess the result of all the roster turnover is more turnovers.  

Should be an easy coaching fix.  Right.  Imagine the situation.  Lose three starters to injury and all your point guards.  Convert your only two remaining guards, who were recruited as shooting guards to play point with no/little D1 experience.  No problem.

In business, it might be like asking your best salesperson to become your CFO...or a history teacher forced to teach calculus ?

I'm NOT trying to give the coaches a pass, even with better athletes, it's a hard thing for first year players to learn a new position at a new level of competition.  All of these growing pains are unfolding in front of our season ticket holders and fans who don't have much patience left after waiting 20+ seasons...

Paradoxically, even though our players are playing out of position, we are in a position to finish with a winning record. 

Of our five remaining games, three are at home (SMC, Pacific, USF) and two away (LMU, Portland).  Going 3-2 would be great ending at 16-14 and 8-8 in league.  We can't take anything for granted.  FYI, LMU is 10-2 at home this year.  Even with a 2-3 outcome, we finish the season 15-15 and 7-9 in the WCC. 

IF we can do 8-8 in league and the other teams achieve their expected wins, it creates a potential logjam in the final league standings and an interesting seeding for the WCC tourney.  At 8-8 we could finish as high as solo 5th.  The shakeout at the top between SMC, BYU, and USF will determine our fate as will what happens with Pepperdine, USD, and LMU.

Of the top tier teams SMC and USF have easier schedules than BYU.  My pick is for USF, SMC, and BYU to all finish 11-5.  BYU and USF could run the table and get to 12-4.  Doubtful.

We are in the mushy middle with Pepperdine (5-6), LMU (5-6) and USD (5-5).  All of them have the tougher schedules remaining.  Pepp plays away at USF, SMC, and Gonzaga.  LMU plays at home vs  Gonzaga and BYU, then away at USF.  USD has BYU twice, SMC, Gonzaga, and at USF.  Ugh...

If it comes down to us and Pepperdine for 5th place at 8-8 or 7-9, we own the head to head tiebreaker with them.  

We have a lot to play for.  We all wonder, "which SCU team" is going to show up.  The team that lost to Prairie View or the team that beat USC?  

As season ticket holders and fans, we'll be in our usual positions at Leavey helping to rally our guys to "turn it up" rather than turn it over.



Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco

Santa Clara Athletics - What's Our Program "G.P.A."

                                                                   

Three and a half years ago, Fr. Engh's Blue Ribbon Commission on Athletics and the Trustees made the decision to invest in Santa Clara Athletics with the goal to become nationally relevant in major sports by the 2020-21 season.  

Their first major decision was the hiring of Dr. Renee Baumgartner as Athletics Director.  

Now, three + years into the makeover, I was wondering, where are we?  What is our athletics "G.P.A." - Game Performances Average?  

There's no question, the entire foundation of athletics has been turned on its ear, from a program that was on was on life support funding for 50 years, to one that has "venture fund" type capital to invest and resuscitate our Athletics' reputation.  

I can just imagine what the A.D. search committee presented as the challenges to overcome.  "We have a rich tradition of Athletic success that we wish to re-invigorate and get to National relevance.  You'll have our full support and commitment do this.  A couple of things you should know as you consider this opportunity."

Your Athletics' operating budget is the lowest in the WCC.
Your major sports recruiting budget is constrained. 
You have 40 fewer scholarships than your WCC competitors. 
Your athletics' facilities are outdated and need a make over.
Many of your coaches have to fundraise to make ends meet.
It has been 20+ years since two of your most visible major sports, Men's Basketball and Baseball's, last NCAA tournament appearance.
Your alums and fan base feel dis-connected to the program.
The students who would support you, weren't yet born the last time Men's Basketball went to the NCAA tournament.

BUT, there are also positives.  In 2015, you'll inherit a strong group of coaches and teams.  W. Soccer is a perennial NCAA tournament team and already a national power.  W. Basketball had a good 2015 -16 season earning a WNIT bid after 11 years since their last NCAA invite.  W. Volleyball made the NCAA tournament in 2015 and has 11 other NCAA trips from 2000-2018.  Lastly, M. Soccer made the 2015 NCAA tourney after a five year hiatus. 

Sounds like the "dream" job, doesn't it?  You're hired!  Now go win WCC titles and get Men's Basketball and Baseball to the NCAA tournament, preferably now, but certainly by the 2020-21 season...

I admire the dedication of all the prior coaches and what they accomplished with these constraints.

So, after all the above, what's changed?  Is our G.P.A. in major sports on track to national relevance?  Honestly, there's been massive changes, but at mid-terms, our G.P.A. is a work in progress.

Consider this.  Since July 2015, out of the seven most visible programs mentioned above, there are five new coaches; most of them in their first or second seasons.  Complete reboot.
Culturally, winning is a real coaching measurement.  Gone are the Kumbya days of "nice try."
The scholarship deltas vs other WCC schools is being whittled down, but still a long way to go.  For example, with more scholarships, Men's Golf has been able to earn their highest national ranking.  
Coaches no longer have to fundraise to make their program budget work.  
Facilities have had a big make over and are actually starting to look like a top tier D1 program.  The newly approved Athletic Excellence Center will make a major statement about where our program wants to go; much like what the amazing Campus build out has done for our academic reputation.  
Recruiting budgets now support more international travel where we can build an SCU pipeline of players. 
There is real marketing money not only for game day promotions, but to legitimize "stampede ahead" as part of our active branding strategy.
Additional Athletic support staffing has been beefed up with experienced people to provide more horsepower to make our teams more successful.

As alums and fans. we take our pot shots that we're still not winning enough and competitive with the top three in WCC MBB as well as complaints that Renee and Coach Sendek were the wrong choices - one inexperienced and the other past his prime.  

I'm as impatient as the next person, but sometimes I feel like my/our arrogance gets in the way of reality.  I'll call it the "big hat, no cattle" syndrome.  

The expectations that just because we're Santa Clara we should just be better without laying the foundation and doing the hard work it takes to actually get better.  That it's somehow easy to reverse 50 years of athletic program mediocrity in three years.

I wish it was - and I hate it that it's not.

But, the BIGGEST thing for me is that we ARE investing!  Building a foundation with real money and commitment not have just a "one and done," but sustained successes.  Mistakes and missteps are going to happen.  This is uncharted territory for SCU - actually saying out loud and trying to achieve national relevance.  

SCU is arguably best suited among the WCC teams not named Gonzaga or BYU to get it done.  It's not just big thinking that makes this happen, but big $$$$.   Our new Billion dollar campaign speaks to this overall vision.  I haven't heard of any other WCC school even dream about; let alone raising a Billion.  

I have no idea if Renee and Coach Sendek can get us there on the Athletics and MBB fronts.  I do know they're putting in the work.  

Right now our Athletic's G.P.A. is about a 2.5 or C+.  A strong foundation for the long term is happening.  However, since 2015, there's not enough winning in major sports.  Five new head coaches and staffs are working hard to build contenders.  For example, Men's Baseball, under first year coach Rusty 
Filter, doubled their prior year win total finishing with a 26-26 season.   FYI, Baseball hasn't had a break even or better season in nine years.  

Men's Basketball is still floundering against the WCC top three in what's become a "triage" season.  Three starters lost and four of the guys playing new positions.  Of our last seven games, four are on the road and three are at Leavey - including St. Mary's and USF.

There's lots of learning and studying going on and finals are approaching - "national relevance by 2020-21."

It's certainly a roller coaster, but a ride I'd rather be on than just sitting on the sidelines like the past 50 years.


Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco

SCU Men's Basketball - Last Week was "Weak"

                                                                   

Last week was a tough one, not just for the players and coaches, but for our whole MBB program.  An all time record loss blowout by Gonzaga followed by a blown second half at home vs LMU.

It couldn't have come at a worse time.  Just when upbeat feelings of seven straight wins and some bounce back wins after road losses had Bronco fans believing again - just maybe.

It's a conundrum.  How do our young players perform so well under pressure with O.T. wins over USC and a road win at Washington State?  Followed by second half comeback wins over Pepperdine and Pacific?  Then whoosh, gone.  Program momentum capital squandered.  

Coach Sendek's pillars of "learn and improve" seemed to be taking root, then came the "root canal" of last week.  Ouch!  

There are lots of Bronco alums and fans who talk about getting MBB back to the successes of the "good  old" days.  Well, honestly, with the exception of the Nash years, maybe not that good.  Chew on this.

Since the 1970-71 season, in 48 years of Bronco MBB have exactly three WCC titles, two of them Co-Champs.  Three.  We have four NCAA appearances.  Three with the Steve Nash teams.  That's it folks.  48 years!!!

Maybe our best performances were our four NIT appearances; two of which, '88 & '89, were with a roster that was without superstars. 

Now, all of the sudden we're supposed to be a WCC top level team in Coach Sendek's third season.  Dream on...At LEAST, after 48 years of flat-lined MBB budgets, the University leadership team is investing.  We don't know if Coach Sendek and his staff can get us to a national level or not.  We'll find out in 2-3 more years.  Right now, a long way to go.  

My/our biggest hope is that the Trustees remain strong and committed for the long term.  Don't give in and don't accept mediocrity.  It took Gonzaga nearly 26 years to become relevant.  After all their NCAA run successes, IMHO it wasn't until the past four seasons that the power conference teams took them seriously.  

Our team acts like the have the "terrible two's."  As parents/coaches, we know the act.  They have wonderful minutes of being the greatest child, taught by the best parents ever, followed by hours and hours of going rogue; where nothing seems to work.  Meltdowns.  Just like the LMU game.  

The team practices the offense and defense every single day.  How do they seem to forget what to do, come completely unraveled?  Forget to play basketball?  With a short roster, is it fatigue?

That's why last week was "weak."  Whatever "will" to compete we've had in earlier games seemed to evaporate.  

On offense, instead of the ball moving, it devolved into late shot clock, low percentage efforts.  My unofficial count was 10 of those in the second half.   Of our 31 or so second half possessions:  23 points on (7-26 FG),   3Pt FG (4-17) combined with 8 turnovers.

Not a winning recipe.

I'm sure the coaches would say that with our lack of depth, the margin for error in every game is very small.  Particularly, at Guard where we have only two with neither of them playing their natural positions.  It's evident and easier to coach against us - pressure them everywhere.

They play 36+ minutes per game because they have to.  Fatigue is a factor in a very long season for first year players.  Expect more of the above.

Some impatient fans think, "well, with experienced coaches, they should be able to fix that or make adjustments."  Garbage.  Like it or not, you can't teach experience; the thing we don't have.  The biggest impact of our coaching is to accelerate the learning and development process.  Time will tell.

With eight WCC regular season games left, we need to get STRONGER.  

We need stronger game plans, stronger offense and defense, and the will to compete every game.   Get rid of the weak stuff and play with some old Bronco toughness.  



Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco.













 

SCU Men's Basketball - "There's No Place Like Home"

                                                                 

There's no doubt the experience gained by our young team playing on the road in hostile, loud environments, like at The Kennel and at BYU, will pay dividends in the future.  

It's one thing not to play at home, but another when you run the risk of being "homered."  Sure the arena environment, fan base, lighting, etc. is all foreign that's why winning on the road is so hard.  

The other X factor is that you just don't seem to get favorable calls on the road.  It's a conundrum?  Do teams play that differently away?  Do they guard too aggressively?  Are the officials from a different league and, therefore, unfamiliar with how that league plays?  Are Coaches just not up to speed on the rules to game plan road games?  

I can go on and on.  The answers to all the above questions is NO.  If this all sounds like a giant gripe - it is.  Not just for the Broncos, but for all teams.  I honestly don't know how Coaches handle it. 

The WOC charter simply stated:  
"The consortium is deigned to promote consistency - in training, development and evaluation - in officiating the western U.S., and provide a larger, more diverse pool of officials for assignment."

Nice statement, but difficult to implement.  Just read the rules text re: players "cylinder space" and you'll see all the attempts at consistency lead to inconsistency because officials are human and each interprets action on the court differently.  I'm not blaming the officials (well, I guess indirectly I am) but they have an impossible job.

For example, this season to date on the road, our opponents have attempted 64 more free throws than us.  That's nearly a full game point total.  In Provo, BYU made more free throws (24) than we attempted!  If the proverbial "make up calls" exist, then maybe we have 64 coming our way in the remaining six road games.  Doubt it.

Whether it is the Wizard of Westwood or the "Wizard of Oz" it's true, there's no place like home.  We have six games left at Leavey:  Gonzaga, LMU, Portland, St. Mary's, Pacific, and USF.  At 2-2 thus far, going 6-6 in last 12, given our short roster, would be a good finish going into the WCC tourney.  IMHO, it's going to take a road upset or two to get there.  

Tomorrow at St. Mary's is a tough test.  They shoot it among the best in the WCC and don't turn it over.  They have experience and match up well with us.  It can be done, but it will take one of our best road performances a-la Washington State.  

No doubt we've seen real improvement.  It's time to keep it going.  

We can help.  If there's really "no place like home," let's do OUR best to make opponents feel "homered" when they come to Leavey.  We need to get our 64 back by letting the Coaches and players know we've got their backs!


Also on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco

SCU Men's Basketball - "You Know It Don't Come Easy"

                                                                          

Ringo Starr isn't a Bronco, but his lyrics are right on for SCU in this years WCC - "It Don't Come Easy."  You can listen along while you read - just click the link.

Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy

"You gotta pay your dues if you don't wanna sing the blues, cause you know it don't come easy."  

We are paying our dues big time this season and the next six games are full of potential "blues."  

Mark Few and his full strength Zags showed us the gap that still remains to the experience and talent needed to compete with top 20 ranked teams.  A real facial. 

It's no secret he relishes calling out the rest of the league two years ago to "step it up" and now crushing them on his home floor.

I don't know about you - but I have this HUGE $%### for payback...

It Don't Come Easy...

The next six games are brutal for our young Bronco team.  Three roadies - BYU, St. Mary's, and Pacific.  Three home games - Pepperdine, Gonzaga, and LMU.  

Surviving the six games at 3-3 would be very good.  Especially tonight against Pepperdine; after our tsunami loss in Spokane.  With only eight scholarship players left, the margin for error is a few microns in Silicon Valley parlance.  

Pepperdine has won two of their last three games and took USF to the final 15 seconds; losing to an off balance 3-pointer.  St. Mary's crushed BYU at home and lost to USF away.  LMU is 13-3 with an early season win vs Georgetown.  Pacific is 10-7 with close losses to San Diego and BYU.  Add the above, plus the Zags coming to Leavey, and, well - "It Won't Come Easy."

If there's a bright spot, it's that every WCC team is beatable this season; which has not been the case for years.  Other than Gonzaga, we are CAPABLE of beating the other nine.  Doesn't mean we will, but it can be done.  I'd love nothing more than for us to be the ones to tarnish some of their shiny preseason records.  

So, if I'm going full Ringo, the next six "Won't Come Easy" but "it's here within your reach if you're big enough to take it."

If we are big enough to take it, it can make a "big" difference in the trajectory of our program...

Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco

SCU Men's Basketball - Are We Out of Our League?

                                                                   

Is any team's preseason record a reliable predictor of upcoming WCC league play?
   
If it is, the road win at Washington State completed our early season resume of whether we are "In" or "Out" of our league.

As we begin league, the USC double overtime and Idaho blowout wins make us the "Forrest Gump" team.  We lose to lowly Prairie View, Idaho State, and then punch out USC.  Who are these guys?

Sports writers following the WCC say were "Out" with a best case seventh and likely ninth place finish.  Making that case is pretty easy as all of the WCC mid-level teams are rolling in preseason.  Geez, LMU is 12-2!   

The only certainty the pubs claim is that Gonzaga is a lock.  

The rest is up for grabs.  To some degree, Mark Few is getting what he complained about -  the weak becoming more competitive. 

I'm sure he loves and laughs at the league's preseason records.  I mean USF is 12-2 with a 258 strength of schedule...LMU is 12-2 with an S.O.S. of 263...Pacific is 10-5 with a 253...This out of a worst possible 350.  BTW the Zags S.O.S is 42.

In reality, it looks like more of the league is using the St. Mary's model of the past, shiny impressive win/loss records against mediocre teams.   We all know how that worked for them with NCAA tourney snubs.

One thing for sure, this WCC season will be different.  Instead of the usual two challengers for second place, there are arguably five.  Additionally, three of those could give the Zags tough battles.  Both BYU and St. Mary's, while having erratic preseasons, have rosters capable of upsets.  USF has experience and has played a solid schedule with some good wins over Harvard, Cal, and Stanford.  

The other two teams, San Diego and, believe or not, LMU have played well, have experience and young talent to make some noise.  The fight for spots 2-6 in league will be hotly contested and IMHO will include at least one or two of the above beating Gonzaga.

So based upon the above, are we "In" or "Out" of our league?

We're both...

When it comes to depth of roster, we're out.  KJ's loss for the season leaves us razor thin in key spots.  Our roster is heavy on youth which makes us "Out" based upon experience.  Our starting rotation is pretty small which makes us "Out"; where rebounding will decide close games.  Our league schedule puts us "Out"as four of our first eight games are on the road including games at BYU, St. Mary's, Gonzaga and Pacific.  Our first four home games are Gonzaga, San Diego, LMU and Pepperdine. 

Daunting...

The conundrum is that what makes us "Out" will also offer us the opportunity to be "In."  What?

With expectations low, there are teams that will overlook us.  As winners of seven of our last eight games, the young guys are learning how to win and close out games a la USC.  Our offense has actually looked much better, shooting more than 50% in our last four games and 46% for the preseason.  Our assists levels are up into the 18-24 range per game.  Translation, the ball is moving.  

Our defense has also shown some bright spots - particularly in the paint.  We're scoring down low and Caruso has become a legitimate "eraser" with our blocks averaging six per game over last five games.  At nearly five per game overall, it's the highest in the last six years.  Translation, less easy freebies driving the lane. 

As a by-product of all of the above, season ticket holders and fans are buying "In" to the talent and potential that is clearly visible from the roster recruited by Coach Sendek and his staff.  Only one active player is left from the Kerry Keating era.

For what it's worth, (not much) I'm thinking, barring no more injuries, an 8-8 WCC would be very good considering losing your top scorer, starting center, and only nine scholies left on the roster.  There is potential to rise to 10-6 with an upset or two.   

If we can accomplish either of the above, it will put us "In" the conversation for the future rather than being left "Out" as irrelevant.


Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco