Broncos vs. Bulldogs: Showdown at Leavey

By Aaron Juarez

It's that time of year again, when the Leavey Center is jam-packed for an athletic event. That event is the annual visit of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team.

Ranked No. 10 in the nation, the Bulldogs arrive Saturday night for the latter half of their two-game road trip. Last Tuesday, the game was declared a sellout, guaranteeing the first capacity crowd in the 4,500-seat gym this season.

Since Gonzaga's ascension through the national rankings over the last six years, their annual trip to Santa Clara has often brought the largest crowds of any West Coast Conference regular season game. This is a tribute to both the Bulldogs' national profile and the fact that whenever Gonzaga visits, it's usually a highly contested affair.

Last season, 3,027 fans watched the Bulldogs narrowly defeat the Broncos, 71-66, after a missed Ethan Rohde three-point attempt with nine seconds remaining, the Bulldogs got the rebound and the win. The Leavey Center's largest-ever attendance was for the 2001-2002 Broncos-Bulldogs game, which drew 4,712 fans.

Crowds as large as these used to be quite prevalent about 10 years ago, in the days when Steve Nash and Marlon Garnett graced the hardwood of the old Toso Pavilion.

"Students and fans are excited to see a team of high national caliber," Santa Clara Head Coach Dick Davey said.

Thus far in the 2003-2004 season, Santa Clara's largest crowd for a basketball game has been the 2,418 fans that attended the championship game of the Cable Car Classic in December. Just behind that figure are the 2,385 fans who watched Santa Clara's conference-opening triumph over San Francisco three weeks ago.

"It's always more fun to play in front of a large crowd," said sophomore guard Brandon Rohe.

The players appreciate and like playing in front of large crowds, Davey said. "The enthusiasm and the hype that surrounds the game puts them in the limelight as a team."

Despite Gonzaga's national status, the past few years have shown that things can go either way when the Bulldogs visit Santa Clara. In the last four years, the teams have split their four games at Santa Clara, despite Gonzaga taking the last two. Still, both sides understand there will be nothing easy about Saturday night's game.

"Santa Clara-Gonzaga games have been physical games for a long time," Bulldogs Assistant Coach Bill Grier said. "They always play our guys physical inside, and every game is a tough, physical, hand-to-hand combat type of game."

"Usually the players are pretty much dead afterwards," Rohe said. "A lot of guys are banged up and sore, but that's how it goes."

Playing physical in the paint will be a key to the Broncos' game plan. Going against Gonzaga's two big men, Cory Violette and Ronny Turiaf down low, Santa Clara will look to establish a presence inside.

"The bigger worry with Gonzaga is not with [Blake] Stepp, because we have good guards who can handle him," said senior guard J.R. Patrick. "Instead, it's down low. If we can get [Cory] Violette and [Ronny] Turiaf into foul trouble early, we will take away their best post players."

Also, because the game is on Santa Clara's home court, the Broncos have an advantage. Heading into Thursday night's game against Portland, the Broncos have an 8-3 mark at the Leavey Center.

"Nothing is easy on the road," Grier said. "The way they play is very physical, and Coach Davey gets his guys to play really hard."

Facing such a high-profile opponent opens many opportunities for the Broncos to steal some attention for themselves. Winning such a big game could help revitalize their fortunes after a tough weekend, in which the Broncos dropped two games against Saint Mary's and San Francisco.

"Last weekend is done, this weekend we have a great chance to get back on a winning streak," Patrick said. "Everyone's going to get pumped up for these games. First we're concentrating on playing a good team in Portland and a top-10 team in Gonzaga. Everyone will be ready and their hearts will be pounding."

"At the moment [a victory] carries a lot of weight, but over time it lessens as you get further into the season and into the conference tournament," Davey said.

"Our key now would be to get the upper hand and improve as the season progresses."

Yet, a victory over Gonzaga could generate stronger support from the student body and fans, something Davey puts into perspective. Davey believes the team must win and gain status on a more consistent basis to sustain the high level of fan and student support which Gonzaga is enjoying the at their home games in Spokane, Wash. Due to the Bulldogs' continued success, they are receiving exposure much like Santa Clara enjoyed in the mid-1990s.

"You won't get that support unless you're successful day in and day out," Davey said. "The attention you receive is related to how successful you are."

Added Grier, upon hearing the Santa Clara game was on the verge of selling out, "All games should be sold out like that. That is what makes college basketball a great experience."

With the sellout crowd, the Broncos will have strong support Saturday night. According to the Broncos' official Web site, the only Santa Clara students guaranteed a ticket to Saturday night's game are those students belonging to the Ruff Riders. The athletic department will distribute the tickets at Thursday night's game against Portland.

Next to the WCC tournament that Santa Clara hosts in March, Saturday night's game against Gonzaga could be the biggest game at the Leavey Center this season. With a full house set to go and the chance to knock off a top-10 program, Saturday night sure sounds like the right night for a party.

û Contact Aaron Juarez at (408) 554-4852 or ajuarez@scu.edu.