Men's basketball prepares for Zags
By Gabe Taylor
Head Coach Kerry Keating has nearly tasted victory against arch rival Gonzaga twice. In 2008, Keating's squad took the Bulldogs into double overtime, only to fall 87-82. Last season, his team kept pace with their conference superiors, only to have their chances of an upset interrupted by two Ruff Riders who threw trash onto the court; Gonzaga won 81-73.
Tonight, Keating and company look to end a tainted recent history against the No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Broncos' most difficult challenge of the season tips off at 8 p.m. in Leavey Center.
"It's going to be a battle out there," said freshman guard Robert Smith.
Santa Clara held off the University of San Francisco last Saturday night on the road 66-65, picking up a much-needed conference win before returning home to tonight's expected sellout crowd.
Against the Dons, Santa Clara held a 62-50 lead with 4:45 to play, only to struggle to maintain possession of the ball. Nonetheless, the first West Coast Conference victory of the season gives the young team some momentum heading into tonight's game.
"It's a confidence builder. It was nice to get one under our belt," said sophomore forward Marc Trasolini, who led all scorers with a career-best 26 points.
No. 8 Gonzaga (16-3, 5-0) continues to climb in the polls, and the reason is clear; the Bulldogs are on an eight-game win streak.
Senior guard Matt Bouldin is a large part of the Bulldogs' success this year. Stepping in as the team leader in place of Austin Daye, who went on to the NBA, Bouldin is averaging 16.2 ppg, and 4.2 apg.
"Matt Bouldin is maybe the most complete guard in the country, regardless of level," said Keating. "(Gonzaga is) probably better this year because of Bouldin. He's been through it before and has a good flow and physical nature to his game that is matched by his mental approach."
However Bouldin is not all of Santa Clara's worries. Elias Harris, a freshman from Germany, is averaging 15.7 points per game, and 8.2 rebounds per game.
"Those are probably the two best players in the league right now," commented Keating.
Facing top-ranked teams is not completely new to this young Santa Clara team. Earlier in the season, the Broncos nearly knocked off previously-ranked University of Nevada Las Vegas and battled back against a Saint Mary's squad that has seen its place in top-25 in recent years.
With four players averaging double figures in the Bulldogs starting lineup, Keating understands that it is essential for the team to play highly energized defense and to protect the ball in hopes of limiting Gonzaga from reaching their average of nearly 80 ppg.
"A lot of that has to do with us making sure that we don't give them transition opportunities to start out," said Keating.
Freshman forward Niyi Harrison, who sparked the Broncos against San Francisco off the bench with 11 points and 4 blocks, recognizes the importance of what Keating has been preaching to the team in practice throughout the season.
"We have to try and force them outside their offense and do stuff that they normally don't do," he said.
Tonight's game may draw the largest student crowd Leavey Center has ever witnessed. The game will be televised on ESPN 2.
"We want to have as many (fans) as we can. We want them to have fun. We want them to cheer as loud as they can: be wild, be crazy. But we want them to keep it under control so it doesn't affect us on the court," said Trasolini.
Contact Gabe Taylor at gtaylor@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918.