WCC action could spice up the normally boring February
By Blake Twisselman
As an avid sports fan, I have always loathed February.
Football season is officially over. The NFL playoffs are over and the college bowl games are now distant memories, the (co) champions having been crowned. Ã Baseball season is coming up, and as I get anxious thinking about all of the offseason free agent acquisitions that have rekindled my interest in America's pastime, I am reminded that it will have to wait a couple more months. March Madness, in all of its glory, is still one month away. And as the NBA and NHL ramble through a wearying midseason, I begin to lull into winter hibernation mode, thanking my lucky stars that this month is shorter than all the others.
I have never anticipated February with great enthusiasm. However, this year there is something different that is piquing my interest.
The Santa Clara men's basketball team is atop the West Coast Conference standings.
Now I know that the Broncos (11-7 overall, 3-0 in conference) have only played three conference games, and I'm quite well aware that they haven't even played the Zags yet, but this February marks the month in which Santa Clara plays seven of its 14 WCC contests. Seven contests that will be critical for the team as they jockey for a higher seed in the all-important conference tournament.
As is the case with most mid-major universities, the only way that Santa Clara will ever make it into the coveted "big dance" is by winning the conference tournament. This is a tall order for any school, but is especially difficult for WCC schools because perennial powerhouse Gonzaga is standing in the way come conference tourney time. But that really doesn't matter to me right now.
What really matters is that the Broncos are healthy (knock on wood), scrappy, talented and much improved from last season's squad that only chalked up four conference victories. They are giving Bronco fans a reason to get excited during this otherwise uneventful month.
There are numerous reasons to come out to the Leavey Center and watch this team play. Kyle Bailey has recovered from injury and is back in the saddle running the point. Travis Niesen plays with passion and hustle, and is not afraid to take an offensive charge for the team. Senior Jim Howell plays stifling defense and is one of the league's best centers. Sharpshooters Brandon Rohe and Ethan Rohde can knock down NBA-range 3's that extend defenses and alter momentum.
Oh, and Doron Perkins is, flat out, the most exciting Bronco I've seen during my three years here at Santa Clara.
I think everyone would agree that Gonzaga has much more talent than everyone else in the league, but the Broncos could have some things going in their favor come conference tourney time. First of all, Santa Clara is the host team for the WCC Tournament this season, giving the Broncos home court advantage. That same advantage helped propel San Diego to the conference title last season, as the Toreros claimed the tournament in the familiar confines of the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Also, the top two teams in the conference standings automatically get byes into the semifinal round of the conference tournament. Basically, this means that if the Broncos can scrap their way to at least second place in the league, then they would only need to win one game to get to the championship contest (presumably against Gonzaga).
And then, simply, it would all come down to one game for a ticket to the tournament on the Broncos' home court. Anything is possible.
So buy your tickets to the conference tournament and get ready to rock the Leavey Center this February because this could be the year that the Broncos get back to the big dance. And those frustrating Februaries that I've had to endure would all be offset by just one experience of Santa Clara March Madness.
û Contact Blake Twisselman at (408) 554-4852 or at jtwisselman@scu.edu.