WCC Basketball Tournament to return in 2005

By Brian Betz

By Grant Hughes

SPORTS STAFF WRITER

West Coast Conference Commissioner Michael Gilleran announced on April 14 that the WCC Basketball Championships will return to the Leavey Center at Santa Clara in 2005. The 14th annual women's championship will take place March 3-6, and the 19th annual men's event will be played March 4-7.

Commissioner Gilleran expressed his affinity, saying that the WCC is looking forward to a return trip to Santa Clara.

"The staff did a great job with the facility last year, so we don't expect things to be any different next March," he said.

Originally, the University of San Francisco's War Memorial Gymnasium was slated to host the event, but due to major renovations and construction projects, their facilities won't be ready next year. After 2005, the WCC Tournament won't return to the Bay Area until 2010 due to a decision made two years ago to regionally rotate the tournament between Southern California, the Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest every two years.

The odd school out in all this is Saint Mary's, whose name did not surface in the discussions of where to relocate the 2005 tournament site. The WCC receives bids from all schools in a given region when deciding the tournament location, and apparently did not receive one from Saint Mary's for 2005. Neither the Saint Mary's Athletic Department nor Athletic Director Carl Clapp were able to be reached for comment regarding the bid process. The decision may have a lot to do with the prevailing sentiment of many WCC athletes and coaches that the Leavey Center is simply better equipped and more presentable than the other Bay Area options.

"The Leavey Center is more of a real arena," said junior guard Doron Perkins, the 2004 team-MVP of the Santa Clara men's basketball team. "A couple of the other schools in the area have places that feel like gyms. There's a difference."

Without question, the men's and women's basketball programs will appreciate another year at the Leavey Center, given the benefits of home court advantage. The Leavey Center's familiar confines and vocal home crowd propelled the Bronco men in their inspired efforts against all of their conference foes - most notably the eventual conference-champion Gonzaga Bulldogs. With mature, strong teams returning in 2005, the Broncos will again be helped by the support of the raucous Santa Clara fans.

Commissioner Michael Gilleran echoed Perkins' thoughts.

"It's just a good, enjoyable environment," Gilleran said. "The Leavey Center reflects well on the WCC."

"We certainly think the facility is a good one. We're proud of it," Associate Athletic Director Richard Kilwien said. "Hosting the tournament again reflects well on the University and gives us a chance to show the place off."

Aside from showcasing the WCC's best arena, Santa Clara stands to benefit again in 2005 from multiple sellouts during the tournament. Though exact financial figures were not released, the University will, in all likelihood, enjoy another successful weekend in the ticket offices. Single game tickets and packages ranging from $5 to $65, will be sold for the 14 games next March. Ultimately, Santa Clara stands to benefit both financially and athletically in 2005 from another year of WCC Tournament hoops.

û Contact Grant Hughes at (408) 554-4852 or ghughes@scu.edu.NFL Draft Day delightBrian BetzWant to know what I'm doing Saturday? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well, except rolling over to grab my remote, punching "038" to access ESPN and gluing my eyes to the screen.

Saturday marks one of my favorite days of the year, as the NFL Draft consumes my attention for seven hours. Call me nuts for being able to sit and watch each pick be made, while up to 15 minutes can go by between selections, but there's always so many intricacies that make draft day intriguing. Teams trading spots, the acquisitions of future hall-of-famers and the always guaranteed "bust" picks (see KiJana Carter).

But this year is even more compelling than years past, with the number of quality skill-position players available. Wideouts Roy Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Williams and Mike Williams (whose draft status is in limbo) could all be the top receivers taken in most years. But because they're all coming out in 2004, a team with a middle-round pick such as San Francisco can still have one of those guys fall in their laps at pick 16.

Then there's still quarterbacks Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers, along with the second coming of Tony Gonzalez in tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.

Most years there a handful of "big-uns" like offensive tackle Robert Gallery or defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. Guys that do the kind of dirty work that doesn't make highlight reels or lend to Terrell Owens sharpie celebrations. But most of the names mentioned above, particularly the receivers, have All-Pro potential that won't take long to surface.

Things will get really interesting about two hours in, when the clock runs out on Minnesota for the third-straight year and teams capitalize by making a flurry of picks. I'll be especially interested when the Seahawks hit the clock at pick 23, although I'd like them to trade up to snag a pass-rushing defensive lineman.

For an entire day, I'll be watching the ticker of picks cycle through the bottom of the screen while Chris Berman and Mel Kiper Jr. yap about the draftees. Of course I'll be muting it during the commercials to listen to Savage C's scintillating solo CD "Smokey the Bandit." But aside from that, I'll be waiting to see which players are going to be flops and which players are going to be studs elsewhere.

û Contact Brian Betz at (408) 554-4852 or bbetz@scu.edu.