Broncos will ride to victory

By Brian Betz

It's time for a red and white Bronco to turn into a dark horse.

After a turbulent regular season, the Santa Clara men's basketball squad is my sleeper pick entering this weekend's West Coast Conference Tournament.

I can just hear Nancy Nino from the Alumni Office bellowing at me. "But Brian, last week you bashed them! You had no faith, you're not a true fan."

Yeah, I said they couldn't win on the road. I said they cost themselves a chance at a first-round bye. But, honestly, the Broncos couldn't ask for a much better situation. They've hit a 1-5 losing skid in their last six games, but now Tricky-Dick Davey's crew has the luxury of playing in the Leavey Center throughout the WCC Tournament.

The Broncos happen to be 10-5 at home this season.

A juiced-up Ruff Rider section and the familiarity of playing on their home floor could make the recipe just right for Santa Clara to go deep into the tournament. Their road to the final on Monday night looks as such: San Diego, San Francisco, Gonzaga. Put more simply: doormat, rival, juggernaut.

Of course, San Diego did earn their only conference win at our expense on Feb. 7, but I'm confident that the Broncos will win the game on Friday. Next is USF, who my dark horse beat 64-53 back on Jan. 9 in Leavey, but lost to on the road by 16 points later that month. They are no doubt a test, but again, the difference should be home-court advantage.

Then there's Gonzaga. It seems a foregone conclusion that the Bulldogs will win any match-up they're handed, but an eight-day rest might lend to some hard-to-shake rust. Right? Right?

Just consider that, in the past, two home meetings against Gonzaga (dating back to last season) the Broncos have been in it down the stretch only to give up a flurry of big three-pointers that put those contests out of reach. If guards Kyle Bailey and Doron Perkins can get hot, the Bronco offense might be able to carry them because the only way anyone is going to stop Gonzaga is by shooting lights out. If a perimeter-based Santa Clara team can heat up from long distance against San Diego and USF, momentum will be a factor come Sunday.

Oh, home sweet home.

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