Jan. 6, 2004
Previous Columns
Odds and ends heading into the conference opener...
Kyle Bailey was half an inch from becoming only the second two-time winner of the Cable Car MVP. Nick Vanos won it twice during a stretch of three straight tournament titles in the early '80s.
At this rate, Travis Niesen is a lock for the team's most improved player. He may give up a little size on one end, but is a tough match at the other because of his quickness. They know the left hand is coming but can't do much about it.
Jens Gordon is still going strong, playing for middle dwelling Artland Dragons of the 1st German Federal League, averaging about 9 points and 5 rebounds. He was the winner of the 1988 Cable Car MVP.
Art Santo Domingo doesn't get the credit he deserves for bringing the Cable Car Classic to the Bay Area for 37 years. Every program should be so lucky to have that kind of friend.
The Cable Car MVP, BYU's Rafael Araujo is nicknamed "Baby." His wife told him he was going to be a father by leaving him a note in his wallet asking how it would feel to not be the only baby in the family.
After you served a mission, with a wife and child in your mid-20s, making a play in the final seconds doesn't seem that stressful. By birth certificates alone, it was "men against boys."
There is no truth to the rumor of a San Jose Mercury jinx as the reason for the Broncos loss to Eastern Washington. The paper picked the Broncos to finish secondbehind Gonzaga in the WCC race. The good feeling lasted not quite as long as a Britney Spears marriage.
Saint Mary's resurgence is the best thing to rekindle a rivalry that's been dormant for several years.
Doron Perkins is the best pure athlete in the program since Lloyd Pierce. The tip-dunk to beat UMBC could only have been duplicated by Pierce in the last decade.
At least one bye is a MUST for any team hoping to win the WCC tourney. Four wins in four days would be comparable to hitting the lottery. Santa Clara fans should hope for second-place or better. Second-place gets two byes into the semis. That means just two wins on the Broncos' home floor to make "The Dance."
Former Bronco Darrell Teat is married in Fremont and blessed to have a beautiful daughter named Tejah.
Even with Steve Nash, no Santa Clara team during the Dick Davey era entered conference play with more than nine wins. SCU missed two chances at nine in a span of five days.
Steve Seandel called Saturday's loss to Eastern Washington the worst effort he's seen in 12 years at Santa Clara. Even worse than scoring 41 points at UOP three years ago and a 35 point outburst at Stanford in '93?
Scoring 19 straight points in the first half for Eastern Washington, Alvin Snow was white hot. He finished with 28 after getting only two against the Broncos last month.
A healthy Scott Borchart gives the Broncos another big body and a front line that can hang with the best in the conference. He's due some good karma after dealing with 2 feet fractures and 2 shoulder operations. Add those to a broken hand to start this year.
One key injury can turn the conference race upside down. The Zags lost two players indefinitely in their win over Eastern Washington and USF will try and hold things together without John Cox. The cousin of Kobe Bryant is hoping for a 6th year.
Enjoy the games and we'll chat on the radio.