Basketball To Travel To USF for CIT Quarterfinals
As the only two WCC schools left in the post-season, playing in just the fourth Bay Area post-season tournament match-up (first in 51 years!) and the first between two ancient rivals, Santa Clara (21-14, 8-6 WCC) will travel to San Francisco (19-14, 10-4 WCC) to play USF in the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Post-season Tournament on Tues., March 22 at 7 pm. Santa Clara has only won 21+ games 12 times in school history and is looking for a 22+ win season for just the fifth time in school history.
It's the 208th meeting between the two teams dating back to Jan. 22, 1909 when Santa Clara won 19-11. SCU leads the all-time series 108-99 and the Dons lead the series 51-43 in San Francisco . Santa Clara has only played Saint Mary's more times than the Dons and sport a 131-79 record vs. the Gaels. Santa Clara has won eight of the last 12 games against USF, dating back to Feb., 2006.
It is the first time in 15 years that Santa Clara has played in the post-season and its 16th appearance in school history (14-17: 11-13 NCAA; 2-4 NIT, 2-0 CIT). In its last post-season appearance Santa Clara defeated Maryland 91-79 in the first round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament before falling 76-51 to Kansas in the second round, who advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to eventual NCAA runner-up Syracuse.
See and Hear
The USF game will be broadcast via the Bronco Radio Network on both KDOW 1220 AM and Broncos All-Access @ www.SantaClaraBroncos.com with the broadcast beginning at 6:55 pm. Anthony Passarelli is in his fourth season as the Broncos' play-by-play announcer. Out of the listening area, KDOW is streamed online live at www.1220kdow.com. The game will also be streamed online live: http://www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=379
We Both Did
Santa Clara and USF combined for 34 games vs. the post-season field. Santa Clara was 2-4 vs. NCAA teams, 1-4 vs. NIT teams, 1-0 vs. CBI teams and 1-4 vs. CIT teams for a combined record of 5-12. The Broncos' NCAA wins were over Gonzaga and Northern Colorado with losses to Gonzaga, Southern California, Arizona and UC Santa Barbara.
USF was 2-5 vs. NCAA teams, 1-3 vs. NIT teams, 1-1 vs. CBI teams and 4-0 vs. CIT teams for a combined record of 8-9. Its NCAA win were vs. Hampton and vs. Gonzaga and its losses were at Gonzaga (2), vs. Louisville, at Washington and vs. SDSU.
Rewind for a Second
Taking a quick 30-second time-out to look at back at Santa Clara's 88-75 win over Air Force, Kevin Foster broke the school record with nine threes, tying a career-high with 36 points. Foster shattered the WCC single season threes made record with 129 this season and grabbed back the country's top spot in threes made per game when he scored nine threes and Andrew Goudelock of College of Charleston hit zero threes in CofC's NIT win at Cleveland State. Marc Trasolini scored 19 points and was just one rebound from posting back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his career. Both Foster (1,109) and Evan Roquemore (1,096) broke Brody Angley's school record for minutes played in a season (1,090, 2007-08).
Santa Clara is 7-0 this season when scoring 80+ and 14-1 under Coach Keating in his four years.
the nation's top 10 3-point shooters
No. WHO (School) No of threes (GAMES)
1. Kevin Foster (Santa Clara) % 129 (35)
2. Andrew Goudelock (Coll. of Charleston) 124 (35)
3. Jimmer Fredette (BYU) 121 (36)
4. Jon Diebler (Ohio State) 110 (36)
5. Zach Flizen (Buffalo) * 109 (33)
6. Talor Battle (Penn State) @ 106 (34)
7. Ashton Gibbs (Pitt) @ 102 (31)
8. John Jenkins (Vanderbilt) @ 100 (32
Kwame Morgan (Hampton) @ 100 (33)
Preston Knowles (Louisville) @ 100 (34)
% - leader in threes made per game; * plays Monday; @ - season completed
Us vs. Them!
This season the Broncos featured four players in double figures in WCC play and have three overall. Scoring in double figures are: Kevin Foster (19.7, 20.7 WCC), Marc Trasolini (13.2, 12.5 WCC), Evan Roquemore (11.7, 11.8 WCC) and Ben Dowdell (8.0, 10.5 WCC). Foster leads the WCC in ppg. Trasolini leads the team in overall games with 6.1 rpg and Troy Payne led in WCC play with 8.0 rpg and second overall with 5.8 rpg. Payne is the team leader with 1.7 spg and Foster follows him with 1.6 spg. Roquemore dishes a team-leading 3.8 apg and Foster is second with 3.7 apg.
The country's top three-pointer shooter, Foster (3.7 threes per game) shattered the 22-year old West Coast Conference three pointers made single season record on March 18 vs. Air Force. Foster has hit 129 threes this year, tops in the NCAA, breaking Jeff Fryer's single season WCC record (LMU, 126, 1988-89). His 688 points this season are No. 14 on the WCC's single season points scored top 15 list. He needs six points to jump to No. 12 and 23 points to move into the top 10. Foster was named first-team all-league and was named the WCC POM for February.
Trasolini, the WCC Player of the Week Feb. 28, scored 22 in two straight WCC Tournament games and has already scored his 1,000th career point. Payne was named the WCC Defender of the Year. Roquemore, who has already broken the Bronco freshman records in minutes played, assists, free throws made and free throws attempted, was named to the WCC All-Freshman team after averaging a league-leading 11.8 ppg for newcomers in WCC play. Starting 48 straight games and No. 2 on the career games played list (125) entering the USF game, Dowdell scored 10.5 ppg with 5.3 rpg in league play.
USF is averaging 69.5 ppg while giving up 69.9 ppg. The Dons are shooting 43.5 percent from the field, including 33.6 from beyond the three-point line. USF is grabbing 38.3 boards and giving up 35.0. They are averaging 14.6 turnovers per game compared to Santa Clara's own 14.4 turnovers per game. USF has three players averaging double figures: Michael Williams (14.9 ppg), Rashad Green (12.3 ppg) and Perris Blackwell (10.8 ppg). Angelo Caloiaro leads the team with 7.2 rpg and Blackwell is second with 6.9 rpg. Cody Doolin leads with 3.3 apg and Moustapha Diarra scores 0.9 bpg.
Nationally
As of March 21, Santa Clara is No. 45 nationally in rebounding margin (4.1), No. 61 in scoring offense (73.3 ppg), No. 63 in free throw percentage (72.8%), No. 68 in steals (7.5 spg) and No. 83 in three-point FG percentage (7.1). Santa Clara has attempted and made more free throws than any other team in the country.
Kevin Foster is No. 1 in threes made per game (3.7), No. 28 in ppg (19.7) and No. 50 in three-point field goal percentage (37.5). Evan Roquemore is No. 91 in free throw percentage.
Random
In loses Kevin Foster carries more of the scoring load with an increase from 19.1 to 20.5 ppg. Marc Trasolini, Ben Dowdell, Troy Payne and Evan Roquemore score a combined 11.5 more points in wins than in loses. Roquemore's assist to turnover ratio goes from 1.80 in wins to 1.37 in losses. Troy Payne averages almost a full steal more in Bronco wins than in loses, 2.05 and 1.07 respectively. Trasolini only shoots .244 from three at home with an increase to .407 on the road. Dowdell averages two more rebounds per game at home with 5.5 rpg compared to 3.5 on the road.
How Bout Them Apples?
Santa Clara is playing in its school-record 36th game vs. USF.
Santa Clara has scored 2567 points this season. The school record was 2428 in 1969-70.
Santa Clara has made 250 threes this year. The school record was 224 in 2003-04. The Broncos have attempted 711 threes. The school record was 662 in 2003-04.
Santa Clara has made 671 free throws. The school record was 606 in 1968-69. They have attempted 921 free throws, breaking the school record which was 858 in 1968-69.
Santa Clara has 737 personal fouls. The school record was 695 in 1986-87.
They have 263 steals. The school record was 232 in 2009-10 (ties 1997-98, 231 was 1990-91).
Also in the top 10, the Broncos are shooting 72.9 percent from the free throw line, good enough for a tie for No. 4. The 1966-67 team shot a school-record 77.0 percent from the charity stripe. They are No. 4 with 1,252 rebounds and No. 6 with 109 blocked shots.
Santa Clara has attempted 1,924 field goals, good for second all time behind the 1969-70 team who attempted 1,974. They are No. 6 with 453 assists. The 1983-84 team is No. 1 with 504.
Dandy Duo
Kevin Foster was the first WCC sophomore ever and the 28th player in school history to score 1,000 career points on Jan. 20. Marc Trasolini was the 29th player to score 1,000 career points on Feb. 26. Foster is currently at No. 17 with 1,293 career points and Trasolini is at No. 24 with 1,090 points. Foster and Trasolini are the first duo to both hit 1,000 career points in the same year since then-seniors Jens Gordon and Mitch Burley did it in 1988-89. Gordon scored 522 points to finish his career with 1,356 and Burley scored 377 to finish with 1,258 career points.
The Foster (688) - Trasolini (450) duo have combined for 1,183 points this year (No. 2 on SCU Single Season Duo list). They are just the seventh pair to hit 1,000 points in a season. They need 66 points combined to be the all-time best scoring tandem.
Foster's in the top five already, scoring 486 points his freshman year with WCC Player of the Year John Bryant scoring 596 (No. 4 with 1,082 points).
SINGLE SEASON TOP 10 SCORING TANDEMS
No. Players Total Year
1. Dennis Awtrey (614) and Ralph Ogden (590) 1,204 1969-70
2. Kevin Foster (688) and Marc Trasolini (450) 1,183 2010-11
3. Harold Keeling (585) and Nick Vanos (544) 1,129 1983-84
4. Dennis Awtrey (619) and Bud Ogden (466) 1,085 1968-69
5. John Bryant (596) and Kevin Foster (486) 1,082 2008-09
6. Harold Keeling (574) and Nick Vanos (488) 1,062 1984-85
7. Mike Gervasoni (522) and Bud Ogden (480) 1,002 1966-67
8. Steve Nash (565) and Marlon Garnett (382) 947 1994-95
9. Rhea Taylor (495) and Ron Reis (442) 937 1990-91
10. Doron Perkins (477) and Travis Niesen (467) 934 2004-05
Heated Up
Marc Trasolini led the team with 13.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.6 bpg last year and with his play the last three weeks he is getting closer to those numbers, averaging 13.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.0 bpg this season. In the last six games, with Santa Clara posting a 5-1 record, Trasolini is averaging 21.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 bpg and 0.5 spg in 32.5 mpg, all while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. Trasolini scored a career-high 31 vs. LMU on Feb. 24, added 31 (vs. Pepperdine), 22 (vs. LMU, WCC Tourney), 22 again (vs. Saint Mary's, WCC Tourney) and just 12 vs. NAU, but he scored a career-high 14 rebounds in the win over the Lumberjacks. He added 19 points vs. Air Force with nine rebounds. He is No. 24 on the career points list for Santa Clara with 1,090.
Scoring his 1,000 career point Feb. 26 and leading the Broncos to their first season sweep of Pepperdine and LMU in 27 years, Trasolini was named the WCC Player of the Week Feb. 28. It was Trasolini's first Player of the Week honors in his career and the third for SCU this season. Trasolini averaged 26.0 ppg in victories over LMU and Pepperdine (Feb 24-26), shooting 56.7 percent and 7.5 rpg. He hit 18 of 21 free throws, shooting 85.7 percent - making the first 14 free throws vs. LMU. He was 17 of 20 from the free throw line vs. LMU. His 17 free throws were the second most-ever for a Bronco and the 20 attempts were also the second-most for a Bronco (Steve Nash was 21 of 21 vs. SMC in 1995). Trasolini also shot 10-for-15 from the field vs. Pepperdine, shooting 66.7 percent and finished league play with 12.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg, shooting almost 81 percent from the FT line.
Payne WCC Defensive POY, Foster, Roquemore All-WCC
Leading the West Coast Conference in steals and fourth in rebounding, Troy Payne was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Year on March 1. He is the first Bronco player in school history to receive this award. Kevin Foster was named to the All-WCC First Team and Evan Roquemore was named to the All-WCC Freshman team. Foster is the 58th Bronco in school history to be named to the First Team.
Some Firsts
Santa Clara is playing in the post-season for the first time in 15 years - the same year it last won a post-season game. It has won 15 games at home as well.
Santa Clara leads the WCC in steals in overall games. It has only led the league in steals in overall games once: 1997 when it had 207 steals.
Santa Clara's three WCC Players of the Week outright this year are the most it has had since 1994-95 when it had four (Steve Nash three x, Marlon Garnett once). John Bryant was WCC POW three times in 2008-09, but he shared it with Patty Mills of Saint Mary's once.
Santa Clara defeated CSUN 99-79 on Dec. 22. The Broncos put six players in double figures. It was first time since Santa Clara defeated UCSC at home on Nov. 25, 2002, 93-70, that it had six players in double figures. The 99 points on the road for the Broncos were the most they scored since they lost 105-103 at Portland on Jan. 25, 1980.
Santa Clara scored 90+ in two of its first 13 games of the year for the first time since it won 111-55 on Nov. 27, 1993 and then 92-74 vs. Holy Cross on Dec. 29, 1993.
Santa Clara defeated the Zags for the first time in 10 years at home (Feb. 22, 2001). The 85-71 win on Jan. 20 was the worst defeat the Zags suffered during the WCC regular season slate since 1999.
Santa Clara's win at Pepperdine was its first win in Malibu since it won 83-71 on Jan. 22, 2005. It was just the third win at Pepperdine in 17 years and only its fifth victory in Malibu in 27 years. The Broncos went on to sweep the season series with LMU and Pepperdine for the first time since 1984.
SCU's 20-point comeback in defeating USD on Feb. 12 tied the biggest come from behind victory in school history when it defeated Marquette on Nov. 29, 1996 after being down by 20 in the second half. It is only the second time in 13 years SCU has swept USD.
Success on Court-Climbing Statistics
Kevin Foster has scored 688 points this season, breaking Dennis Awtrey's single season school record set 42 years ago (619, 1968-69) vs. LMU on March 5. His tally is No. 14 on the WCC single season list as well. See game notes for numbers and charts on Foster.
Foster has hit 129 threes this season with 344 attempts - both single season school records (broke his own records vs. Saint Mary's on Feb. 10). He No. 2 on the Bronco career threes made list with 235, passing Kyle Bailey vs. NAU (225, 2001-05). Steve Nash holds the career threes made school record with 263 makes (1992-96).
Foster has scored 36 points at home twice this season: first 36 vs. Gonzaga on Jan. 20 and then 36 vs. Air Force on March 18. The 36 points are the sixth-most ever for a Bronco at home and the most a player had scored vs. Gonzaga since Pepperdine's Keion Bell scored 37 points on Jan. 21, 2010. Foster's career-best prior to the Gonzaga game was the 31 he scored as a freshman at Saint Mary's (Jan. 9, 2009) and his season-best was the 29 he scored in overtime vs. Washington St. on Dec. 19.
Foster broke his own school record with nine threes vs. Air Force as well. Foster crushed eight threes on Jan. 8 vs. USF and at Gonzaga on Feb. 17. The eight threes twice tied the then-school record set by Steve Nash (8 at Gonzaga on Jan. 19, 1995) and Mitch Burley (8 vs. Nevada-Reno, Dec. 14, 1988). Foster attempted 20 threes in the USF game, shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. The attempts mark shattered Burley's school record set back in 1988 (17) and Nash's in 1995 (17). The 20 attempts also shattered the WCC record set by Jeff Fryer of LMU vs. SCU on Feb. 24, 1989 when he attempted 18.
Rookie Records
Evan Roquemore has broken four Bronco rookie records this season: minutes played, assists, free throws made and free throws attempted. Three of the records were set by Brian Jones in 1996-97. Jones was named the 1996 WCC Freshman of the Year and was named All-WCC twice during his career. He is on track to break the free throw percentage record (shooting 82.2 %, Steve Nash shot 82.1%). See game notes for numbers and charts on Roquemore.
He has scored double figures in 12 of the last 14 games, including a career-high 21 points vs. LMU on March 5. While he didn't start Senior night on Feb. 26, he has started 26 of the last 27 games after coming off the bench the first eight games of his rookie campaign Averaging 11.7 ppg, a team-leading 3.8 apg and 3.6 rpg, he had a career-high eight assists at Saint Mary's and at Gonzaga; and a career-high with 21 points vs. LMU on March 5. He has been perfect at the free throw line in 13games this year: 6 of 6 vs. Rice, 10 of 10 vs. UNC (tying Bronco freshman record), 6 of 6 at SJSU, 7 of 7 vs. Washington State, 6 of 6 at CSUN, 1 of 1 at SMC, 8 of 8 vs. Gonzaga, 2 of 2 at LMU, 6 of 6 vs. USD, 8 of 8 vs. LMU, 4 of 4 vs. Pepperdine, 2 of 2 vs. SMC and 6 of 6 vs. Air Force.
Big-Time Broncos
0 (Roquemore) - WCC All-Freshman Team. Named No. 20 Freshman nationally this season by BasketballProspectus.com in January (only WCC player). Broke the Bronco freshman school record for minutes played, assists, free throws made and attempted. 20 of the last 28 games he has hit double figures, including double figures the last 12 of 14 games. Dished out a career-high eight assists at Saint Mary's and at Gonzaga; and scored a career-high 21 points vs. LMU March 5. Perfect from the free throw line in 13 games this year.
01 (Payne) - WCC Defender of the Year. Started 40 games last year and 24 this year. Leads WCC in steals. Career-high 6 steals three times this year. Collected 5+ rebounds in 19 of the last 20 games; 7+ in nine of the last 13 games. 2nd career double-double vs. USD (10/10).
03 (Cunningham) - Hasn't played in the past 19 games due to a bad back. He had started the previous eight games and was shooting a career-best 61.9 percent this season.
04 (Perricone) - Has played in three games this season and hit his first career field goal in the first game (HBU) and a three-pointer in two games: Bethany and UCSC.
10 (Dowdell) - Career-high 26 points vs. LMU, including career-high 14 rebounds. 13 games this season with 5+ rebounds and hit double-figures in scoring eight of the last 16 games. Averaged double figures in WCC play (10.5 ppg).
13 (Santos) - Played 21 minutes in win over LMU on March 5, 17 vs. SMC and 22 vs. Northern Arizona. Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana and his wife Jennifer were guests of the Santos family vs. Pepperdine and Saint Mary's. Made big basket in second overtime to help seal win for SCU vs. LMU. Gave SCU 16 minutes off the bench vs. Gonzaga and followed it up with 20 minutes in Portland win. Had season-high six rebounds and career-high four assists vs. Bethany.
14 (Gamble) - Freshman walk-on from Colorado. Hit his first career points with two three-pointers vs. Bethany. He put up four shots and grabbed two rebounds during that span as well. Hit two free throws in career-high six minutes vs. UC Santa Cruz.
15 (Trasolini) - WCC Player of the Week (Feb. 28). Hit double figures 18 of the last 23 games. 29th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Has 56 career double-figure games and 32 15+ point games. His six career double-doubles rank No. 1 on the team this year. Is the only player in the WCC to be named to the Capital One Academic All-District team the past two years. Sports a 3.51 GPA in Finance.
21 (Foster) - WCC First-Team and NABC First-Team All-District. No. 17 in career points with 1,293 and No. 1 on the single season list with 688 points. No. 1 in WCC in threes made in a season and No. 14 with points in a season. First sophomore in WCC to score 1,000+ career points. Career-high 36 points twice at home this year - the sixth-best tally ever by a Bronco in a home game. First player in school history to hit six plus threes in three games and has now hit 6+ nine times this season!
22 (Mensah) - Fourth-year walk-on hit his first career free throws and first career three-pointers in the five games he has played in this year. Has already been accepted to the Law Schools at Santa Clara and American; and also applying to Cornell, Georgetown, George Washington and Howard.
24 (Clarke) - Will be redshirted. Has only played in three games early due to a foot injury.
25 (McArthur) - His 11 rebounds vs. Santa Cruz were the most for a Bronco freshman since John Bryant snagged 13 vs. Portland on Jan. 7, 2006. After being named the Bay Area Player of the Year out of famed De La Salle last year, he hit his first career three at Gonzaga on Feb. 17.
31 (Harrison) - Scored a season-high 12 points at Pepperdine, his first time in double figures this season after hitting double figures nine times last season.
33 (Bach) - Carrying a 3.48 grade point average in Marketing, he has come off the bench in four games this season, including 12 minutes vs. Bethany where he dished out a career-best four assists. Scored career-high 9 points in career-high 14 minutes vs. UC Santa Cruz.
42 (Cowels) - Scored 12 points vs. Air Force, hitting two threes and 4 of 6 from the free throw line. Starting in nine games this season and 20 throughout his two-year career, Cowels hit a season-high four threes vs. Northern Colorado and was 6 of 6 from the free throw line vs. Washington State. He scored a career-high 24 points vs. NCAA Tournament-bound Wofford last season, hitting five threes. Has hit a three in 17 of 34 games this season.
44 (Atanga) - The Yaounde, Cameroon native is being red-shirted this season.
19+ = 33
Kevin Foster was named the WCC Player of the Week Jan. 24. It was the second time he was named WCC Player of the Week this season (Dec. 6 was the other). The GU-UOP series he averaged 53.6 percent from the floor, including 45.0 percent from the three-point line and 84.2 percent from the free throw line. Foster was nicknamed 'Microwave' by his father during his youth after the Detroit Piston's Vinnie Johnson. Johnson earned the nickname 'the Microwave' from Celtics guard Danny Ainge for his ability to score many points in a short period of time, heating up the offense. Foster has scored 15+ points in 47 of 73 career games and he has scored 19+ in 33 career games. Foster's 19+ games follow:
Opponent/Date Pts. (3s)
1. vs. Arizona/Nov. 25, 2008 21 (5)
2. vs. Belmont/Dec. 29, 2008 24 (3)
3. at Harvard/Jan. 2, 2009 20 (4)
4. at Saint Mary's/Jan. 9, 2009 31 (5)
5. at Portland/Jan. 17, 2009 20 (3)
6. vs. LMU/Jan. 29, 2009 20 (3)
7. vs. Saint Mary's/Feb. 7, 2009 26 (4)
8. at LMU/Feb. 14, 2009 26 (5)
9. at USF/Feb. 21, 2009 20 (2)
10. vs. Gonzaga/Feb. 26, 2009 20 (3)
11. vs. San Diego/March 7, 2009 21 (4)
12. at CSUB/Nov. 13, 2009 21 (3)
13. vs. Menlo/Nov. 19, 2009 19 (4)
14. at Pacific/Nov. 22, 2009 22 (5)
15. vs. Fresno State/Nov. 28, 2009 25 (5)
16. vs. CSU Bakersfield/Nov. 12, 2010 19 (4)
17. at So. California/Nov. 15, 2010 26 (4)
18. vs. Bethune-Cookman/Nov. 21, 2010 21 (6)
19. vs. N. Colorado/Nov. 23, 2010 19 (4)
20. vs. UC Santa Barbara/Dec. 4, 2010 25 (6)
21. at San Jose State/Dec. 10, 2010 26 (3)
22. vs. Washington St./Dec. 19, 2010 29 (4)
23. at CSU Northridge/Dec. 22, 2010 22 (2)
24. vs. Bethany/Jan. 3, 2011 19 (6)
25. vs. USF/Jan. 8, 2011 26 (8)
26. vs. Gonzaga/Jan. 20, 2011 36 (6)
27. vs. Portland/Jan. 22, 2011 19 (3)
28. vs. LMU/Jan. 29, 2011 28 (3)
29. vs. St. Mary's/Feb. 10, 2011 25 (4)
30. vs. San Diego/Feb. 12, 2011 21 (3)
31. at Gonzaga/Feb. 17, 2011 27 (8)
32. at Portland/Feb. 19, 2011 29 (7)
33. vs. Air Force/March 18, 2011 36 (9)