Inside Bronco Basketball with Anthony Passarelli

By: Gabe Taylor '12

Raymond Cowels III knew it. Even Kevin Foster knew it.

When Cowels exploded for 20 points against Villanova, it wasn't a surprise, but rather a much awaited welcome.

Prior to the game, the team tossed around compliments to one-another as part of the pre-game meeting. Cowel's received a message from Foster that rang with him; it was Cowels' turn to step into the spotlight.

"It showed the he had faith in me, and that he trusts me, and that the rest of my team trusts me," said Cowels.

In the 40 minutes that ricked by during the game, Foster and Cowels' prediction slowly unfolded as if previously drawn up to fit the storyline.

Cowels, who appeared as a starter in all eight games thus far, locked in from deep, hitting a career-high six three pointers.

"I've shot this shot a million times, and they kept leaving me open, so I was just trying to make them pay for that," said Cowels.

His hot-hand helped the Broncos storm back from a 10-point deficit to stun the previously 4-1 Wildcats.

"It shows that we can play with almost anybody in the country," said Cowels of the win.

Cowels was confident that that his contributions as a starter would develop, and his presumption proved to be correct.

"Shooters kind of go up and down, and it was just my time to get back on again," said Cowels, who is shooting 39 percent from distance on the season.

Entering the 76 Classic second round game against Oklahoma, Cowels was a combined 2-14 from three point land. But that was quick to change. In the following three games, Cowels knocked down 3 – or more – triples in each respective game. His shot was back on.

"I knew my shots were gonna go down," said Cowels. "I just basically had the confidence to show I could start making shots again."

With Foster, Evan Roquemore and Cowels all capable of catching fire at any given moment, Santa Clara is a loaded gun on the offensive end waiting to go off. The Broncos' backcourt is shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc.

"It takes a lot of pressure of all three of us," said Cowels, adding later, "We understand that we're the primary guards for the team and that we have to be solid all the time."

It's about trust. It's about confidence. And most of all, it's about delivering.

Cowels knows this.