Basketball Travels to Vegas to Play Arizona at 7:30 pm on Friday as Part of IBN Sports Las Vegas Invite
Santa Clara will travel to Las Vegas for the final two games of the IBN Sports Las Vegas Invitational during Thanksgiving weekend. The Broncos will be playing in a familiar place: the Orleans Arena. The West Coast Conference is entering the third year of its contract with the WCC Championship in Las Vegas and SCU is 1-2 in the Orleans Arena as a neutral venue. The IBN Las Vegas Invitational field features Kansas, Arizona, Santa Clara, Ohio, Northern Colorado, Bethune-Cookman, Valparaiso and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
The Broncos will play a 7:30 pm game vs. Arizona on Fri., Nov. 26 and a 4:30 pm game vs. Ohio on Sat., Nov. 27. A revitalized Arizona team is 4-0 under second-year head coach Sean Miller. Ohio, 3-1, was a No. 14 seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament when it defeated No. 3 seed Georgetown 97-83 before falling to Elite Eight-bound Tennessee 83-68.
Santa Clara won its first two games in the Leavey Center as part of the Las Vegas Invitational, defeating Bethune-Cookman 75-61 on Nov. 21 and then Northern Colorado 87-84 on Nov. 23. Arizona played its first two games at home; and it defeated Northern Colorado on Nov. 21 93-70 and then Bethune-Cookman 78-45 on Nov. 23. Ohio, also playing at home for the first two games, defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi 83-70 on Nov. 21 and then Valparaiso 78-75 on Nov. 23. No. 6 Kansas defeated Texas A&M CC, 82-41, notching its 63rd consecutive home victory, which sets a new school-record. SCU won't face Kansas in Las Vegas.
It will also be a bit of a Homecoming for Las Vegas native and Bronco freshman Evan Roquemore. Roquemore, who grew up in Henderson, Nev., will practice with the Bronco team at his high school, Foothill High School, Thanksgiving Day before playing in front of friends and family at the Orleans on Friday and Saturday.
Listen Up
The Arizona game will be broadcasted via the Bronco Radio Network on both KDOW 1220 AM and Broncos All-Access on the web at www.SantaClaraBroncos.com with the broadcast beginning at 7:15 pm. Anthony Passarelli is in his fourth season as the Broncos' play-by-play announcer. Coach Kerry Keating can be heard on KDOW 1220 AM on Sunday evenings from 9:10-9:20 pm in his radio spotlight on The Sports Ramble, hosted by Chetan Chaudhari. If you are out of the listening area, KDOW is streamed online live at www.1220kdow.com.
AZ game on Comcast SportsNet Plus; Watch IBNSPORTS.com
The Arizona game will shown live on Comcast SportsNet Plus in the Bay Area. Check local listings. In addition, all games of the 10th annual IBN Sports Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 26-27 will be available to fans around the country. IBN Sports, the title sponsor for the Las Vegas Invitational, will be broadcasting live at http://www.ibnsports.com/lvi.aspx The only game IBN Sports will not broadcast on their network will be Kansas vs Arizona on Saturday, which will be televised nationally on ESPN 2.
Who Has What?
Santa Clara is led by Kevin Foster, who is averaging a team-leading 18.8 ppg as the WCC's second-leading scorer, 3.8 apg and 1.6 spg, and Marc Trasolini, who is averaging 12.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg as the WCC's fourth-leading rebounder. Foster had a career-high six threes in SCU's win over B-C, scoring 19+ in four of five games this year after being redshirted last season when he broke his foot in the early going. Trasolini collected his fifth career double-double vs. CSU Bakersfield and had a season-high three blocks in the win over Rice. Evan Roquemore is pouring in 11.4 ppg off the bench and is a team-best 81.8 percent from the charity stripe (27 of 33). Ben Dowdell averages 8.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg. Robert Smith is second on the team with 3.0 apg.
There is a new coach on the sidelines for the 'Cats since the teams last meeting in 2008 and he has the 'Cats scoring 86.0 ppg to the opponent's own 53.5 ppg. Sean Miller posted a 16-15 record at Arizona last year after moving on after six years as the head coach at Xavier. While at XU, he posted four consecutive 20-victory seasons and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The Musketeers won three Atlantic-10 Conference regular-season championships and Miller guided two Xavier teams to the Sweet 16, in 2008 and '09.
The 'Cats are led by 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Derrick Williams who collects a team-leading 19.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg. Kyle Fogg scores 9.3 ppg and leads the team with 5.5 apg and Solomon Hill adds 8.8 ppg and is second on the team with 5.8 rpg.
Ohio, meeting the Broncos for the first time, are led by third-year head coach John Groce, who spent the previous four years at Ohio State. He has reached the postseason 15 times in his 17 years on the collegiate sidelines, helping guide teams to a Final Four, two Elite Eights, an NIT title and numerous conference titles. He guided Ohio to a first round 2010 NCAA Tournament victory over No. 3 Georgetown in 2010.
The Bobcats are led by 2010 MAC Freshman of the Year D.J. Cooper who is averaging 15.5 ppg, 9.3 apg and 5.5 rpg heading into Friday's game. Three others also average double digits: DeVa Washington (13.0 ppg), Tommy Freeman (11.8 ppg) and Reggie Keely (10.8 ppg). The Bobcats are led on the boards by Ivo Baltic (7.3 rpg) and Reggie Keely (6.5 rpg).
History
Santa Clara will be playing Arizona on Friday for the 10th time with Arizona leading 5-4. The two first played on Dec. 28, 1936, with the Broncos coming away with a 45-25 victory on Dec. 28, 1936; and the last match-up the Wildcats won 69-66 on Nov. 25, 2008. It is the second time in three years the two teams are meeting in a preseason tourney: the first time was in the Preseason NIT Tournament in Athens, Ga.
WCC Leaders
As of Nov. 24, Santa Clara is tied for the league-lead with 15.0 apg with Saint Mary's. They are second in three-pointers made with 7.6 per game and are tied for third in the league with a +0.0 turnover margin.
Kevin Foster is second in the league with 18.8 ppg, tied for the league lead with 4.0 three-pointers per game, is fourth with 31.0 mpg and fifth with 3.8 apg. Marc Trasolini is tied for fourth with 7.0 rpg, eighth in blocked shots with 1.2, ninth in FG percentage (.590). Evan Roquemore is eighth in free throw percentage (.818). Robert Smith is tied for ninth with 3.0 apg and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
Bronco Memory Lane
A game Bronco fans might remember: No. 15 seed Santa Clara defeated No. 2 seed Arizona 64-61 in the NCAA Tournament First Round on March 18, 1993. The Broncos, 19-11, champions of the WCC, fell behind by 13 points in the second half before mounting an improbable comeback. It was only the second time that a 15th-seeded team had won a game since the tournament field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The No. 5 Wildcats, 24-4, had run roughshod through the Pacific-10 Conference and had been among the favorites to make it to the Final Four.
Santa Clara survived four missed free throws in the final eight seconds. Steve Nash, then a freshman, missed two free throws with 7.3 seconds left, but teammate Kevin Dunne grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 5.1 seconds left. He also missed both free throws, and then Damon Stoudamire's 23-footer missed as time expired.
Santa Clara led by 33-21 with 4:41 left in the first half but did not score again in the half and trailed, 35-33, at the halftime. After scoring the last 14 points of the first half, the Wildcats scored the first 11 points of the second half to take a 46-33 lead with 15:26. Seconds later, Arizona's Chris Mills, the team's leading scorer, picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench.
Arizona's lead had been cut to three points, 52-49, when Mills came back in with 5:21 left. The Wildcats went more than 15 minutes without scoring a field goal until Mills hit a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left that drew Arizona to 64-61.
Side Notes
** Evan Roquemore tied the Bronco freshman record when he hit made 10 free throws vs. UNC on Nov. 23. He was a perfect 10 of 10. Then-Bronco freshman Jordan Legge made 10 free throws for the Broncos on Nov. 27, 2001 in Santa Clara's 65-61 win vs. San Jose State.
** SCU and UNC combined for 171 points, but zero blocks on Nov. 23. The last time that happened: in Gonzaga's 80-64 win over the Broncos in Spokane on Feb. 28, 2004.
** Santa Clara has won three close games this year by five points or less. Since 2007-08, Santa Clara has won 18 close games.
** In last time out the bench out-rebounded the starters. This time out, led by a pair of Broncos collecting 18 points each, the bench outscored the starters. The starters, paced by Kevin Foster's 19 points and tying a career-high with seven assists, scored 42 points. The bench, led by Cowels and Roquemore, scored 45.
** Robert Smith and Foster both collected six assists and the Broncos had 23 assists in Santa Clara's 75-61 win over Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 21. It was the most assists for the Broncos since they collected 24 assists in an 83-80 win vs. Belmont on Dec. 29, 2008. The most under Keating?: Santa Clara had 29 assists vs. Pepperdine in the Broncos' 101-86 victory on Jan. 21, 2008.
** The Bronco bench collected 16 rebounds vs. Bethune-Cookman while the starts pulled down 13. That's the first time that happened this year with three starters leading the charge in rebounds: Marc Trasolini had 7.5, Ben Dowdell 4.0 and Robert Smith 3.8.
If by Two
Kevin Foster has quite a ways to go to reach Kurt Rambis' school record 1,736 points scored (1976-80). But, if he does collect the record, he can thank Southern California's big men for two points scored. The Trojans were whistled for a technical foul in pre-game warm-ups when a player dunked while the officials were out on the floor (against NCAA rules). Foster then shot and made two free throws prior to the start of the game.
After breaking Steve Nash's single season record for three-pointers made as a freshman in 2008-09 with 85, it's no surprise Foster is already climbing up the three point career lists as well. Foster also owns the record for three-pointers attempted as well with 232 shot his freshman season.
Foster is No. 9 with 349 three-pointers attempted. He needs five attempts to pass No. 8 Brody Angley with 353 (2004-08). Foster has made 127 career threes and is No. 8 on the career list. He needs 10 three-pointers to move to No. 7 and pass Nathan Fast (136, 1996-00).
The career record for three pointers made is Steve Nash's 263 from 1992-96. The career record for three-pointers attempted is 679 by Kyle Bailey from 2001-05. Foster will have a leg up on the competition, career-wise, as his six games last season will count towards his career totals as well.
Blocks
With a block against Bethune-Cookman, Marc Trasolini moved to No. 4 on the career blocks list with 94, one past No. 5 Kurt Rambis (1976-80). No. 3 on the career blocks list is Jens Gordon (1985-89) with 133.
Trasolini is working to follow in the footsteps of career blocks leader John Bryant. It's conceivable he could go after Bryant's career record if Trasolini stays on an improving pace his junior and senior years. Bryant's career record is 246 over his four years.
The school record for blocks in a season was set by Bryant in 2009 when he collected 84 swats. Trasolini tied John Bryant's freshman record with 37 blocks in 2009 so has already topped his freshman total and he had one more block than Bryant as a sophomore (50 by Trasolini, 49 by Bryant).
Foster: 19 x 19+
Kevin Foster scored 19 in the opening game vs. CSUB, added 26 at Southern California, then 21 vs. Bethune-Cookman and dazzled the Broncos with 19 vs. Northern Colorado. Only playing in six games last year before breaking his foot, he scored 19+ points four times last season and 12 times in the last 18 games he has played, spanning his first three years. Foster scored 19+ points 11 times in 2008-09, including five of the last eight games of the season. He hit a career-high five three-pointers four times before hitting a new career-high six three-pointers vs. Bethune-Cookman.
Foster was nicknamed 'Microwave' by his father during his youth the Detroit Piston's Vinnie Johnson. Johnson earned the nickname 'the Microwave' from Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge for his ability to score many points in a short period of time, heating up the offense.
He has scored 15+ points in 24 of 39 career games - the 19+ games follow:
Opponent/Date/Points (3s made)
vs. Arizona/Nov. 25, 2008/21 (5)
vs. Belmont/Dec. 29, 2008/24 (3)
at Harvard/Jan. 2, 2009/20 (4)
at Saint Mary's/Jan. 9, 2009/31 (5)
at Portland/Jan. 17, 2009/20 (3)
vs. LMU/Jan. 29, 2009/20 (3)
vs. Saint Mary's/Feb. 7, 2009/26 (4)
at LMU/Feb. 14, 2009/26 (5)
at USF/Feb. 21, 2009/20 (2)
vs. Gonzaga/Feb. 26, 2009/20 (3)
vs. San Diego/March 7, 2009/21 (4)
at CSUB/Nov. 13, 2009/21 (3)
vs. Menlo/Nov. 19, 2009/19 (4)
at Pacific/Nov. 22, 2009/22 (5)
vs. Fresno State/Nov. 28, 2009/25 (5)
vs. CSU Bakersfield/Nov. 12, 2010/19 (4)
at Southern California/Nov. 15, 2010/26 (4)
vs. Bethune-Cookman/Nov. 21, 2010/21 (6)
vs. Northern Colorado/Nov. 23, 2010/19 (4)
How We Got Here
With Evan Roquemore and Raymond Cowels III scoring double-figures off the bench and Kevin Foster hitting 19 points, Santa Clara held off a late rally from Northern Colorado in the Leavey Center to win, 87-84, on Nov. 23. Roquemore hit 10 of 10 free throws to score a career-high 18 points and Foster has now scored 19+ points 19 games during his Bronco career. Roquemore's 10 free throws made tie a freshman record set by Jordan Leggee vs. San Jose State on Nov. 24, 1997.
Santa Clara was led by Foster's 19 points, including tying a career-high with seven assists, four threes and five for five from the free throw line. Roquemore had a career-high 18 points (10 of 10 from free throw line) and Cowels hit a season-best 18, including a season-high four three pointers (one off his career high). Ben Dowdell scored eight points with seven boards. A trio of Broncos scored seven each: Marc Trasolini, Robert Smith and Chris Cunningham.
Santa Clara out-scored Bethune-Cookman 20-8 during a six minute run in the middle of the second half and Kevin Foster hit a career-high six three-pointers to give the Broncos a 75-61 win over Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 21 in the first game of the IBN Sports Las Vegas Invitational.
Santa Clara put four players in double-figures. Foster scored 21 points with six three-pointers (career-high). Dowdell and Raymond Cowels III had five rebounds each. Robert Smith and Foster both had six assists, one of their career highs. Evan Roquemore and Marc Trasolini scored 13 points and Ben Dowdell collected 10.
Taking its first lead of the night on a three by Kevin Foster on a self-proclaimed 'off night offensively' with 20 seconds left, Santa Clara held on to win 66-65 vs. Rice on Nov. 18
Individually Santa Clara was led by Robert Smith, the only Bronco in double-figures, with 10. Foster finished with nine. Niyi Harrison scored nine points off the bench; and Evan Roquemore, Ben Dowdell and Marc Trasolini scored eight each, with Trasolini collecting seven rebounds and three blocks. His three blocks tied him on the all-time career list with 93 blocks, tying Kurt Rambis at No. 5.
Santa Clara lost at Southern California on Nov. 15, 86-73. The Broncos led 50-47 before the Trojans went on a 14-2 run to put the game away late in the second half. Santa Clara was led by Kevin Foster's 26 points, including four three-pointers. Marc Trasolini added 15 points and nine rebounds. Troy Payne put nine points in the basket and Robert Smith scored eight and tied a career-high with eight rebounds. Foster added two steals and Evan Roquemore had two steals and four points.
Trasolini's fifth career double-double paced the Broncos in their season opener as Santa Clara defeated Cal State Bakersfield 82-77 at the Leavey Center on Nov. 12. Foster added 19 points in 31 minutes for the Broncos in his first game since Dec. 1st, 2009. Bronco head coach Kerry Keating is now 4-0 in season openers as a head coach.
Trasolini finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Roquemore had 14 points and four assists in 27 minutes in his first career collegiate game. Ben Dowdell finished with 13 points and six rebounds.
In spite of the Roadrunners out-shooting the Broncos from the field, the three point arc and the free throw line, percentage-wise, Santa Clara scored 82 points to defeat CSUB 82-77 on Nov. 12. Bronco head coach Kerry Keating is 10-1 in his career when his team scores 80+ points.