Santa Clara Game Preview: Bronco’s Start Regular Season Against Bethesda
By Josh Horton
Dec 29, 2012; Durham, NC, USA; Santa Clara Broncos guard Evan Roquemore (0) drives around Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry (30) during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Game Time: 7:00 PM PST
Radio: Check out SantaClaraBroncos.com
Projected Starting Lineups – SCU – Roquemore, Clark, Brownridge, McArthur, Atanga – BUC – Unknown
Santa Clara will kick off its season with a cupcake in Bethesda University of California. However, this should not diminish the excitement of opening night. Here is a closer look at Bethesda and what Santa Clara should do to get the most out of this game.
Closer Look at Bethesda
Mascot: Flames
Conference: NCCAA
Head Coach: Unknown
Record Last Season: Unknown
Returning Leading Scorer: Unknown
Returning Leading Rebounder: Unknown
Returning Leading Assister: Unknown
The Flames don’t play in the NCAA, or even in the NAIA. They play in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). This obscure team located in Southern California will not give the Bronco’s much of a challenge.
Keys to the Game
Jared Brownridge: the Next Kevin Foster?
Kevin Foster was an elite scorer in the WCC, who quite frankly took a lot of shots. Whenever the Bronco’s needed someone to generate some offense, Foster was their guy. There has been a lot of hype around freshman guard Jared Brownridge for possessing some Foster like qualities, and he showed that in Santa Clara’s exhibition game against San Diego Christian by taking 12 shots, which included 9 three pointers. The downside to that: he only made 2.
My point? He needs to be efficient in order not to be a cancer to this team. If he is constantly missing and hucking up shots early in the shot clock, that will be detrimental to the Broncos. His play in this game will be an indicator which he will portray more: the good-side of Foster or the bad-side.
The Roquemore Effect
Foster, Trasolini, and Cowels III are all gone. This means that senior point guard Evan Roquemore will take the reigns as the offensive, defensive, and emotional leader for the Bronco’s. He did not play in Santa Clara’s exhibition game, so this will (hopefully) be Roquemore’s first action of the season.