Santa Clara Basketball Stuns Gonzaga In WCC Tournament Upset
Santa Clara Basketball Stuns Gonzaga In WCC Tournament Upset...
Santa Clara University's men's basketball team pulled off a shocking 78-75 upset over No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Tournament semifinals late Tuesday night. The Broncos' victory, secured with a last-second three-pointer by sophomore guard Carlos Marshall Jr., ended Gonzaga's streak of nine consecutive WCC Tournament titles.
The win sends Santa Clara to its first WCC championship game since 2011 and keeps their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Gonzaga, ranked 12th nationally, now faces potential uncertainty about their seeding for March Madness after the unexpected loss in Las Vegas.
The game trended nationally Wednesday morning as basketball fans reacted to one of the biggest upsets of conference tournament season. Social media erupted with highlights of Marshall's game-winner and Gonzaga coach Mark Few's stunned reaction on the sidelines.
Santa Clara (22-10) will face Saint Mary's in Tuesday night's championship game at Orleans Arena. The Gaels defeated the Broncos twice during the regular season by double digits. A win would give Santa Clara its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996.
Gonzaga (26-6) had won 24 straight WCC Tournament games dating back to 2013. The Bulldogs had beaten Santa Clara by 30 points in their last meeting just three weeks ago. Analysts called it one of the program's most surprising losses in recent memory.
The Broncos' victory highlights the growing parity in West Coast basketball. Under third-year coach Herb Sendek, Santa Clara has steadily improved, with this win marking their first over Gonzaga since 2011. Sendek told reporters after the game, "Our guys showed tremendous belief when nobody else did."
NCAA Tournament selection committee members will now closely watch Tuesday's championship game. While Saint Mary's is considered a lock for the tournament, Santa Clara likely needs the automatic bid to secure a spot. The WCC hasn't sent three teams to the tournament since 2012.
Tuesday's upset continues a chaotic conference tournament season that has seen several top seeds fall early. For Gonzaga, the loss means they'll enter Selection Sunday with more questions than usual about their Final Four potential. The Bulldogs had been projected as a 3-seed in most recent bracketology updates.
Santa Clara students celebrated the win overnight on campus, with impromptu gatherings at the Mission Santa Clara de AsÃs. The university announced plans for a watch party for Tuesday's championship game at the Leavey Center, where the team plays its home games.
