By Robert Haugh

Santa Clara University basketball gave this city a lot to cheer about this year.

The Broncos made the NCAA men’s tournament for the first time since 1996. 

That alone was a breakthrough. Santa Clara finished 26-8, went 15-3 in West Coast Conference play, posted the best league record in program history, and reached the WCC title game for the first time since 2007.

Then came March Madness.

Santa Clara nearly pulled off a first-round upset over Kentucky in one of the wildest games of the tournament. The Broncos took a 73-70 lead with 2.4 seconds left on an Allen Graves 3-pointer, only to see Kentucky’s Otega Oweh bank in a desperation shot from just inside half court at the buzzer to force overtime. 

Kentucky escaped 89-84, but Santa Clara did not look out of place on that stage. The Broncos pushed a national brand to the edge and reminded everyone the program is relevant again.

A generation of Santa Clara fans had heard about the Steve Nash years. This team gave them something of their own.

The women had a big year, too.

In Loree Payne’s first season, Santa Clara went 24-9 and set a school record for wins by a first-year head coach. 

The Broncos did not make the NCAA tournament, but they earned a spot in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament and got another postseason game.

Santa Clara nearly made that run last longer.

The Broncos rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit against Cal, took a 55-49 lead into the fourth quarter, and pushed the advantage to eight before the Bears came back for a 72-68 win. 

It was a tough ending. But it did not erase what the season meant.

The women’s program took a clear step forward. The men broke through a 30-year March Madness drought. 

Both teams played meaningful basketball in March. It was still a great year for Santa Clara University basketball.