Tag: Santa Clara

The Fayetteville regional won’t be easy and DVH knows it

Dave Van Horn knows it will be a dogfight to win the Fayetteville Regional.

Fans in Fayetteville are excited about Baum-Walker Stadium being one of the NCAA Regional host locations. Still, manager Dave Van Horn already knows it won’t be easy. 

Van Horn spoke of the journey his team took to be one of the top eight teams despite the struggles they went through midway through the season, including injuries and one-inning collapses.

But the legendary manager quickly dismissed the season’s misfortunes and acknowledged the field. The Hogs start with the lowest seed of the group, Santa Clara, and while they might not be from a power five conference, Van Horn still respects them as champions.

“They won something,” he said after the selection. “They’re a championship team. So all I know is probably just a little bit more than most people know about them, what popped up on the board. We’ll look into them right now.”

The other side of the field includes one of the Diamond Hogs’ opponents from earlier in the season, another conference champion, TCU. The Horned Frogs blew out the Hogs at the College Baseball Classic, and they haven’t slowed down since then.

“What a really talented team,” Van Horn said about TCU. “Older team Veteran team. Good mix of speed and defense. Power. Just following scores, and I follow most of the teams in our region. We felt like we’d get somebody from the area. Wasn’t sure it would be TCU.”

The Hogs will have to wait to see if they will get a rematch, all pending on if TCU can defeat Arizona, the wild card of the bunch.

Both games are Friday, with the Hogs taking on Santa Clara first at 2 p.m.

Jaylin Williams has friendly bet with OKC Thunder teammate Jalen Williams

Jaylin Williams and Jalen Williams have a friendly wager on the Fayetteville Regional opener on Friday, with Santa Clara taking on the Razorbacks.

If you look up Ja. Williams and Ja. Williams in an Oklahoma City Thunder box score, good luck distinguishing between the two.

Jaylin Williams is of course the former Arkansas Razorback by way of Fort Smith, who was a second round pick of the Thunder in 2022.

Their first round pick that year was Jalen Williams, who starred for Santa Clara for three years before being taken 12th overall by OKC.

The pair had a friendly wager that they made public on Twitter since the Diamond Hogs host Santa Clara in the Fayetteville Regional opener on Friday at 2 p.m.

If Arkansas wins the game, Jalen Williams will be in Hog regalia in Bud Walton next year.

Likewise, if Santa Clara wins, Jaylin Williams will be in Broncos gear in Santa Clara.

Brandin Podziemski confirmed he met with the Thunder in pre-draft visit

Brandin Podziemski met with the Thunder, per @BasketballGuruD

The 2023 NBA draft lottery is officially over, as it confirmed the Oklahoma City Thunder will pick No. 12 in the first round of the draft.

It’s also draft combine week, which means all of the top prospects are gathered in Chicago, Ill. This means that most players will likely be asked who they’ve worked out and met with so far.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had their fair share of meetings with players. One of those is Santa Clara guard Brandin Podziemski, who’s made some buzz with his combine performance — much like his college teammate Jalen Williams did last year.

Podziemski confirmed to BSO’s Daniel Bell that he met with the Thunder in a pre-draft visit.

The 20-year-old averaged 19.9 points on 48.3% shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 32 games last season with Santa Clara. He also shot 43.8% from 3 on 5.8 attempts. He spent two seasons in college — with his first being at Illinois in the 2021-22 season before transferring to Santa Clara.

Podziemski is currently projected to go in the first round, with him likely threatening to be selected in the lottery. He’s a prime candidate for OKC’s No. 12 pick,

The 2023 NBA draft is scheduled to happen on Thursday, June 22. A full list of prospects who’ve met with the Thunder can be read here.

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The Santa Clara men’s cross country team photos are so bizarre, and we can’t stop looking

These headshots are incredible.

Normally, the headshots on a team website are nothing more than another identifier for the athletes on that team. Something to go along with the typical height, weight, hometown info to put a face with the name.

What it isn’t normally is a way for a team show its personality. At least not before the Santa Clara University men’s cross country and track and field team had a say. The team uploaded its 2022-23 roster to the athletics website presumably sometime before the start of the season in early September, and the headshots accompanying each athlete are incredible.

Just look at these.

Between the unsure and teethy smiles of the Dupree brothers (I assume they’re brothers) to the half mustache of EJ Odocayen Cruz to the mutton on Spencer Fischer and all the confused smiles and mustaches in between, there’s something new to find every time you scroll through the roster.

Even funnier, I’m not sure the bit is new. It’s just growing. A look back at last year’s roster shows a few personalities shining through, though it’s clearly taken on a life of its own this season.

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Watch: Trey Wertz beats buzzer to win ACC Tourney opener for Notre Dame

When Trey Wertz transferred to Notre Dame from Santa Clara, even the most ardent Irish supporters probably didn’t know what to think of him.

When Trey Wertz transferred to Notre Dame from Santa Clara, even the most ardent Irish supporters probably didn’t know what to think of him. Would he make a major impact right away, or would he need time to adjust to a new system? The answer appears to be the latter as his numbers have declined almost across the board. But if nothing else, he’ll be remembered this season for hitting the buzzer beater that beat Wake Forest, 80-77, in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday:

Wertz had a great game, scoring 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 4 of 5 from behind the 3-point line. The Irish (11-14, 7-11) also had a nice performance from Juwan Durham, who recorded his first double-double of the season (16 points, 10 rebounds). Prentiss Hubb and Cormac Ryan both scored 14.

Notre Dame losing to the lowly Demon Deacons (6-16, 3-15) would have raised serious questions about the program’s future. Most notably, the calls for Mike Brey’s ouster would continue to grow, and there would be doubts about the Irish’s ability to recruit. While those concerns might persist when the season ends, a 17-2 run to finish this win at least kicked the can down the road, if only for 24 hours. Best of all, Jack Nolan now has the chance to say his career ended when the Irish lost to a better program like North Carolina, their second-round opponent:

NFLPA research shows number of Covid-19 cases in 49ers’ market going wrong direction

The 49ers won’t be able to go into their team facility any time soon if Covid-19 numbers continue trending up in Santa Clara.

The 49ers may encounter a problem as the NFL continues on course to begin training camps on July 28. While Covid-19 cases in Santa Clara are among the lowest 14-day averages in NFL markets, they’re trending in the wrong direction according research distributed by the NFL Player’s Association.

The NFLPA’s website has an interactive map that tracks each NFL market’s 14-day average daily cases, 14-day average daily cases per 100,000 people, and cumulative cases per 100,000 people.

The 49ers reside in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara portion of the map, which has the fifth-lowest 14-day average daily cases across NFL markets with 181 cases. New England, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Green Bay are the four teams with better two-week averages.

While that sounds like good news, a further breakdown provided by the NFLPA helps explain why the 49ers’ facility is still closed, along with a slew of other non-essential business both in Santa Clara and across the state.

On May 21, the 14-day average per 100,000 people was down to 0.8 —  the lowest mark the Santa Clara area had seen since the data begins on March 23. The latest numbers available are on July 13, where that average has skyrocketed to 9.1 cases per 100,000 — more than double the previous high of 3.7 on March 30. That 9.1 figure is the 12th-lowest among NFL markets. Miami has the highest per-100,000 average at 67.5.

So what exactly does this mean for the 49ers?

While their numbers are low relative to a team like the Dolphins, local protocols come into consideration when determining whether the 49ers will be allowed to begin camp on July 28. The league has a set of guidelines, but any local rules supersede those.

Given that San Francisco’s facility never opened when the numbers were at their lowest point, it’s hard to believe the building will be open for the mass entry of players, coaches and other personnel needed to start training camp.

While the NFL and NFL Player’s Association hammer out rules for safely and fairly operating a football league amidst a global pandemic, the 49ers continue to be in the dark on whether they’ll be able to begin camp with the rest of the league. There’s been silence on whether the club will be granted permission by the state to use their building and facilities for camp, or if they’ll be moved to a different location until they can return home, or if the league will pump the brakes on firing up until all their markets are open and able to participate with the rest of the teams.

The NFL is ready to move forward unimpeded by Covid-19, but the numbers presented by the NFLPA make it tough to see California and its three teams getting on the same timeline.

Mike Brey Chats About COVID-19 Recruiting During “The Fight”

If you follow Notre Dame basketball, one of the highlights of “The Fight” undoubtedly was Alex Wilcox’s conversation with Mike Brey.

If you follow Notre Dame basketball, one of the highlights of “The Fight” undoubtedly was Alex Wilcox’s conversation with Mike Brey. Since the event revolved around the battle against COVID-19 and there’s really not much else to discuss these days, it only made sense to talk about the basketball program’s issues related to that.

Brey talked briefly about “The Fight” itself and reminisced about his team’s experience when the college basketball season was halted. Most notable in the conversation was how Brey’s recruiting efforts have changed during this pandemic. Like with everyone else, a lot of it has been accomplished through Zoom. While it’s not the same as going on the road or having recruits come to campus, it did help them land Santa Clara transfer Trey Wertz.

Like every coach, Brey has to use any method necessary during this time to go after talent either still in high school or looking for a different collegiate opportunity. No one knows how long this will go on or what effect this will have on the future, both short- and long-term. All we know is one thing that will never change: If you don’t stay aggressive, you’ll lose out on a player you really want. The football program already has suffered recruiting setbacks in part because of the virus, and it’s what the basketball program doesn’t need.

Notre Dame/Mike Brey Welcome Newest Two New Players

Tony Sanders, Jr. announced his commitment to Notre Dame 12 days ago and joins fellow incoming freshmen Elijah Taylor and Matt Zona while over the weekend Santa Clara transfer Trey Wertz committed to the Fighting Irish.  Of the latest additions, Mike Brey said the following during Tuesday’s media availability.

Notre Dame officially announced the additions to a pair of basketball players Tuesday, a couple of players that came into the fold in the last couple of weeks.

Tony Sanders, Jr. announced his commitment to Notre Dame 12 days ago and joins fellow incoming freshmen Elijah Taylor and Matt Zona while over the weekend Santa Clara transfer Trey Wertz committed to the Fighting Irish.  Of the latest additions, Mike Brey said the following during Tuesday’s media availability.

“As we officially add Tony and Trey today, it is a great shot in the arm for our program,”

On Sanders, Jr.:

“Tony is compared to Ty Nash and that is quite a compliment. He is a 6-7 guy who just knows how to play and is good with the ball. I think he is going to be a great four-year investment for us. He has a feel for the game and athletic ability. He has been well-trained as a high school player.”

On Wertz:
“I am very excited about Trey. He is one of those guards in a long, long line of great guards we have had. I don’t know if he is a ‘one,’ or a ‘two,’ or a ‘two-and-a-half,’ or a ‘three,’ or whatever – he is a basketball player. He is a feel-for-the-game guy with a great skill set.  

“Trey is 6-5 but he has a 6-11 wingspan. He is 180 (lbs) but by the time he takes the floor for us he will be 195 or 200. I knew we were in good shape when he texted us during the process and said ‘Coach, I have been on Synergy, do you see me playing like Jerian Grant in your system?’ I said, bingo! Yes. He is a great fit for us.”

Between 2007 and 2017 Notre Dame appeared in the NCAA Tournament eight of 11 seasons before missing the tournament (would have missed 2020 with anything short of an ACC Tournament Championship) each of the last three seasons. Here’s to hoping Sanders and Wertz are in fact that shot in the arm that ends that slump sooner than later.

What Notre Dame is Getting in Newest Commitment, Wertz

As a sophomore last season at Santa Clara, Wertz averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.  In his freshman year Wertz earned All-Freshman Team conference honors in the West Coast Conference.

Notre Dame basketball has it’s latest commitment as transfer guard from Santa Clara Trey Wertz chose Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish basketball program on Saturday afternoon.

Wertz chose Notre Dame over finalists Arizona, Butler and North Carolina with Carolina being the only campus he had ever stepped foot on, making a visit his sophomore year of high school.

What is Notre Dame Getting in Trey Wertz?

Wertz was a two-time all-state selection in high school at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina.  At the time of his recruitment he was a as a three-star talent and chose Santa Clara over the likes of Georgetown, Stanford, Virginia Tech and others.

As a sophomore last season at Santa Clara, Wertz averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.  Wertz earned All-Freshman Team conference honors in the West Coast Conference two seasons ago.

Quick Scouting Report:

This from Jeff Goodman of Stadium, who ranks Wertz as the eighth best player in the transfer portal this off-season.

Trey Wertz, 6-5, 185, G, Soph., Santa Clara
2019-20 Stats: 11.9 ppg
Scout’s take: “Big, smooth guard who gets to his spots well. Great pace and when you let him do that, he’s as good as anybody. When you get up in him and speed him up, he’s a different player.”
Schools: North Carolina, Arizona, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Virginia, Butler

Notre Dame Makes Final Four for Wertz, Decision Saturday

Wertz, who averaged 11.9 points, 3.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Santa Clara last year has cut his list of potential schools down to four and Notre Dame is one of the remaining choices.

Notre Dame has only made one Final Four in men’s basketball history but it did make the final four of schools for transfer guard Trey Wertz.

Wertz, who averaged 11.9 points, 3.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Santa Clara last year has cut his list of potential schools down to four and Notre Dame is one of the remaining choices.

Arizona, Butler and North Carolina also remain on his list.  Carolina is the only of those four schools he has previously visited, doing so back in his sophomore year of high school.

Wertz is set to announce his decision at 3:00 p.m. ET Saturday.  We’ll have the news for you once it goes down either good or bad.