In a WCC tournament semifinal dripping with March Madness implications, No. 21 Saint Mary’s aims to reclaim its postseason dominance while Santa Clara fights to end a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought.
The West Coast Conference tournament semifinals in Las Vegas on Monday night present a classic clash of expectations: Saint Mary’s, the established power riding a wave of recent success, versus Santa Clara, the rising program on the brink of March Madness after three decades of absence.
Saint Mary’s (27-4, ranked No. 21) enters as the second seed, having won or shared the past four WCC regular-season championships Field Level Media. Yet tournament titles have been rarer, with only two (2019 and 2024) in the 12 events since the conference’s 2013 reorganization. Overall, the Gaels have captured the tournament five times since it began in 1987.
Contrast that with Santa Clara (25-7), the third seed that advanced with Sunday’s 76-68 win over Pacific. The Broncos haven’t danced in the NCAA Tournament since 1996, when Steve Nash was a senior superstar, and their last WCC tournament crown came in 1993, Nash’s freshman year. Coach Herb Sendek has built his best squad in 10 seasons, marking the program’s fifth straight 20-win campaign Field Level Media.
But the Broncos refuse to look past the immediate challenge. “Just one game at a time,” forward Elijah Mahi said after Sunday’s victory. “Everyone feels good because we work hard to get there. It’s one game at a time.”
Gaels coach Randy Bennett made it clear Santa Clara belongs in the NCAA field, stating on the WCC Insider show: “They’re good. They’re talented. They’re big. I think three teams in our league definitely have a good resume, and they’re one of them. They’re right there.” Bennett specifically noted Santa Clara’s defensive intensity: “Their defense is picking up full court, and they try to wear you out… This is the best team Herb’s had.” Field Level Media
The teams split their regular-season series. Santa Clara won 62-54 at home on Jan. 17, but Saint Mary’s responded with an 86-67 rout on Feb. 25. In that second meeting, the Gaels dominated the glass by a staggering 51-21 margin, a stat that has stuck with Sendek. “Year over year, Saint Mary’s is one of the most elite rebounding teams in the country,” Sendek acknowledged. “From our standpoint, that can’t happen again… Things are never as good or as bad as they seem.” Field Level Media
Saint Mary’s enters Monday with an eight-game winning streak capped by a 70-59 victory over then-No. 9 Gonzaga in the regular-season finale—a performance Bennett called part of a “storybook deal” in front of raucous home crowds. Guard Mikey Lewis has been spectacular, pouring in 31 points and burying seven 3-pointers in the Gonzaga win after scoring 21 against Santa Clara last month.
For Santa Clara, forward Allen Graves erupted for 19 points in the quarterfinal win over Pacific and is eager for redemption. “We didn’t handle business last time,” Graves said, “but this time we will be ready. We’re doing the proper stuff we need with rest, recover and film, and we’ll be ready for (Monday).” Field Level Media
The winner advances to Saturday’s WCC championship game, where they’ll likely face top-seeded Gonzaga, which meets fourth-seeded Oregon State in Monday’s other semifinal.
For Santa Clara, the stakes extend far beyond a conference title. An NCAA Tournament at-large bid is within reach—but likely requires a strong showing here. A loss to Saint Mary’s could send the Broncos to the NIT, prolonging the program’s March Madness drought another year.
Saint Mary’s, already a comfortable NCAA selection, can solidify its status as a genuine Final Four contender by capturing the WCC crown and building momentum from wins over Gonzaga and Santa Clara.
Fanbases on both sides are invested. Saint Mary’s supporters expect postseason glory after years of regular-season dominance. Santa Clara alumni and fans, still haunted by the Nash era’s fleeting brilliance, dare to imagine a return to the sport’s biggest stage.
This semifinal is more than a game; it’s a referendum on two programs’ trajectories—one seeking to validate its consistency, the other desperate to rediscover past glory.
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