By Jeff Faraudo
#WCChoops columnist | ARCHIVES
 
Josip Vrankic spent all day Friday getting himself mentally ready for Santa Clara’s second-round game against Pacific in the University Credit Union West Coast Conference Tournament.
 
He thought about the night before, when he got into early foul trouble, played just 10 minutes and contributed only four points to the Broncos’ win over Portland.
 
And he reflected back on Santa Clara’s 79-58 loss to Pacific in Stockton nearly two months ago, when he scored just two points.
 
“Last night and especially that Pacific game a couple months back were in the back of my mind throughout the whole day,” Vrankic acknowledged. 
 
That focus allowed him to generate a 24-point performance as the Broncos (12-7) took charge early and held off the Tigers for an 81-76 victory at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Santa Clara will play in Saturday’s 9 p.m. tournament quarterfinal game against third-seeded Pepperdine (11-11).
 
Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek, asked if he expected the bounce-back performance the senior forward delivered, quipped, “I sure hope so. He hardly played yesterday so at least he was fresh today.”
 
Vrankic, a first-team All-WCC selection, shot 10 for 13 from the floor and added five rebounds. The Broncos used their size edge to score 42 points in the paint and led 50-31 just moments into the second half.
 
The game was in stark contrast to the teams’ Jan. 14 matchup in Stockton, where the Tigers jumped all over the Broncos.
 
“Obviously when we played them last time they got off to a great start,” Sendek said. “Before we realized the game had started we were down 14-0. They just really put it to us in the first game.”
 
Santa Clara played at a comfortable tempo in this one, and got the shots it wanted. Willie Caruso, who pairs up front with Vrankic, scored 14 points while Jalen Williams and Keshawn Justice each had 11.
 
Pacific shot just 1 for 10 from the 3-point arc in the first half, but used the perimeter shot and sheer hustle to rally from a 77-60 deficit inside the final 6 minutes to get within five points.
 
THE SENDEK COMEDY HOUR: Asked what Vrankic has given him during his career, Sendek kept a straight face — as best we could tell behind his COVID mask — and had a little fun.
 
“Josip has given me a bald head,” Sendek said. “I don’t know if you guys remember what I looked like four years ago, but I had long, wavy, flowing hair. Over the course of coaching him for your years, look at me now.”
 
Sendek, who has been follicly challenged for years, paused for a moment, looked over at Vrakic and said, “They think I’m serious.”
 
“I think you’re serious, too,” Vrankic responded.
 
“No, obviously, he’s had a great career,” said Sendek, who went on to call Vrankic a gentleman, a leader and a hard worker. “I’ve been incredibly blessed and fortunate to share his company, his friendship.”
 
UNRECOGNIZABLE TIGERS: Pacific coach Damon Stoudamire wondered what happened to his team’s energy Friday night. "I didn’t know that team out there,” he said “We had our moments but collectively they played better than us. I thought they did a great job of getting the things they wanted. I thought they were the more physical team. We got out-coached and we got outplayed.”
 
“When we played them at home we had a lot of energy coming into that game,” said Daniss Jenkins, who led the Tigers with 16 points. "We had just got out of pause. Everybody’s juices were flowing and we were just excited to get back on the court. We didn’t come out with the same energy, the same intensity, the same focus. So the results were different.”
 
PRAISE FOR JALEN WILLIAMS: It had been nearly two months since these teams last met and Stoudamire noticed on tape that Broncos sophomore guard Jalen Williams seemed to have made progress in his game. Then he saw him in person again and that notion was confirmed.
 
“I think Jalen Williams has improved so much. I think he’s just as big a key for them as anybody. He’s a different player,” said Stoudamire, who played 13 seasons in the NBA. 
 
“It’s one thing to watch film. You say, `OK, he might have gotten a little better.’ No, he got really good. He helped them go to the next level. Jalen Williams is able to add somebody that can put it on the deck and make plays.”
 
The 6-foot-6 guard scored nine points in the first Pacific game but shot 1 for 7 from the field. He has averaged 15.0 points over the past four games.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: Pacific held the lead for a total of 10 seconds against Santa Clara on Friday night after scoring 17 seconds into their meeting back on Jan. 14, racing to a 14-0 advantage and maintaining the lead for 39 minutes, 43 seconds.
 
QUOTE OF THE GAME: “They’re a tremendous team. They’re just incredibly talented, not just Colbey Ross, who’s had a legendary career at Pepperdine, but throughout their roster.” — Herb Sendek on Pepperdine, the Broncos’ Saturday opponent