Men's Basketball WCC Columnist Jeff Faraudo

USF Outlasts SCU In Double OT

LAS VEGAS — When the game finally ended at 1:25 a.m. PT, after two overtimes and countless heroics on both sides, USF guards Khalil Shabazz and Tyrell Roberts still had enough energy to joke around.

Why not? The Dons had just outlasted historic rival Santa Clara 93-87 in the quarterfinals of the University Credit Union West Coast Conference Tournament at the Orleans Center. 

“Tired? What’s that?” Roberts kidded after playing 48 minutes.

“We probably could have played a couple more overtimes,” chimed in Shabazz, who was on the floor for 49 of the 50 minutes.

The reaction was, predictably, more painful for the Broncos. While sixth-seeded USF (20-13) looks forward to a matchup vs. perennial WCC heavyweight Gonzaga (25-6) in Monday’s 8:30 p.m. tournament semifinal, Santa Clara (23-9) will wait and wonder about whether its season can be extended with a postseason invitation.

Both coaches celebrated a special game. First-year USF coach Chris Gerlufsen said it was one of the best he’s been involved in a quarter-century in the business. Santa Clara’s Herb Sendek, in his 29th season as a Division I head coach, called the game “incredible.”

It certainly was. Consider these highlights: 

— Shabazz scored 23 points in the final 13 1/2 minutes of regulation on his way to a career-high 38 points. The Dons trailed 68-60 with less than 3 1/2 minutes left in the second half when Shabazz turned a steal into a transition 3-pointer, then converted a drive and free throw, then another 3-pointer, then another still and finally, with 12.9 seconds left, sent the game into overtime by make two free throws. That final burst added up to 14 points in 200 seconds.

Shabazz, who scored eight more points in the two overtimes, also contributed seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. In three games this season against the Broncos, Shabazz totaled 92 points, and his career total of 1,781 points has elevated to No. 4 on USF’s all-time list.

— Roberts, his All-WCC backcourt mate, was scoreless until hitting a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the first half, then wound up with 16 points, including USF’s first four in the second overtime. He also took on the defensive assignment against Santa Clara star Brandin Podziemski, despite giving away six inches, and held him scoreless in the two overtimes.

— Podziemski was tremendous for most of the night, accumulating 22 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and four steals in nearly 49 minutes. He only missed his first collegiate triple-double because a couple of his passes for point-blank layups weren’t cashed in. “I could care less about points, rebounds and assists,” Podziesmki said. “I just wanted the W.”

In the second half alone, the sophomore transfer from Illinois scored or assisted on 30 of the Broncos’ 45 points. 

— Carlos Stewart, the other half of Santa Clara’s all-conference backcourt, beat himself up afterward for committing six turnovers. But he was on the floor for nearly 47 minutes, he matched Podziemski’s 22 points and made two 3-pointers early in the second overtime before USF methodically took charge.

“We love these guys,” Sendek said of Podziemski and Stewart. “It was a sacred time in our locker room we just shared.”

Gerlufsen feels the same way about his two guards. “I wish I could have these two guys with me for the rest of my career,” he said. “They’re just about the right stuff. They’re as good as they come in college basketball.”

Asked if the Dons would practice Sunday, Gerlufsen joked, “Probably four hours.” Actually, he said players will rest and hydrate, focusing more on mental preparation for the Zags, who have won the past 26 meetings in the series, dating back to 2012.

Sendek cited 14 3-pointers and 35 free-throw attempts by USF as telling, but acknowledged the game featured “countless what-ifs.”

He also said USF’s backcourt tandem was a handful. “They made some incredible shots,” Sendek said. “What you just watched between Shabazz and Roberts you don’t see every day.”

Sendek isn’t sure where this season goes for his team, whose 23 victories in the regular season were the most by the program since 1968-69. He’d love an NIT bid, but doesn’t know what to think. 

“This system of the NET (computer rankings) and these other metrics, even though I went to Carnegie-Mellon, I have no idea anymore. I’ve tried to figure it out. I certainly hope our season isn’t over. I’m going to be optimistic and hopeful.”