WCC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season
By Tuck Clarry
4. Santa Clara Broncos
At some point, we need to stop doubting Herb Sendek. With back-to-back winning seasons and back-to-back NBA drafts with a player taken in the lottery, Sendek is doing some of the best coaching of his 26 years in the big chair. And while there was massive turnover from a season ago, the Broncos will have a rotation chock-full of upperclassmen.
There is a question of who on the roster could be the next prospect that oozes professional skills and talent. It’s hard not to be enticed by transfer wing Adama Bal, who had big expectations during his time at Arizona but never was able to really carve out a role. The Frenchman came to the US early and incredibly raw skill-wise, ultimately getting lost on a team looking to win and compete at a high level.
Bal has the shooting that makes him an enticing prospect as well as nice athleticism and length, but he has yet to show that he can put it together against elite competition. That is until the U20 FIBA tournament, where Bal had a coming out party. He averaged 11.7 points, 37% three-point shooting, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while playing just 21 minutes per game. If he’s able to build off of that performance and develop the rest of his game, it’s hard not to be excited about his first year at Santa Clara.
Paired with Bal in the portal is undersized point guard Jalen Benjamin, who is an elite shot-hunter for his size. A 36% three-point shooter with solid playmaking, it’s easy to see his game translating well under Sendek.
Carlos Marshall is a fascinating piece for the Broncos as well. The 6-foot-6 wing was lost for most of last season due to injury but provides solid shotmaking and size for his position. If Marshall is able to return to form and even become the hub of Sendek’s offense, the Broncos will be competing in the top third of the league again.
Where questions come in is in the mammoth loss of interior defense provided by Jaden Bediako and Parker Braun, as well as the utility of three-and-defense wing Keshawn Justice. Sendek brought size back in the portal, but the absence of continuity from Bediako and Justice could be something that causes hiccups for the Broncos throughout the season.