Bracketology 2024: Is BYU, Clemson, Butler, and Colorado State better than expected?

Santa Clara Broncos 7-2

Herb Sendek’s Santa Clara Broncos are sitting at 7-2 after a successful first month of the year. The Broncos who were picked to finish 5th in the WCC had wins over Stanford and Oregon in November but are likely disappointed with their effort last time out against Cal, a 15-point loss.
Even though Santa Clara has put up 79 points per game, they have just Carlos Marshall, Jr. and Arizona transfer Adama Bal averaging double figures.

The Broncos do their dirty work on the defensive end of the floor. So far this season they’ve given up just 69.7 points per game. When they struggle on the defensive end it gets them in trouble. Three times they’ve surrendered over 80, their win over Oregon and losses to Ohio State and Cal.

As good as the wins over Oregon and Stanford might be, they are still only quad 2 and 3 wins respectively and the loss to Cal is a blemish in quad 4 where three of the team’s six Division I wins currently land. Numbers-wise wise the schedule so far hasn’t been strong, but the remaining non-conference slate has a chance to improve that. They have neutral-site games with New Mexico, Washington State, and Duquesne, as well as home tilts with Utah State and Yale. So far the record looks good but the remaining schedule may be the real litmus test for the Broncos.