End in sight: Santa Clara looking good for first NCAA Tournament invite in 30 years
By Jeff Faraudo
Published on March 11, 2026.
Santa Clara is expected to receive its first NCAA Tournament invite in 30 years after a 76-71 victory over Saint Mary's in the West Coast Conference tournament. Despite not securing an automatic invite, experts believe Santa Clara will be selected as an at-large team for the NCAA tournament. The Athletic rates the Broncos as the best bracket breaker in the tournament. Meanwhile, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has projected Santa Clara as a No. 10 seed, while Saint Mary’s is projected as a potential No. 7 seed. Meanwhile in the other tournament, Gonzaga's team won 79-68 over top-seeded Gonzaga. Despite these victories, Santa Clara's defense and offensive rebounding were lacking.
Related Articles
Big 12 players not thrilled with ‘slippery’ glass LED court for conference tournament
The Big 12 Tournament’s new LED court, touted as showcasing future advancements in basketball, faces criticism for being slippery and lacking in traction.
Iowa State runs roughshod over Arizona State in Big 12 tourney
Iowa State routed Arizona State 91-42 in the Big 12 tournament, with Milan Momcilovic scoring 21 points and Joshua Jefferson adding 20,000 points.
Two fighters removed from UFC roster after Mexico City losses
Two more fighters were removed from the UFC roster after losses by Erik Silva and Kris Moutinho in Mexico City, leaving both at 0.3% in the competition.