You can feel it the second you walk into the Leavey Center lately. There’s this buzz that wasn’t there a few years ago. Maybe it's because Herb Sendek has finally found the magic formula, or maybe it’s the fact that the santa clara basketball schedule is currently serving up some of the most high-stakes West Coast Conference (WCC) hoops we’ve seen in a decade.
Honestly, the Broncos are dangerous right now. As of mid-January 2026, they’re sitting at 15-5 overall with a 6-1 conference record. They aren’t just winning; they are protecting their home court like a fortress. They are currently 10-0 at home. That’s their longest streak in the Leavey Center since the 2019-20 season. If you’re planning to catch a game, you’re looking at a team that has turned the Mission Campus into a literal "no-win" zone for visitors.
The Gauntlet: Breaking Down the Santa Clara Basketball Schedule
The back half of the season is where things get messy. And by messy, I mean great for fans but stressful for the coaching staff.
The immediate big one is January 17th against Saint Mary’s. This isn't just another game. The Gaels are currently undefeated in the WCC (6-0), and Santa Clara is breathing right down their necks. If the Broncos want to prove they belong in the conversation with Gonzaga and Saint Mary's, this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. PT is the litmus test.
After that, the road gets a bit dusty. They head down to San Diego on January 24th. Then it’s back home for a massive rivalry game against San Francisco on January 28th. The Dons are always a headache. They play a gritty style that usually results in a low-scoring dogfight, which is the exact opposite of how the Broncos want to play.
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Key Matchups You Can't Miss
- January 17 vs. Saint Mary’s: The battle for the top of the standings.
- February 7 at Washington State: A tough road trip to Pullman against one of the WCC newcomers.
- February 14 vs. Gonzaga: Valentine's Day. The Zags. It’s going to be loud.
- February 25 at Saint Mary’s: The return leg in Moraga. Usually decides tournament seeding.
Who Is Actually Carrying This Team?
We have to talk about Sash Gavalyugov. The redshirt freshman from Bulgaria is playing like he’s been in the NCAA for five years. He recently dropped 37 points on LMU, which is basically unheard of for a freshman in this league. He was one point shy of the Leavey Center record held by Brandin Podziemski.
Then you’ve got Christian Hammond and Elijah Mahi. Hammond has seven 20-point games this season—the most by any Bronco since Adama-Bal. He’s the engine. When the game slows down in the second half, the ball is usually in his hands.
Mahi is more of the "Swiss Army Knife." He’s a Toronto product who just does the dirty work. He’s averaging double figures but also leads the team in those "winning plays"—the rebounds, the tipped passes, the stuff that doesn't always show up in a TikTok highlight but wins games in February.
The Strategy: How Herb Sendek Is Winning
Santa Clara is currently 12-0 when they score 80 or more points. That tells you everything you need to know about their identity. They want to run. They want to shoot the three—they've had 13 games this year where they hit at least ten triples.
But it’s not just "run and gun." Their NET ranking is hovering around 51. That’s solid. It’s third-best in the WCC. It means they are beating the teams they are supposed to beat (like that 102-64 blowout of Oregon State in late December) and staying competitive in the losses.
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The most interesting storyline this year? Thierry Darlan. He’s the first player to ever play in the G League Ignite and then transition to college ball. Seeing a former pro-track athlete adjust to the college game has been a fascinating sub-plot to the broader santa clara basketball schedule. He brings a level of athleticism that most WCC wings simply can’t match.
Looking Ahead to the WCC Tournament
Everything is building toward Las Vegas in March. The way the WCC is structured, the top two seeds get a massive advantage (the triple-bye). Right now, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are occupying those spots.
Santa Clara is the "spoiler" team. If they can keep this home win streak alive through the Gonzaga game on February 14th, they might just jump into a top-two seed. That would be a game-changer for their NCAA Tournament hopes.
The biggest challenge will be the final stretch. Playing at USF and at Saint Mary’s in the same week (late February) is a brutal way to end the season. It’s a lot of travel and a lot of hostile environments.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you're looking to attend a game or follow the stretch run, here is what you need to do. First, check the ticket prices. For the upcoming Saint Mary's game, seats are starting around $34 on the secondary market, but they'll go up. The San Francisco home game is cheaper, currently around $15.
Most of these games are streaming on ESPN+, but the big ones—like the Gonzaga matchup—often get flexed to national TV. Keep an eye on the official Santa Clara Athletics site for those last-minute time changes. If you’re going to the Leavey Center, show up early. The students have been packing the "Ruff Riders" section lately, and the atmosphere is genuinely one of the best in mid-major basketball right now.
Keep an eye on the injury report for Harry Wessels, too. Having a 7-foot-1 center available for the Gonzaga game is going to be the difference between a close loss and a historic upset.
Stay focused on the February 14th date. That is the one circled on every calendar in the South Bay. Whether the Broncos are contenders or pretenders will be decided in that 40-minute window.