1951–52 Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year = 1951–52
|team = Santa Clara Broncos
|sport = Basketball
|image =
|image_size =
|conference = Independent
|division =
|short_conf =
|CoachRank =
|APRank =
|record = 17–12
|conf_record =
|head_coach = Bob Feerick
|hc_year = 2nd
|asst_coach1 =
|asst_coach2 =
|asst_coach3 =
|stadium = San Jose Civic Auditorium
|champion =
|tourney = NCAA tournament
|tourney_result = Fourth Place
}}
The 1951–52 Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team represented Santa Clara University as an Independent during the 1951–52 NCAA men's basketball season. They finished the season with a 17–12 record and made the NCAA tournament Final Four for the first time school history. They were led by second-year head coach Bob Feerick.
Coming into the 1951–52 season off of a 9–15 record the year before, the Broncos remained under the radar. Even during the 1952 Final Four season they were inconsistent: through the first 14 games the Broncos went 7–7, including a three-game losing streak.{{cite web | url =https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/z/1/xla5jb1xkcf0z4/history_and_records.pdf | title =Santa Clara Men's Basketball Media Guide: 2018–19 History and Records | date =2018 | website =SantaClaraBroncos.com | publisher =Presto Sports | access-date =December 17, 2020}} They found their rhythm on February 1 against San Francisco State. The Broncos' 67–51 victory began a streak in which Santa Clara won eight of their final 11 games, capped by an improbable deep NCAA Tournament run. In the NCAA West Regional they won their opening match against UCLA, 68–59. The next day, the Broncos topped {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Wyoming Cowboys|title=Wyoming}}, 56–53, to advance to the national semifinals.{{cite book|title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|publisher=Random House|pages=652–653|year=2009|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/1952-polls.html |title=1951-52 College Basketball Polls | publisher=Sports Reference | access-date=December 17, 2020 }}
Santa Clara would go on to lose to Kansas in the Final Four by a score of 55–74. They then lost again in the third-place game, falling 64–67 to Illinois, ending the NCAA tournament in fourth place – Santa Clara's best ever finish.
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start
| rank =
| gamehighs =
| attend =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Santa Clara Broncos}}| Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1, 1951
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Sacramento State Hornets|title=Sacramento State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Santa Clara High School
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 62–50
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 4
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Fresno State Bulldogs|title=Fresno State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Seifert Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 63–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 7
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=California Golden Bears|title=California}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Berkeley, California
| gamename =
| score = 51–69
| attend =
| record = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 14
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = San Francisco YMI
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Santa Clara High School
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 76–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 21
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=BYU Cougars|title=BYU}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Smith Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Provo, Utah
| gamename =
| score = 59–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 22
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = BYU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Smith Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Provo, Utah
| gamename =
| score = 61–66
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 27
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Denver Pioneers|title=Denver}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Denver, Colorado
| gamename =
| score = 59–65
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Utah State Aggies|title=Utah State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = George Nelson Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Logan, Utah
| gamename =
| score = 63–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 2, 1952
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Saint Mary's Gaels|title=Saint Mary's}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Richmond Auditorium
| site_cityst = Richmond, California
| gamename =
| score = 53–54
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 4
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Fresno State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = College Gym
| site_cityst = Fresno, California
| gamename =
| score = 69–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 5
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Pacific Tigers|title=Pacific}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pacific Pavilion
| site_cityst = Stockton, California
| gamename =
| score = 75–51
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–5
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 11
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Loyola Marymount Lions|title=Loyola Marymount}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Archbishop Riordan High School
| site_cityst = San Francisco, California
| gamename =
| score = 54–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 15
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Saint Mary's
| opprank =
| site_stadium = San Jose Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 65–51
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 26
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=San Francisco Dons|title=San Francisco}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Winterland
| site_cityst = San Francisco, California
| gamename =
| score = 38–44
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–7
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 1
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=San Francisco State Gators|title=San Francisco State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cow Palace
| site_cityst = Daly City, California
| gamename =
| score = 67–51
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–7
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 2
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = UCLA
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cow Palace
| site_cityst = Daly City, California
| gamename =
| score = 66–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–7
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 8
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=USC Trojans|title=USC}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cow Palace
| site_cityst = Daly City, California
| gamename =
| score = 57–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 9
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Stanford Cardinal|title=Stanford}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = San Jose Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 64–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Pacific
| opprank =
| site_stadium = San Jose Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 61–49
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 18
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = San Francisco
| opprank =
| site_stadium = San Jose Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Santa Clara, California
| gamename =
| score = 59–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 21
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=San Jose State Spartans|title=San Jose State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cow Palace
| site_cityst = Daly City, California
| gamename =
| score = 66–55
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 22
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = San Francisco
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cow Palace
| site_cityst = Daly City, California
| gamename =
| score = 51–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 27
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Hawaii Rainbow Warriors|title=Hawaii}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Honolulu, Hawaii
| gamename =
| score = 71–52
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 29
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Universal Motors
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Honolulu, Hawaii
| gamename =
| score = 72–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 1
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Hickam Field
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Honolulu, Hawaii
| gamename =
| score = 56–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–10
| conference =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Santa Clara Broncos}}| NCAA Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 21
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = UCLA
| opprank = 19
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Oregon State Coliseum
| site_cityst = Corvallis, Oregon
| gamename = West Regional first round
| score = 68–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 22
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = w
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1951|sex=men|team=Wyoming Cowboys|title=Wyoming}}
| opprank = 16
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Oregon State Coliseum
| site_cityst = Corvallis, Oregon
| gamename = West regional final
| score = 56–53
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 25
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = Kansas
| opprank = 8
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Bank of America Arena
| site_cityst = Seattle, Washington
| gamename = National semifinal – Final Four
| score = 55–74
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–11
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 26
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| status = l
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank = 2
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Bank of America Arena
| site_cityst = Seattle, Washington
| gamename = Third-place game
| score = 64–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–12
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll = AP Poll
| timezone = Pacific Time
| region = W
| regionname = West
| notes =
References
{{reflist}}
{{Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1951-52 Santa Clara Broncos Men's Basketball Team}}
Category:Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball seasons
Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons