SANTA CLARA – Steve Nash says his advice is simple, probably even cliché, but it sure hits home as Santa Clara returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since his 1996 senior season.
“Enjoy it and go for it. Go there to win,” Nash said Tuesday in an exclusive phone interview while driving in his current hometown of Phoenix.
“Don’t hold back. Go there to win. Go out there and try to take it,” Nash continued. “Don’t be nervous, don’t be doubtful, don’t be waiting. Go out there and try to take it, and enjoy it at the same time. You can live with the results.”
The Broncos would love to repeat their last NCAA Tournament opener: a 91-79 upset as a No. 10 seed over No. 7 Maryland, with Nash producing 28 points and 12 assists in Tempe, Ariz.
Friday night, Santa Clara debuts as a No. 10 seed against No. 7 Kentucky in St. Louis.
The 9:15 a.m. PT tipoff will keep Nash from making it due to a previous commitment in California on Thursday night. “When you haven’t been in 30 years, you don’t plan around March,” Nash quipped. “I didn’t even think about it, unfortunately.”
Steve Nash and Santa Clara experienced national fame during the NCAA tournament.
Steve Nash and Santa Clara experienced national fame during the NCAA tournament.
The National Basketball Hall of Fame point guard has, however, followed the Broncos all season from afar, even if the NBA commands his attention as a Prime Video broadcaster and co-host of “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James.
“It’s so fun. I’m super excited. All of us old guys are still connected and on a group chat,” Nash, 52, said. “To text throughout the season and see the team kind of get across the line, it’s been a long time coming.”
The last time was so long ago that Nash didn’t have a cell phone or even imagine being on a group chat with 12 teammates 30 years later.
He recently phoned to congratulate Herb Sendek on winning WCC Coach of the Year honors for leading a program scoring 82.9 points per game, led by All-WCC First Team picks Christian Hammond, Elijah Mahi and Allen Graves.
“It’s an excellent offensive team with great connectivity. It looks like they enjoy playing together,” Nash said. “Whenever a team shows those characteristics, it’s fun to root for them.”
Nash’s Santa Clara teams had that under coach Dick Davey, whose lessons in mental toughness were regaled in Nash’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement speech. Tight-knit groups, however, are endangered species in today’s college realm with transfer portals and NIL loot.
“We’re grateful we were in the era we were in. Our friendship that’s lasted was obviously a big part of our success,” Nash said. “We had a great spirit, chemistry and brotherhood.
“It was a great time for us, and it’s fantastic to see these guys playing with the same connectivity and togetherness.”
Indeed, Nash wasn’t a one-man show in the Broncos’ first-round upset of Maryland 30 years ago, even if he drained 17-of-18 free throws and made 3-of-4 3-point shots. Marlon Garnett had 18 points, Kevin Dunne 14, Brendan Graves 12, and, among the others, Drew Zurek hit two free throws to spark a 14-0 second-half run.
Santa Clara’s 91 points stand as their most in 11 NCAA Tournament trips. The Broncos got bounced 76-51 by No. 2 Kansas in their encore.
Nash knew that NCAA Tournament could serve as his showcase, however. There was no social media, no YouTube, no better way than to use “The Big Dance” as an NBA tryout.
“It was a different world. I was probably underexposed in a lot of ways,” Nash said. “The tournament was a spotlight and opportunity for me to perform and show my level. It was important. Nowadays it’s not as important because the world is so heavily scouted.”
Nash became a first-round draft pick, a two-time NBA MVP (2005, ’06) and an eight-time all-star. His journey took him to the Phoenix Suns (1996-98), the Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), the Suns again (2004-12) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15). He became a Golden State Warriors consultant and won his first championship ring with their 2016-17 team.
Santa Clara was the only program to offer Nash a scholarship to come down from Canada; he fondly recalls meeting former Monta Vista High-Cupertino star Ron Reis on his recruiting trip.
Nash deemed himself more of a role player his freshman year (five starts, 8.1 points per game), but his final-minute free throws lifted the No. 15 Broncos past No. 2 Arizona to open the NCAA Tournament, before falling to Temple the next round.
Santa Clara returned his junior year as an at-large, with Nash scoring 20.9 points per game, but the No. 12 seed failed to upset No. 5 Mississippi State.
Then came Nash’s senior season 30 years ago to cap a tenure that would prompt Santa Clara retire his No. 11 jersey. A mutual affection remains. He’s proud of the team, “Coach Herb,” the students, the school.
It’s time again, three decades later, to go for it and win big, like he did.
“To me that’s the way to succeed and the way to have the best experience,” Nash added. “You can sleep at night, and you can remember – win, lose or draw — the feeling and the experience of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
“You wouldn’t want to go out there and be sheepish and take a while to get going. Go out there and go for it, just like you have all year.”