Santa Clara does not return to session until Monday and the dorms do not open until Sunday but Head coach Kerry Keating wants the students to be at the Leavey Center in force for their showdown with No. 10 Gonzaga on Saturday night.
And he's serious.
“I’m excited to get the students back,” he said. “We need all them. They need to be a part of this too because they’re as important as our guys are in playing these games at home during conference.”
“If any of them read this and any of them want to stay here and can’t have a room on campus and get back and can make it back and want to come on Saturday, I want them to personally call the office and I will reimburse them up to $100 for a hotel room so they’re all here."
Saturday's game is at 5 p.m. and the men's basketball office can be reached at (408) 554-2339.
Although he is not entirely sure he is allowed to do it, Keating believes it is extremely important the students attend the game.
"They need to know how big this is," Keating said. "Every game. It’s not just because it’s Gonzaga. It could be anyone in our league. We need them back."
Santa Clara last beat Gonzaga at the Leavey Center on Jan. 20, 2011, which was part of three straight losses for the Bulldogs.
"I will make sure [the students] have at least a roof over their head."
"This is their team."
Santa Clara is 13-2 and won its West Coast Conference opener Wednesday against San Francisco.
Follow Zack Farmer on Twitter: @Zack_Farmer
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