Can Santa Clara Match Last Season’s KenPom Offense After Portal Losses?

Santa Clara’s 2025-26 season was one of the best in program history. The Broncos finished 26-9 (15-3 in the WCC), earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996, and scored 82.9 points per game. They finished 38th overall in KenPom and 19th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. They ranked among the best in the country on the offensive glass, generated high-volume three-point attempts, and kept turnovers low, producing one of the more efficient mid-major attacks in the country.

The roster that powered it has largely been dismantled. Leading scorer Christian Hammond (15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game) transferred to NC State. Freshman forward Allen Graves (11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds per game) was drafted 19th overall by the Toronto Raptors. Elijah Mahi (14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game) graduated. Starting big Bukky Oboye (7.9 points, 4.1 rebounds per game) moved to Auburn, and Gehrig Normand left for SMU. Brenton Knapper also graduated. The top three scorers and significant rebounding and secondary creation walked out the door.

What remains is a mix of proven role players and upside. Jake Ensminger returns as a graduate student and was named to the preseason All-WCC team. The 6-foot-9 wing averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Sash Gavalyugov, another preseason All-WCC selection, averaged 9.0 points and 2.7 assists per game. Thierry Darlan averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. KJ Cochran averaged 4.7 points per game. Francis Chukwudebelu returns as a developing 6-foot-10 big, and several redshirt players are available after sitting out last season. The program was also voted No. 1 in the preseason WCC poll.

Herb Sendek’s staff added three transfers. David Castillo arrives from Kansas State after averaging 10.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in 28.2 minutes (32 games, 16 starts). He shot 40.0% from the field and 35.2% from three. Sidi Gueye, a 6-foot-11 center/forward from Arizona, averaged 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds in limited minutes. Fedor Žugić comes from Creighton, where he averaged 5.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. Three freshmen round out the additions.

Reaching the same 19th-ranked KenPom offensive standard will be difficult. Hammond, Graves, and Mahi supplied the bulk of the scoring, efficient creation, and secondary rebounding that fueled second-chance opportunities. Ensminger and Gavalyugov give the Broncos continuity in playmaking, and Castillo can immediately help replace volume. The size on the roster supports the possibility of maintaining a strong offensive rebounding identity. However, the new pieces have not yet shown the same level of efficiency or production that the departed stars delivered.

Santa Clara can still be one of the better offensive teams in the WCC and a dangerous mid-major if the returners take a step forward, the transfers fit quickly, and Sendek’s system continues to emphasize efficient ball movement and rebounding. Matching last year’s exact KenPom offensive standard is a high bar—not impossible with internal development, but far from assured given the volume of production that left. The early non-conference slate and conference play will reveal how quickly the new pieces can mesh.