Saturday, October 29, 2011

Writer roundtable: Three big questions

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7025817/writers-roundtable-our-experts-answer-three-big-questions
3. What's one conference POY race that will be fun to track throughout the season?
Leung: Long Beach State's Casper Ware and UC Santa Barbara's Orlando Johnson will battle it out in the Big West, and given that both seniors have won the award before, it should be an interesting race. Johnson (21.1 ppg) is the nation's second-leading returning scorer and looking to play in his third straight NCAA tournament after withdrawing his name from the NBA draft. Ware is the reigning player of the year who was also named the conference's top defender. His 49ers have been denied a trip to the NCAA tournament by UCSB in each of the last two seasons.

Orlando and Emilie Highlight the "J v. J" Campaign for Basketball

http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20111026kk7htl

Men's and Women's Basketball 10/27: Media Day


http://youtu.be/QZIWYSxyDrw

UCSB basketball media day - Legends of the Dome announcement


http://youtu.be/h9sjHQcafmU

Gaucho basketball media day (women's basketball)


http://youtu.be/CUlVMJoKL24

Veterans ready to lead Gauchos to greater heights

http://presidiosports.com/2011/10/veterans-ready-to-lead-gauchos-to-greater-heights/


http://youtu.be/uR3H6pM1C34

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Media Tab Long Beach State Frontrunner To Win Men's Basketball Title

http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=15154
Media Poll Results
1.    Long Beach State (20)    212
2.    UC Santa Barbara (4)     196
3.    Cal Poly                           158
4.    Cal State Fullerton          131
5.    UC Riverside                   114
6.    Pacific                               91
7.    UC Davis                          62
8.    Cal State Northridge         61
9.    UC Irvine                           55

( ) First-place votes

Preseason Media All-Conference Team


Name                        School                      Position     Year         Hometown
Larry Anderson         Long Beach State      Guard         Senior      Long Beach, Calif.
David Hanson           Cal Poly                     Forward      Senior      Plymouth, Minn.
Orlando Johnson      UC Santa Barbara     Guard         Senior      Seaside, Calif.
James Nunnally        UC Santa Barbara     Guard         Senior      Stockton, Calif.
T.J. Robinson            Long Beach State      Forward     Senior      West Haven, Conn.
Casper Ware             Long Beach State      Guard        Senior      Cerritos, Calif.

Williams maps out a big season

http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20111018mrclq7

Lady Gauchos Picked to Finish Second in Preseason Poll


http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/w-baskbl/2011-12/releases/201110190dub6g

Gaucho Foursome Earns Preseason Honors

http://ucsb.prestosports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20111019o3olvw

Prep basketball: Poway High’s Beeler commits to UC Santa Barbara

http://www.pomeradonews.com/2011/10/19/prep-basketball-poway-highs-beeler-commits-to-uc-santa-barbara/
Sam Beeler wasn’t sure exactly how many scholarship offers he received, but the Poway High basketball player knows it was easily over a dozen and included big names like Washington State, Oregon State and Utah.
But ultimately, it was a California school that won the heart of the 6-foot-10, 205-pound center, as the senior gave a verbal commitment to UC Santa Barbara Oct. 7.
“I had a few really good visits and they went well and it was just a really good atmosphere and it has all the key elements I was looking for with academics and basketball,” Beeler said. “It is also right on the beaches.”
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/15755657/2011-12-season-preview-top-100-players-in-college-basketball
36. Orlando Johnson (senior guard, UC-Santa Barbara). Stud of a player who I'm really glad got this high of a ranking. Johnson's the real deal. Can be a future pro, and he deserves a moment in the 2012 NCAA tournament. — M.N.
75. Casper Ware (senior guard, Long Beach State). Vastly underrated. Terrific work ethic, gets after it on the defensive end and also can score and set his teammates up. — J.G.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Sam Beeler verbally commits to UCSB

ESPN reports that class of 2012 6'10" center Sam Beeler from Poway, CA verbally committed to the UCSB men's basketball program. 

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/2540

Here is video of Beeler's junior season at Poway High School.


http://youtu.be/TC_d4gAiPpA

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Top 35 High School Basketball Players in Washington 2/1/11

UCSB verbal commit Mitch Brewe was the 11th-ranked player in the state of Washington last year, but was the 2nd highest-ranked junior.

http://www.seatownsports.net/high-school/articles/top-35-high-school-basketball-players-in-washington-2111.html
11. Mitch Brewe (Jr.)- Seattle Prep, F, 6'8": When you are leading the best conference in the state in scoring, you are deserving of the spotlight. Brewe is leading the league with 23.1 points per game. He has been absolutely dominant in the low post. Along with this, he has extended his range considerably and can consistently hit from 15 feet out. The scholarship offers will start rolling in once he gets more exposure during the playoffs and the spring AAU circuit.

Seattle Prep's Mitch Brewe talks about college commitment

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/highschoolsportsblog/2016379242_seattle_preps_mitch_brewe_talk.html

Here's another article on his verbal commitment to UCSB. 

http://www.seatownsports.net/high-school/articles/mitch-brewe-seattle-prep-uc-santa-barbara-2012.html

Johnson Named to John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 List

http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20111003ygfya6

Gauchos Featured as Many as Six Times in Big West TV Package

http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20111004wzlikt

Monday, October 3, 2011

Scouting the Wooden Award watch list

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7053604/opposing-coaches-break-50-players-wooden-award-watch-list-college-basketball
Orlando Johnson, 6-5, Sr., G, UC Santa Barbara
"He's one of the most gifted offensive players I have ever coached against. He's extremely skilled with a killer instinct, and he makes big shots."