Cal Poly vs. UCSB Men's Basketball Game Preview, by Gaucho Dan

Cal Poly at UCSB
Saturday, March 7, 2020, 7 pm PST, BigWest.tv
 
Quick Bites
It wasn't pretty, but the Gauchos took care of business vs. Cal State Fullerton. Now UCSB turns its sights to finalizing a high seeding for the Big West Tournament. If UCSB wins as expected, the Gauchos can do no worse than the 3 seed. They could still be a 3 seed with a loss, but could fall as low as a 5. Interestingly, Hawai'i is our friend if we win...as they will have taken out our main rival for the 2 seed in CSUN. But Hawai'i is our foe if we lose, as it's a Hawai'i win that knocks us down to at least a 4 (and a Davis win at Riverside) would plummet us to 5. Cal Poly has a fighter's chance to make the BWT...they need a win and a Fullerton loss at home to Long Beach to sneak as UC Irvine's opening night plaything.

By the Numbers

	Cal Poly	UC Santa Barbara
Record	7-22	20-10
Away/Home/Neutral (D1)	0-14 (A)	10-3 (H)
Big West Conference	4-11	9-6
Record vs. Quadrant	vs. Q3: 0-7	vs. Q4: 14-3
Composite (NET, kpi, sor, bpi, pom, sag)	322	164
DCI	319	160
DC2	322	157
RPI	326	170
NET	324	175
SOS (NET)	145	295
KPom Offensive Efficiency	304	97
KPom Defensive Efficiency	304	232
KPom Tempo	178	332
Points per game (overall/BWC)	67.6 (278th) / 71.2 (5th)	70.9 (188th) / 67.3 (6th)
FG% (overall/BWC)	41.9% (275th) / 42.0% (8th)	45.9% (63rd) / 44.2% (4th)
2-pt FG% (overall/BWC)	45.6% (330th) / 45.5% (8th)	52.1% (90th) / 49.1% (3rd)
3-pt FG% (overall/BWC)	34.5% (113th) / 34.5% (7th)	34.3% (130th) / 35.3% (5th)
FT% (overall/BWC)	69.1% (238th) / 69.4% (7th)	75.8% (30th) / 76.2% (2nd)
Points allowed per game (overall/BWC)	75.1 (308th) / 77.1 (9th)	66.2 (90th) / 64.8 (3rd)
FG% allowed (overall/BWC)	45.4% (297th) / 45.6% (8th)	44.7% (271st) / 45.1% (5th)
2-pt FG% allowed (overall/BWC)	50.0% (220th) / 49.5% (6th)	50.2% (235th) / 51.1% (8th)
3-pt FG% allowed (overall/BWC)	37.3% (337th) / 37.9% (8th)	34.7% (278th) / 33.3% (1st)
Off. rebounds per game (overall/BWC)	8.2 (307th) / 8.9 (5th)	10.1 (169th) / 9.0 (4th)
Def. rebounds allowed per game (overall/BWC)	27.4 (249th) / 29.3 (9th)	21.6 (17th) / 22.1 (1st)
Off. rebounds allowed per game (overall/BWC)	9.4 (107th) / 8.9 (5th)	8.1 (34th) / 8.2 (3rd)
Def. rebounds per game (overall/BWC)	24.5 (299th) / 25.3 (4th)	24.1 (281st) / 22.9 (9th)
Rebounds per game (overall/BWC)	32.8 (326th) / 34.1 (3rd)	34.2 (244th) / 31.9 (8th)
Rebounds allowed per game (overall/BWC)	36.9 (203rd) / 38.1 (9th)	29.7 (10th) / 30.3 (1st)
Assists per game (overall/BWC)	13.6 (214th) / 13.4 (6th)	11.4 (80th) / 11.2 (4th)
Steals per game (overall/BWC)	6.5 (170th) / 5.5 (6th)	4.5 (6th) / 4.0 (1st)
Blocks per game (overall/BWC)	3.3 (178th) / 3.8 (8th)	2.4 (24th) / 2.3 (2nd)
Best wins (NET, Quadrant)	Siena (163, Q4)	@ UT Arlington (128, Q2) UC Irvine (112, Q3)
Worst losses (NET, Quadrant)	CSU Bakersfield (283, Q4) vs. LIU (268, Q4)	Long Beach St (297, Q4)
Trend	Lost 6 in a row	Won 4 of last 5, 7 of last 9

UCSB - Cal Poly History
UCSB has played Cal Poly 117 times in a series that began in 1937. The Gauchos hold an 86-31 all-time advantage over the Mustangs, including a 63-45 win on Jan. 8 in San Luis Obispo. They won both games between the schools last season, winning 65-56 in Santa Barbara and 92-82 on the road. Santa Barbara has won five straight and 12 of the last 13 games between the Blue-Green rivals.

Head Coach
John Smith, who most recently helped Cal State Fullerton to three successive postseason appearances as the team's associate head coach, is in his 1st season as head coach of the Cal Poly men's basketball program. Smith helped guide the Titans to one of the most successful periods in program history. During Smith's final three seasons, Cal State Fullerton qualified for the 2018 NCAA Tournament and earned a berth in the College Insider.com Postseason Tournament in both 2017 and 2019. The Titans averaged 18 wins per year over the last three seasons and finished among the top four programs in the Big West Conference standings.

Prior to his successful tenure at Cal State Fullerton, Smith served as head coach at Riverside City College (2004-13), compiling a 196-87 (.693) overall record – the second-highest win total in school history – while leading the Tigers to four conference championships (2005, 2007, 2010-11), nine postseason berths, five 20-win seasons and the 2009 California Community College Athletic Association state championship (the school's first in 43 years).

As head coach and assistant athletics director at San Bernardino Valley College (2000-04), Smith posted an 88-40 overall record while directing the program to the 2003 CCCAA state tournament semifinals. He was named the 2003 Foothill Conference Coach of the Year while leading the program to a league championship.

His junior college coaching record stands at 265-118 (.692). In 2016, the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association inducted Smith into its Hall of Fame for his outstanding work in building two programs and leading each to the state tournament.

Smith's coaching resumé also includes positions as an assistant coach at two-year programs College of Southern Idaho and Chaffey College and J.W. North High School (Riverside) and Valley View High School (Moreno Valley, Calif.). He also spent one season as the West Coast scout for the WNBA's Detroit Shock.

Roster
Probable Starters
Junior Ballard (24) SO, G, 6-3, 200, Stockton, CA, Modesto Christian School

• Season: 13.2 pts, 3.7 reb, 1.3 ast, .408 (6.6 attempts) from two, .358 (4.2 attempts) from three, .733 (4.5 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 15.2 pts, 4.2 reb, 3.2 ast, .344 (6.4 attempts) from two, .300 (6.0 attempts) from three, .794 (6.8 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 25 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, .500 (3-6) from two, .333 (3-9) from three, .769 (10-13) from FT
• vs. UCSB: 0 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, .000 (0-3) from two, .000 (0-2) from three

Colby Rogers (3) FR, G, 6-5, 190, Covington, GA, Roselle Catholic HS

• Season: 8.9 pts, 2.6 reb, 0.8 ast, .453 (4.0 attempts) from two, .368 (4.0 attempts) from three, .733 (1.0 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 9.6 pts, 2.8 reb, 0.8 ast, .375 (4.8 attempts) from two, .280 (5.0 attempts) from three, .900 (2.0 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 0 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, .000 (0-4) from two, .333 (0-4) from three
• vs. UCSB: 16 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast, .500 (1-2) from two, .571 (4-7) from three, .500 (2-4) from FT

Tuukka Jaakkola (14) SO, F, 6-10, 240, Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Basketball Academy

• Season: 7.1 pts, 3.7 reb, 0.7 ast, .516 (5.3 attempts) from two, .000 (0.0 attempts) from three, .613 (2.6 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 4.2 pts, 2.4 reb, 0.0 ast, .375 (4.8 attempts) from two, .760 (0.8 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 4 pts, 3 reb, 0 ast, .333 (2-6) from two
• vs. UCSB: 2 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast, .333 (1-3) from two

Job Alexander (1) SR, G, 6-4, 200, Milwaukee, WI

• Season: 4.0 pts, 1.6 reb, 1.4 ast, .465 (3.0 attempts) from two, .400 (0.2 attempts) from three, .588 (1.8 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 5.4 pts, 3.0 reb, 2.8 ast, .381 (4.2 attempts) from two, .667 (0.6 attempts) from three, .625 (1.6 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 5 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, .200 (2-10) from two, .500 (1-2) from FT
• vs. UCSB: 6 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast, .500 (1-2) from two, .800 (4-5) from FT

Mark Crowe (5) JR, F, 6-5, 205, Dallas, TX, Woodrow Wilson HS

• Season: 3.3 pts, 1.9 reb, 0.4 ast, .500 (0.4 attempts) from two, .346 (2.7 attempts) from three, .286 (0.2 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 2.0 pts, 1.6 reb, 0.8 ast, .000 (0.2 attempts) from two, .375 (1.6 attempts) from three, .500 (0.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 3 pts, 0 reb, 0 ast, 1.000 (1-1) from three
• vs. UCSB: 0 pts, 1 reb, 0 ast, .000 (0-1) from three

Key Reserves
Jamal Smith (25) SR, G, 6-3, 170, Moreno Valley, CA, Rancho Verde HS

• Season: 6.5 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.4 ast, .472 (4.2 attempts) from two, .286 (1.7 attempts) from three, .652 (1.6 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 4.8 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.8 ast, .529 (3.4 attempts) from two, .200 (1.0 attempts) from three, 1.000 (0.6 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 0 pts, 1.0 reb, 0 ast, .000 (0-1) from two
• vs. UCSB: 6 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast, .500 (2-4) from two, .000 (0-2) from three, 1.000 (2-2) from FT

Keith Smith (0) SR G, 6-0, 170, Danville, CA, Montverde Academy

• Season: 4.6 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.8 ast, .461 (2.7 attempts) from two, .414 (1.0 attempts) from three, .622 (1.3 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 5.4 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.4 ast, .545 (2.2 attempts) from two, .333 (1.8 attempts) from three, .600 (2.0 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 2 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1.000 (1-1) from two
• vs. UCSB: 0 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, .000 (0-2) from two

Malek Harwell (2) SR, F, 6-5, 188, Pocatello, ID, Century HS

• Season: 7.3 pts, 2.6 reb, 0.7 ast, .393 (2.7 attempts) from two, .339 (2.7 attempts) from three, .864 (2.9 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 6.8 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.0 ast, .286 (2.8 attempts) from two, .417 (2.4 attempts) from three, .846 (2.6 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 11 pts, 0 reb, 0 ast, 1.000 (2-2) from two, .333 (1-3) from three, 1.000 (4-4) from FT
• vs. UCSB: 11 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, .400 (2-5) from two, .250 (1-4) from three, .800 (4-5) from FT 

Kyle Colvin (33) SO, F, 6-6, 200, San Luis Obispo, CA, Mission Prep HS

• Season: 7.0 pts, 3.8 reb, 0.6 ast, .391 (3.5 attempts) from two, .342 (3.0 attempts) from three, .811 (1.5 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 5.0 pts, 1.8 reb, 0.2 ast, .333 (1.8 attempts) from two, .625 (1.6 attempts) from three, 1.000 (0.8 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 13 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, .200 (1-5) from two, 1.000 (3-3) from three, 1.000 (2-2) from FT
• vs. UCSB: 0 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, .000 (0-3) from two, .000 (0-3) from three

Alimamy Koroma (15) FR, F, 6-8, 220, Prolific Prep Academy

• Season: 5.3 pts, 3.1 reb, 0.1 ast, .581 (3.4 attempts) from two, .200 (0.2 attempts) from three, .612 (2.0 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 5.6 pts, 3.6 reb, 0.0 ast, .688 (3.2 attempts) from two, .462 (2.6 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 10 pts, 8 reb, 0 ast, .500 (4-8), .400 (2-5) from FT
• vs. UCSB: 0 pts, 1 reb, 0 ast 

Nolan Taylor (31) SR, F, 6-7, 260, Keller, TX, Keller Central HS

• Season: 6.1 pts, 2.9 reb, 0.4 ast, .411 (5.2 attempts) from two, .000 (0.1 attempts) from three, .694 (2.6 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 11.8 pts, 4.4 reb, 0.6 ast, .457 (9.2 attempts) from two, .773 (4.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: DNP
• vs. UCSB: 4 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast, .333 (1-3) from two, 1.000 (2-2) from FT

UCSB Roster
Probable Starters
Amadou Sow (12) SO, F, 6-9, 235, Bamako, Mali, Prolific Prep Academy

• Season: 14.0 pts, 7.0 reb, 0.8 ast, .574 (8.5 attempts) from two, .390 (1.4 attempts) from three, .757 (3.6 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 10.4 pts, 5.6 reb, 0.6 ast, .488 (8.6 attempts) from two, .000 (1.0 attempts) from three, .833 (2.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 18 pts, 9 reb, 1 ast, .500 (7-14) from two, .800 (4-5) from FT
• vs. Cal Poly: 13 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, .500 (3-6) from two, .500 (1-2) from three, .667 (4-6) from FT

Jaquori McLaughlin (3) JR, G, 6-4, 190, Tacoma, WA, Peninsula HS

• Season: 13.2 pts, 3.3 reb, 4.1 ast, .463 (5.7 attempts) from two, .402 (3.5 attempts) from three, .793 (4.7 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 11.0 pts, 2.8 reb, 6.0 ast, .222 (5.4 attempts) from two, .471 (3.4 attempts) from three, . 705 (5.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 5 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast, .000 (0-2) from two, .250 (1-4) from three, .500 (2-4) from FT
• vs. Cal Poly: 15 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, .250 (1-4) from two, .750 (3-4) from three, 1.000 (4-4) from FT

Matt Freeman (2) SR, F, 6-10, 220, Auckland, New Zealand, Westlake Boys HS

• Season: 9.5 pts, 4.2 reb, 1.9 ast, .467 (3.5 attempts) from two, .382 (4.1 attempts) from three, .885 (1.7 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 8.0 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.4 ast, .500 (4.0 attempts) from two, .250 (3.2 attempts) from three, .889 (1.8 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 10 pts, 14 reb, 0 ast, .000 (0-2) from two, .400 (2-5) from three, 1.000 (4-4) from FT
• vs. Cal Poly: 8 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, .000 (0-3) from two, .400 (2-5) from three, 1.000 (2-2) from FT

Devearl Ramsey (4) JR, G, 6-0, 185, Los Angeles, CA, Sierra Canyon HS

• Season: 8.4 pts, 3.8 reb, 2.5 ast, .439 (3.7 attempts) from two, .330 (3.0 attempts) from three, .873 (2.4 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 11.2 pts, 3.8 reb, 2.0 ast, .286 (2.8 attempts) from two, .526 (3.8 attempts) from three, .947 (3.8 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 13 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, .500 (1-2) from two, .500 (2-4) from three, .833 (5-6) from FT
• vs. Cal Poly: 6 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, .750 (3-4) from two, .000 (0-2) from three

Brandon Cyrus (11) SR, G, 6-5, 190, Oakville, Canada, La Lumiere School

• Season: 5.8 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.4 ast, .468 (4.0 attempts) from two, .185 (1.9 attempts) from three, .651 (1.5 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 5.6 pts, 6.2 reb, 1.4 ast, .429 (4.2 attempts) from two, .182 (2.2 attempts) from three, .571 (1.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 3 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, .000 (0-3) from two, .000 (0-2) from three, .750 (3-4) from FT
• vs. Cal Poly: 8 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast, .800 (4-5) from two

Key Reserves
Robinson Idehen (35) JR, F, 6-10, 230, Tudela, Spain, Modesto Christian HS

• Season: 5.8 pts, 4.3 reb, 0.4 ast, .683 (3.4 attempts) from two, .000 (0.0 attempts) from three, .536 (2.3 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 8.0 pts, 4.6 reb, 0.2 ast, .640 (5.0 attempts) from two, .667 (2.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 6 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast, .500 (2-4) from two, 1.000 (2-2) from FT
• vs. Cal Poly: 4 pts, 4 reb, 0 ast, 1.000 (2-2) from two, .000 (0-3) from FT

Sekou Toure (0) SO, G, 6-5, 185, Conarky, Guinea, Prolific Prep Academy

• Season: 3.0 pts, 2.5 reb, 0.5 ast, .485 (2.2 attempts) from two, .143 (0.5 attempts) from three, .750 (0.9 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 0.6 pts, 1.8 reb, 0.6 ast, .167 (1.2 attempts) from two, .000 (0.2 attempts) from three, .500 (0.4 attempts) from FT
• Last game: 0 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast, .000 (0-4) from two
• vs. Cal Poly: 6 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast, .500 (3-6) from two

Jay Nagle (5) SO, F, 6-8, 215, Vacavile, CA, Will C. Wood HS

• Season: 2.0 pts, 1.1 reb, 0.5 ast, .429 (0.5 attempts) from two, .341 (1.4 attempts) from three, .857 (0.2 attempts) from FT
• Last 5 games: 1.0 pts, 0.4 reb, 0.4 ast, .333 (0.6 attempts) from two, .500 (0.4 attempts) from three
• Last game: 0 pts, 0 reb, 0 ast, .000 (0-1) from three
• vs. Cal Poly: 3 pts, 1 reb, 0 ast, .000 (0-1) from two, 1.000 (1-1) from three

Keys to the game and prediction
I'll let you guys have at it. It's senior night for the Gauchos, honoring Max Heidegger, Andrew Pickles and Matt Freeman.