Saturday, August 17, 2013

Big West Men's Basketball Summer Preview

http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17167
UC SANTA BARBARA
• UC Santa Barbara endured a rebuilding campaign last year following three straight postseason appearances.  A rash of injuries didn’t help the Gauchos either, as they ultimately finished 11-20 overall and fell in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament.

• The silver lining in what was otherwise a challenging season for head coach Bob Williams is that the 2013-14 squad features four full-time returning starters and five others who started at least one game.  Injuries pressed some players into service and that experience should aid the Gauchos as they push to return to Big West supremacy.

• Alan Williams, a 6-7 junior center, is a legitimate candidate for Big West Player of the Year.  Williams captured All-Big West First Team and NABC Second Team All-District 9 honors with an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him average 17.1 points and 10.7 rebounds.  He became UCSB’s first player since 1990 to average a double-double.  In addition, he was the first Gaucho since Eric McArthur in 1990 to lead the Big West in rebounding.  Williams ranked among the nation’s leaders in rebounds (No. 6) and double-doubles (15, t-No. 15).

• Senior Kyle Boswell came off the bench in 20 of 29 games and earned the title of the conference’s most valuable reserve as the Big West Sixth Man of the Year.  Boswell ranked No. 15 in the Big West in scoring (13.0 ppg) and No. 5 in three-point field goal percentage (.419).  His 2.7 threes per game also placed him second in the conference.

• Two freshmen played large roles last season and figure to be important cogs on this year’s team.  Forward Taran Brown averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while making 29 starts.  He was sixth in the league in blocked shots.  Brown also broke the UCSB freshman record for three-pointers with 58.  Guard Michael Bryson averaged 8.4 points per game to rank fourth on the team, and hit a team third-best 46 three-pointers.  In the Big West Tournament against Pacific, he established a Gaucho freshman record with 29 points and tied another with seven three-pointers.

• Junior T.J. Taylor was a steadying influence at the point guard position.  A starter in 19 of 31 games, Taylor dished out 127 assists against only 56 turnovers.  He also displayed perimeter efficiency, hitting 40.5 (32 of 79) percent from three-point range.  Taylor, who is recovering from offseason hip surgery, will compete for a starting job at the point with Zalmico Harmon, a junior college transfer from Ventura College.

• Bob Williams is the dean of Big West coaches in his 16th season leading the Gauchos.  Williams is tied for third all-time with 248 victories overall and sits in third all alone with 147 conference wins.

• The Gauchos face a formidable non-conference schedule with five opponents that played in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.  UCSB has road games against UNLV, Colorado and UCLA, and welcome South Dakota State and Cal to The Thunderdome.  The Gauchos also have a home-and-home on tap with perennial postseason participant Utah State. - See more at: http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17167#sthash.vXOL0AUe.dpuf
UC SANTA BARBARA
• UC Santa Barbara endured a rebuilding campaign last year following three straight postseason appearances.  A rash of injuries didn’t help the Gauchos either, as they ultimately finished 11-20 overall and fell in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament.

• The silver lining in what was otherwise a challenging season for head coach Bob Williams is that the 2013-14 squad features four full-time returning starters and five others who started at least one game.  Injuries pressed some players into service and that experience should aid the Gauchos as they push to return to Big West supremacy.

• Alan Williams, a 6-7 junior center, is a legitimate candidate for Big West Player of the Year.  Williams captured All-Big West First Team and NABC Second Team All-District 9 honors with an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him average 17.1 points and 10.7 rebounds.  He became UCSB’s first player since 1990 to average a double-double.  In addition, he was the first Gaucho since Eric McArthur in 1990 to lead the Big West in rebounding.  Williams ranked among the nation’s leaders in rebounds (No. 6) and double-doubles (15, t-No. 15).

• Senior Kyle Boswell came off the bench in 20 of 29 games and earned the title of the conference’s most valuable reserve as the Big West Sixth Man of the Year.  Boswell ranked No. 15 in the Big West in scoring (13.0 ppg) and No. 5 in three-point field goal percentage (.419).  His 2.7 threes per game also placed him second in the conference.

• Two freshmen played large roles last season and figure to be important cogs on this year’s team.  Forward Taran Brown averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while making 29 starts.  He was sixth in the league in blocked shots.  Brown also broke the UCSB freshman record for three-pointers with 58.  Guard Michael Bryson averaged 8.4 points per game to rank fourth on the team, and hit a team third-best 46 three-pointers.  In the Big West Tournament against Pacific, he established a Gaucho freshman record with 29 points and tied another with seven three-pointers.

• Junior T.J. Taylor was a steadying influence at the point guard position.  A starter in 19 of 31 games, Taylor dished out 127 assists against only 56 turnovers.  He also displayed perimeter efficiency, hitting 40.5 (32 of 79) percent from three-point range.  Taylor, who is recovering from offseason hip surgery, will compete for a starting job at the point with Zalmico Harmon, a junior college transfer from Ventura College.

• Bob Williams is the dean of Big West coaches in his 16th season leading the Gauchos.  Williams is tied for third all-time with 248 victories overall and sits in third all alone with 147 conference wins.

• The Gauchos face a formidable non-conference schedule with five opponents that played in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.  UCSB has road games against UNLV, Colorado and UCLA, and welcome South Dakota State and Cal to The Thunderdome.  The Gauchos also have a home-and-home on tap with perennial postseason participant Utah State. - See more at: http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17167#sthash.vXOL0AUe.dpnta Barbara endured a rebuilding campaign last year following three straight postseason appearances.  A rash of injuries didn’t help the Gauchos either, as they ultimately finished 11-20 overall and fell in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament.

• The silver lining in what was otherwise a challenging season for head coach Bob Williams is that the 2013-14 squad features four full-time returning starters and five others who started at least one game.  Injuries pressed some players into service and that experience should aid the Gauchos as they push to return to Big West supremacy.

• Alan Williams, a 6-7 junior center, is a legitimate candidate for Big West Player of the Year.  Williams captured All-Big West First Team and NABC Second Team All-District 9 honors with an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him average 17.1 points and 10.7 rebounds.  He became UCSB’s first player since 1990 to average a double-double.  In addition, he was the first Gaucho since Eric McArthur in 1990 to lead the Big West in rebounding.  Williams ranked among the nation’s leaders in rebounds (No. 6) and double-doubles (15, t-No. 15).

• Senior Kyle Boswell came off the bench in 20 of 29 games and earned the title of the conference’s most valuable reserve as the Big West Sixth Man of the Year.  Boswell ranked No. 15 in the Big West in scoring (13.0 ppg) and No. 5 in three-point field goal percentage (.419).  His 2.7 threes per game also placed him second in the conference.

• Two freshmen played large roles last season and figure to be important cogs on this year’s team.  Forward Taran Brown averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while making 29 starts.  He was sixth in the league in blocked shots.  Brown also broke the UCSB freshman record for three-pointers with 58.  Guard Michael Bryson averaged 8.4 points per game to rank fourth on the team, and hit a team third-best 46 three-pointers.  In the Big West Tournament against Pacific, he established a Gaucho freshman record with 29 points and tied another with seven three-pointers.

• Junior T.J. Taylor was a steadying influence at the point guard position.  A starter in 19 of 31 games, Taylor dished out 127 assists against only 56 turnovers.  He also displayed perimeter efficiency, hitting 40.5 (32 of 79) percent from three-point range.  Taylor, who is recovering from offseason hip surgery, will compete for a starting job at the point with Zalmico Harmon, a junior college transfer from Ventura College.

• Bob Williams is the dean of Big West coaches in his 16th season leading the Gauchos.  Williams is tied for third all-time with 248 victories overall and sits in third all alone with 147 conference wins.

• The Gauchos face a formidable non-conference schedule with five opponents that played in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.  UCSB has road games against UNLV, Colorado and UCLA, and welcome South Dakota State and Cal to The Thunderdome.  The Gauchos also have a home-and-home on tap with perennial postseason participant Utah State.
- See more at: http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17167#sthash.vXOL0AUe.dp


Big West Men's Basketball Summer Preview

Big West Men's Basketball Summer Preview
UC SANTA BARBARA
• UC Santa Barbara endured a rebuilding campaign last year following three straight postseason appearances.  A rash of injuries didn’t help the Gauchos either, as they ultimately finished 11-20 overall and fell in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament.

• The silver lining in what was otherwise a challenging season for head coach Bob Williams is that the 2013-14 squad features four full-time returning starters and five others who started at least one game.  Injuries pressed some players into service and that experience should aid the Gauchos as they push to return to Big West supremacy.

• Alan Williams, a 6-7 junior center, is a legitimate candidate for Big West Player of the Year.  Williams captured All-Big West First Team and NABC Second Team All-District 9 honors with an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him average 17.1 points and 10.7 rebounds.  He became UCSB’s first player since 1990 to average a double-double.  In addition, he was the first Gaucho since Eric McArthur in 1990 to lead the Big West in rebounding.  Williams ranked among the nation’s leaders in rebounds (No. 6) and double-doubles (15, t-No. 15).

• Senior Kyle Boswell came off the bench in 20 of 29 games and earned the title of the conference’s most valuable reserve as the Big West Sixth Man of the Year.  Boswell ranked No. 15 in the Big West in scoring (13.0 ppg) and No. 5 in three-point field goal percentage (.419).  His 2.7 threes per game also placed him second in the conference.

• Two freshmen played large roles last season and figure to be important cogs on this year’s team.  Forward Taran Brown averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while making 29 starts.  He was sixth in the league in blocked shots.  Brown also broke the UCSB freshman record for three-pointers with 58.  Guard Michael Bryson averaged 8.4 points per game to rank fourth on the team, and hit a team third-best 46 three-pointers.  In the Big West Tournament against Pacific, he established a Gaucho freshman record with 29 points and tied another with seven three-pointers.

• Junior T.J. Taylor was a steadying influence at the point guard position.  A starter in 19 of 31 games, Taylor dished out 127 assists against only 56 turnovers.  He also displayed perimeter efficiency, hitting 40.5 (32 of 79) percent from three-point range.  Taylor, who is recovering from offseason hip surgery, will compete for a starting job at the point with Zalmico Harmon, a junior college transfer from Ventura College.

• Bob Williams is the dean of Big West coaches in his 16th season leading the Gauchos.  Williams is tied for third all-time with 248 victories overall and sits in third all alone with 147 conference wins.

• The Gauchos face a formidable non-conference schedule with five opponents that played in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.  UCSB has road games against UNLV, Colorado and UCLA, and welcome South Dakota State and Cal to The Thunderdome.  The Gauchos also have a home-and-home on tap with perennial postseason participant Utah State.
- See more at: http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17167#sthash.vXOL0AUe.dpuf

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