Friday, December 18, 2020

UCSB vs. Pepperdine Men's Basketball Game Preview, by Gaucho Freg

 Saturday at 3pm 


Pepperdine Waves
The Waves are 2-3 in D1 games, 4-3 overall.  Two of those losses were very close; to UCLA in triple OT and @ SDSU where they had a 14 point 2nd half lead disappear.  Their third loss was a surprising home loss to CSUN last Saturday, 84-89.  Their wins have come against UCI by 14 in their opener and over the Cal Bears by 12. 
They are averaging 84 ppg while giving up 73, shooting 32% from deep. 
They have two terrific players that will contend for first team all WCC in guard Colbey Ross and Forward Kessler Edwards.  
 
Starting 5
G Colbey Ross , #4, 6’1, 185 lb, Sr   20.1 ppg, nearly 8 apg(!) and 4 rpg.  33% deep. Plays all game, 39 mpg. Leads team in getting to the line (84%)  and 3pt attempts.  The best PG, probably best player overall, SB will face this year.
G Sedrick Altman, #2, 6’2”, 180 lb Soph 6.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3 apg, 28 mpg.  Well rounded contributor but does not shoot the 3 ball well. 
G Jade Smith, #5, 6’4”, 185 lb RS Jr  10.4 ppg,  3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg  27 mpg. 15-16 from the line.  
F Kessler Edwards,#15, 6'8", 215lb, 20.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, an incredible 47% from deep and has 10 blocks on the year.   Very quick.
F Kene Chukwuka, #14, 6'9", 225 lb, GT (Pitt), 8.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 26 mpg
 
Key Reserves
F Jan Zidek, #31  6’9”, 240 lb. Soph 13.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 27 mpg.  Tremendous three point shooter (39%).  Son of George Zidek, the center for UCLA's 1995 championship team.
W Andre Ball, #10, 6’7”, 190 lb, RS Soph  4.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 19 mpg.  Cousin of the more famous Ball brothers.
G Daryl Polk, #10, 5'9”, 155 lb, Jr. 16 mpg.  
Sophomore guard Robbie Heath out of Australia, a D2 transfer, just gained eligibility and may play.

I watched some of their games vs. SDSU and Cal and they looked like a top 40 team in those games.  Their loss to CSUN is a head scratcher, even if CSUN is much better than 
they were projected to be.  The Waves won't catch Gonzaga but they could finish as high as 2nd in the competitive WCC.  Most preseason polls had them 4th.  UCSB has a four game win streak in the series but trail overall by just one game.  

Can our guards defend Ross?  We're better equipped than most to take him on.  I do think Edwards is much quicker than Sow and will win that match up in the paint.  I think its a competitive game but Pepperdine just a bit more talented and takes this by about a half dozen.

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