APB vs. UCSB Game Preview, by Gaucho Freg

UCSB (1-1) vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff (0-5)
Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 7 pm PST
 
Quick Bite:  UCSB continues with the soft underbelly of their schedule by welcoming Arkansas Pine Bluff out of the SWAC. The Golden Lions are 0-5 with their most recent loss coming at the hands of Seattle up in Washington.  They have lost their five games, all on the road, by an average of 21. They are coming off a 4-21 season last year where they were the 4th worst team in the country, have a new coach, a very different roster from last year and have been picked to finish at the bottom of the SWAC.
 
APB-UCSB History
This will be the second game between the two schools in the past three years with the Gauchos defeating the Lions 55-45 in 2018 in Santa Barbara.

Head Coach:
Solomon Bozeman, just 33 years old, takes over the struggling Pine-Bluff program.  The former Sun Belt Player of the year (Arkansas Little Rock), he comes to APB from Oral Roberts where he was an assistant coach.   

Roster & Overview of the Lions
From the previous season, six of the top eight players in minutes played, including four of the top five scorers, along with the coach, left the program so Bozeman essentially has had to start from scratch.   He has restocked with transfers with all of the current top players in minutes played being at a different school last year.  While his starting rotation seems to be settled the Golden Lions lack depth and Bozeman is still trying different guys off the bench, none with any success.   From Staring At The Floorboards;  “Bozeman will bring some denial heavy defense from his days with Joe Golding, and some unique zone looks from his Paul Mills tutelage, so the Lions might be a little bit of tricky prep defensively (looking for positive things to say).”
 
Probable Starters
Guard Shawn Williams #55  Graduate, 6’1”, 175 lbs, 18.2 ppg, 2.8 apg, 35 mpg, 34% from deep
Leads team in scoring, 3 pt shooting, assists, minutes played.  Transfer from Nichols St,  APB is his 4th school
 
Guard Kylen Milton  #1  Sophomore, 6’4” 192 lbs,   13 ppg, 32 mpg, 39% from deep
Transfer from W. Kentucky
 
Wing Brandon Brown  #11 Junior 6’5” 210 lbs,   9.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 32 mpg
Leads teams in rebounding, getting to the FT line and steals.  Shooting just 2-11 from deep.  JC transfer.
 
Wing Brahm Harris  #14  Junior 6’6” 215 lbs,   3.8 ppg, 2 rpg, 25 mpg
JC transfer
 
Forward Trey Sampson  #15 Senior 6’7” 205 lbs  14 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 28 mpg
A perfect 14-14 from the FT line but just 2-16 from beyond the arc.  Has started four of five games, DNP vs. Portland. Transfer from Northeastern St.
 
Possible Key Reserves: 
Guard Kshun Stokes  #0 Junior, 6’2” 190 lbs  3.3 ppg, 16 mpg
Guard Gabriel Vargas  #4  Freshman, 6’5” 180 lbs  13 mpg
Forward Omar Parchman  #22 Senior 6’8” 210 lbs 
Started vs. Portland St.  Second season with APB, started at a JC.
Guard Travonta Doolittle  #2  Senior, 6’2” 190 lbs  3.3 ppg, 16 mpg
Second season with APB, started at a JC.
 
Injured/Unavailable(?):
Guard Dequan Morris  #23  Senior (5th yr) , 6’4” 180 lbs  7 ppg, 18 mpg
DNP vs. Portland or UOP. Has played entire college career at APB
Wing Jaylan Thomas #3   Sophomore, 6’8”, 183 lbs, 3ppg, 12 mpg
DNP vs. Portland or UOP  Transfer from Murray St.
 
Match-up & prediction: 
Game outcome won’t be in doubt, this is the easiest of the UCSB D1 opponents and serves to provide  Pasternack an opportunity to fine-tune his rotation and to work on schemes & execution.  If the Golden Lions keep it close at first, it shouldn't last long as their lack of depth will catch up.  
 Prediction:  UCSB 95 APB 59
 
Official Site:  https://uapblionsroar.com/sports/mens-basketball
Hey Guys!    https://www.hbcusports.com/forums/forum ... s-board.4/
How to Watch: ESPN+
 
Team Preview:
https://www.three-man-weave.com/3mw/swac-2022-preview
https://staringatthefloorboards.wordpre ... ssion=true
 
Fun facts about APB:  The school is a Historically Black College (HBC) founded in 1873 and is part of the Univ of Arkansas system.  Famed Pittsburgh Steeler Defensive End LC Greenwood who helped make up the famous Steel Curtain in the 1970s is an alum, class of ‘69 when the school was then known as Arkansas A&M