https://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2022-23/releases/20230317rhb1ux
Friday, March 17, 2023
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Monday, March 13, 2023
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Saturday, March 11, 2023
CSUF vs UCSB Big West Conference Championship Game Preview, by gauchodan
Game 34 (BWT Championship)
Cal State Fullerton (20-12) vs. UCSB (26-7)
Saturday, March 11, 2023, 6:30 pm PST
Henderson, Nev.
Quick Bite
So here we are. Every school in the Big West points to this day in March. They want to be playing on this day in March, because this is likely the game you have to win to make the NCAA Tournament. And the Gauchos have made it to this day. Even with a school-record 26 wins, they have to win on this day to make the NCAA Tournament. The bracketologists have all swapped UC Irvine out of their brackets for UCSB: Joe Lunardi has the Gauchos as a 14 seed going to Denver to play Gonzaga.
The Gauchos had their typical slow start last night, with the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Gaucho faithful. But they recovered nicely, and only a buzzer-beating Flynn Cameron 3 prevented UCSB from entering halftime tied with the Highlanders. The Gauchos took control early in the 2nd half and I don't think they gave up the lead thereafter. Josh Pierre-Louis laid it all out last night. He scored a season-high 20 points, many off of dart-quick drives to the basket. He dished a couple of assists to Evans Kipruto and played incredible defense until he fouled out with under 4 minutes to play. Ajay Mitchell was too much for Riverside, who tried putting Jamal Hartwell on him to no avail. Mitchell pretty much had his way getting a little edge on his smaller defender and either getting a basket or getting fouled. Even board favorites Kipruto and Belic chipped in, combining for 14 points off the bench.
UCSB has won 6 straight games, and the most amazing stat to me? Just 44 turnovers in those 6 games (7.3 per game). Last night, UCSB committed just 5 turnovers and I think can remember every one of them...there's the 2 in-bounds play travels by Ajay Mitchell, JPL threw one over the Gaucho bench and JPL had a charge. I give up, I can't remember the last one.
Yesterday morning, if I told you we would be playing Cal State Fullerton, just about everyone on this board would have taken that matchup. After CSUF's win over the top-seeded Anteaters, everyone immediately flipped to "oh no, the Titans look too touch for us." I understand. The Titans are competing at a high level and are the hottest team in the Big West with an 8-game winning streak. Their unheralded program is playing in the Big West Championship game for the 4th time in the last 6 seasons (5 events). Latrell Wrightsell Jr. can do it all...he's their top scorer, top 3-point shooter and a great defensive player. Troy San Antonio was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year but scored 15 first-half points yesterday. Fullerton has a lot of interchangeable undersized but quick swingmen that will be a problem for Santa Barbara to handle. CSUF usually initiates its offense from the top of the key with penetrating drives to the basket. Therefore, they don't get a lot of assists. This is where you break out the pack-line defense that Joe Pasternack has been willing to deploy in the past.
2023 Meetings
Dec. 29: UC Santa Barbara 66, Cal State Fullerton 58
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Ajay Mitchell scored 24 points and Josh Pierre-Louis added 17 as the Gauchos handed the Titans their first home loss. Pierre-Louis hit four free throws and Mitchell added a leaning 3-pointer as the shot clock expired in a game-closing 11-2 run. CSUF had a season-high 21 turnovers but out-rebounded UCSB 33-22. Jalen Harris led Fullerton with 19 points and three rebounds.
Feb. 20: Cal State Fullerton 74, UC Santa Barbara 60
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The Titans (17-12, 11-6) used runs of 9-0 and 11-0 in the 1st half to run out to a double-digit lead and were never seriously threatened in a defeat of the reeling Gauchos (20-7, 11-5). Max Jones scored 18 points and Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. and John Mikey Square each added 15 for Fullerton, which has won 5 straight games. UCSB has lost 3 in a row to fall into a tie for 3rd place with Hawai'i.
Last UCSB game
March 10: (2) UC Santa Barbara 92, (3) UC Riverside 87
HENDERSON, Nev. -- Ajay Mitchell scored 28 points and handed out 7 assists and Josh Pierre-Louis added a season-high 20 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds to lead the Gauchos (26-7) to their second Big West Tournament Championship game in 3 seasons. UCSB shot 57% from the field and received career-highs in points from Matija Belic and Evans Kipruto off the bench. Flynn Cameron scored a career-high 31 points and Zyon Pullin added 24 for the Highlanders (22-12), who made 10-of-21 threes and out-rebounded the Gauchos 34-25.
Last Cal State Fullerton game
March 10: (4) Cal State Fullerton 83, (1) UC Irvine 80
HENDERSON, Nev. -- Latrell Wrightsell Jr. scored 22 points to lead five players in double figures as the defending-champion Titans (20-12) advanced to the Big West Tournament Championship game for the second straight season and fourth time in the last 5 Tournaments. Cal State Fullerton made 7-of-8 free throw attempts down the stretch to hold off the top-seeded Anteaters. Dawson Baker scored 22 points and DJ Davis added 20 for UC Irvine, which has an automatic bid to the NIT.
Cal State Fullerton Roster
Latrell Wrightsell #3 JR G, 6-3 189, Omaha, NE -- 16.4 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 2.4 Ast
Jalen Harris #0 SR G, 6-1 180, Los Angeles, CA -- 12.4 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Max Jones #2 JR G, 6-5 206, Clearwater, FL -- 12.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Tory San Antonio #23 SR G, 6-3 165, Moreno Valley, CA -- 7.6 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Vincent Lee #13 SR F, 6-8 230, Midlothian, TX -- 7.6 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Grayson Carper #21 SR G, 6-6 190, Fresno, CA -- 4.3 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Garrison Wade #22 SR F, 6-6 200, Madison, MS -- 4.4 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 0.4 Ast
John Mikey Square #32 JR F, 6-6 210, North Bethesda, MD -- 3.1 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Daeshawn Eaton #1 JR G, 6-2 160, Columbia, MD -- 2.6 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Lathaniel Bastian #14 SO G, 6-8 225, Nassau, Bahamas -- 2.1 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Victor Panov #5 FR F, 6-7 230, Saint Petersburg, Russia -- 1.4 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia #10 SR F, 6-7 205, Bamako, Mali -- 3.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Cameron Carter #35 SR G, 6-2 180, Reno, NV -- 1.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Trey Blackmore #11 FR G, 6-2 165, San Antonio, TX - 0.8 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Jayden White #12 FR F, 6-7 200, San Marcos, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Justin White #24 FR F, 6-5 205, San Marcos, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
UCSB Roster
Ajay Mitchell #13 SO G, 6-4 180, Sainte Marie Namur (Belgium) -- 16.3 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 5.2 Ast
Miles Norris #5 SR F, 6-10 220, San Diego, CA -- 14.2 Pts, 6.2 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Andre Kelly #2 SR F, 6-8 255, Stockton, CA -- 9.5 Pts, 6.3 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Josh Pierre-Louis #1 SR G, 6-4 185, Plainfield, NJ -- 10.0 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 2.5 Ast
Cole Anderson #4 SO G, 6-4 185, Fresno, CA -- 7.3 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Calvin Wishart #10 SR G, 6-1 180, Delano, MN -- 7.0 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.8 Ast
Ajare Sanni #3 SR G, 6-3 170, Houston, TX -- 6.5 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Koat Keat Tong #00 FR F, 6-9 215, Bentiu, South Sudan -- 1.9 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Jakov Kukic #14 JR F, 6-10 230, Split, Croatia -- 2.3 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Matija Belic #32 FR G, 6-7 205, Belgrade, Serbia -- 1.3 Pts, 0.8 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Evans Kipruto #12 JR F, 6-8 250, Nairobi, Kenya -- 1.2 Pts, 0.8 Reb, 0.1 Ast
David Pickles #40 SO F, 6-10 235, Seattle, WA -- 1.0 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Gage Gomez #50 JR G, 6-3 190, Arroyo Grande, CA -- 0.2 Pts, 0.2 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Ariel Bland #23 SO F, 6-7 215, Eden Prairie, MN -- 0.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Henry Hartwell #51 FR G, 6-5 180, Oceanside, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Max Sheldon #53 SO G, 5-11 180, Santa Barbara, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Cal State Fullerton National Ranking Outliers
Team
- Assist/Turnover Ratio: 296 (0.89)
- Assists per game: 334 (10.5)
- Bench Points per game: 293 (14.81)
- Field Goal pct Defense: 57 (.416)
- Free Throw Attempts per game: 53 (20.7)
- Free Throws Made per game: 77 (14.4)
- Scoring Defense: 38 (64.9)
- Three-Point percentage: 31 (.374)
- Three-Point percentage Defense: 38 (.310)
- Turnover Margin: 44 (2.5)
- Turnovers Forced per game: 69 (14.31)
Player
- Latrell Wrightsell Jr. -- Double Doubles: 413 (2), Field Goal Attempts: 186 (389), Field Goal pct: 265 (.427), Field Goals: 252 (166), Minutes per game: 239 (33:17), Points: 246 (475), Points per game: 145 (16.4), Steals: 254 (43), Steals per game: 191 (1.48), Three Point Attempts: 215 (182), Three Pointers per game: 114 (2.45), Three Pointers: 167 (71)
- Jalen Harris -- Field Goal Attempts: 272 (364), Free Throw Attempts: 261 (129), Free Throw pct: 335 (.736), Free Throws: 284 (95)
- Max Jones -- Free Throw Attempts: 242 (131), Free Throw pct: 209 (.794), Free Throws: 201 (104)
- Vincent Lee -- Rebounds (offensive) per game: 273 (2.03)
UCSB National Ranking Outliers
Team
- Assist/Turnover ratio: 61 (1.26)
- Bench Points per game: 288 (14.91)
- Effective FG pct: 28 (.547)
- Field Goal pct: 7 (.496)
- Rebounds (Offensive) per game: 303 (8.15)
- Rebounds per game: 307 (32.03)
- Scoring Defense: 56 (65.7)
- Three Point Attempts per game: 341 (15.8)
- Three Pointers per game: 329 (5.5)
- Turnovers per game: 66 (11.4)
- Winning percentage: 19 (.788)
Players
- Ajay Mitchell -- Assist/Turnover ratio: 52 (2.34), Assists: 20 (171), Assists per game: 35 (5.2), Double Doubles: 285 (3), Field Goal Attempts: 265 (365), Field Goal pct: 93 (.504), Field Goals: 136 (184), Free Throw attempts: 48 (184), Free Throw pct: 156 (.815), Free Throws: 33 (150), Minutes per game: 209 (33:32), Points: 106 (538), Points per game: 150 (16.3), Steals: 194 (46), Steals per game: 245 (1.39)
- Calvin Wishart -- Assists: 344 (94)
- Miles Norris -- Blocks: 272 (27), Blocks per game: 309 (0.82), Double Doubles: 203 (4), Field Goal pct: 106 (.494), Field Goals: 238 (168), Minutes per game: 195 (33:39), Points: 263 (469), Points per game: 332 (14.2), Rebounds: 207 (206), Rebounds (defensive) per game: 261 (4.52), Rebounds per game: 258 (6.2)
- Andre Kelly -- Blocks: 344 (24), Double Doubles: 103 (7), Rebounds: 222 (203), Rebounds (defensive) per game: 150 (5.00), Rebounds per game: 241 (6.3)
- Josh Pierre-Louis -- Steals per game: 341 (1.28)
Prediction
Both of yesterday's semifinal contests went WAY over. With a championship on the line, I think the scoring goes down. It will be another close one, which is the type of contest we excel in. UCSB 66, Cal State Fullerton 65.
Official Site: https://www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-baskbl/index
Hey Guys!: https://247sports.com/college/cal-state ... rt-103523/
How to Watch: (ESPN+) https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/ ... 7ac4cd3a6b
How to Watch: (ESPN2) https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/ ... f5d8af65a5
How to Listen: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ucsb/
Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=458594
Friday, March 10, 2023
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Monday, March 6, 2023
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Hawaii vs UCSB Game Preview, by gauchodan
Game 31 (BW Game 20)
Hawai'i at UCSB
Saturday, March 4, 2023, 6:00 pm PST
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Quick Bite
The Gauchos (23-7, 14-5) are playing for a lot on Senior night. A win ensures UCSB of at least a share of the Big West regular-season title and at least the #2 seed for the Big West Tournament. If UC Irvine also loses to lowly CSU Bakersfield, the Gauchos will be the #1 seed and guaranteed a consolation prize of an NIT bid if they were to subsequently fall short in Henderson. One thing I can guarantee: this game will be close. UCSB thrives in games that go down to the wire. Thinking back, I believe the only game we really lost where the game was a 50-50 tossup with a minute to go was CSUN. Go figure.
The Rainbow Warriors (22-9, 13-6) also have a lot to play for. Hawai'i can finish as high as 2nd with a win and as low as 5th with a loss. JoVon McCLanahan is on a bit of a roll. He has 16 assists vs. just 2 turnovers in his last 3 games. Mor Seck has started the last 2 games and posted double doubles in both contests. The 'Bows have won their last 4 on the road, the 2nd-longest away win streak in their history.
Last meeting
Jan. 26: UC Santa Barbara 65, Hawai'i 64
HONOLULU -- Ajay Mitchell made a driving bank shot with 1.9 seconds left to lift the Gauchos (17-3, 9-1) over the Rainbow Warriors (15-6, 6-3). Mitchell scored 24 points as UCSB improved to 4-3 in its last 7 games to the Islands. UCSB led by as many as 13 points but Hawai'i rallied with a 9-0 run to take a 1-point lead.
UCSB's last game
March 2: UC Santa Barbara 89, UC Davis 86
DAVIS, Calif. -- Ajay Mitchell scored all 20 of his points in the 2nd half to carry the Gauchos (23-7, 14-5) past the Aggies (17-13, 10-8). Mitchell was 6-of-9 from the field in the 2nd half, making all 8 of his free throw attempts. Josh Pierre-Louis added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. UCSB was 16-of-16 from the free throw line in the 2nd half. Elijah Pepper scored 30 points for UC Davis.
UH's last game
March 2: Hawai'i 81, CSUN 55
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- JoVon McClanahan scored 18 points and Kamaka Hepa added 17 and the Rainbow Warriors (22-9, 13-6) ran away from a halftime tie to blow out the Matadors (7-24, 4-16). Hawai'i outscored CSUN 48-22 in the 2nd half, outshooting the Matadors 50% to 28% and landing 7-of-15 three pointers. Hepa and Mor Seck each recorded double doubles for the 'Bows. Atin Wright came off the bench to score 26 points for the Matadors.
The Arena
The Thunderdome
Capacity: 5,000
The game is a WHITE OUT, so we need everyone to wear wear and come support the Gauchos! We need an electric home court advantage to help us pull out a victory! We will be honoring our five seniors prior to the game! Tickets are still available if you don’t have yours already. Hope to see everyone there!
Hawai'i Roster
Noel Coleman #4 JR G, 6-1 175, Leopoldsburg, Belgium -- 12.1 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.7 Ast
Kamaka Hepa #44 SR F, 6-9 220, Utqiagvik, AK -- 11.8 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.5 Ast
JoVon McClanahan #3 JR G, 5-11 170, Vallejo, CA -- 11.3 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 3.4 Ast
Samuta Avea #32 SR G, 6-6 195, Hauula, HI Bingham High School -- 10.0 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Bernardo da Silva #5 JR F, 6-9 200, Rio Das Ostras, Brazil -- 9.8 Pts, 6.8 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Beon Riley #10 SO G, 6-6 225, Chula Vista, CA -- 4.9 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Justus Jackson #2 SO G, 6-1 170, Surprise, AZ -- 3.2 Pts, 1.1 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Harry Rouhliadeff #14 FR F, 6-9 220, Brisbane, Australia -- 3.4 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Mor Seck #23 FR C, 7-1 230, Ngayene Daour, Senegal -- 2.4 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Kody Williams #0 FR G, 6-0 190, Minnetonka, MN -- 0.7 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Amoro Lado #1 JR G, 6-2 180, Nampa, ID -- 0.8 Pts, 0.4 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Zoar Nedd #20 JR F, 6-7 210, Kapolei, HI -- 0.6 Pts, 0.6 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Ryan Rapp #22 JR G, 6-5 189, Melbourne, Australia -- 0.7 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Matija Svetozarevic #13 SO G, 6-8 215, Prokopovic, Serbia -- 0.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.0 Ast
UCSB Roster
Ajay Mitchell #13 SO G, 6-4 180, Sainte Marie Namur (Belgium) -- 15.9 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 4.9 Ast
Miles Norris #5 SR F, 6-10 220, San Diego, CA -- 14.1 Pts, 6.3 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Andre Kelly #2 SR F, 6-8 255, Stockton, CA -- 9.6 Pts, 6.4 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Josh Pierre-Louis #1 SR G, 6-4 185, Plainfield, NJ -- 9.7 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 2.4 Ast
Cole Anderson #4 SO G, 6-4 185, Fresno, CA -- 7.3 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Calvin Wishart #10 SR G, 6-1 180, Delano, MN -- 6.8 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 2.9 Ast
Ajare Sanni #3 SR G, 6-3 170, Houston, TX -- 6.5 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Koat Keat Tong #00 FR F, 6-9 215, Bentiu, South Sudan -- 1.9 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Jakov Kukic #14 JR F, 6-10 230, Split, Croatia -- 2.3 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Matija Belic #32 FR G, 6-7 205, Belgrade, Serbia -- 1.0 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Evans Kipruto #12 JR F, 6-8 250, Nairobi, Kenya -- 0.8 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.1 Ast
David Pickles #40 SO F, 6-10 235, Seattle, WA -- 1.5 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Gage Gomez #50 JR G, 6-3 190, Arroyo Grande, CA -- 0.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Ariel Bland #23 SO F, 6-7 215, Eden Prairie, MN -- 0.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Henry Hartwell #51 FR G, 6-5 180, Oceanside, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Max Sheldon #53 SO G, 5-11 180, Santa Barbara, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Hawai'i National Ranking Outliers
Team
- Assists per game: 317 (11.1)
- Bench points per game: 336 (12.13)
- Field Goal percentage Defense: 18 (.402)
- Free Throw percentage: 46 (.750)
- Scoring Defense: 12 (61.2)
- Scoring Offense: 286 (67.3)
- Steals per game: 333 (4.7)
- Three-Point percentage Defense: 7 (.289)
- Turnovers Forced per game: 292 (11.19)
- Winning percentage: 55 (.710)
Players
- JoVon McClanahan -- Assist/Turnover ratio: 105 (1.96), Assists: 201 (106), Assists per game: 244 (3.4), Free Throw Attempts: 196 (129), Free Throw percentage: 157 (.814), Free Throws: 152 (105)
- Bernardo da Silva -- Blocks: 160 (32), Blocks per game: 162 (1.10), Double Doubles: 263 (3), Rebounds: 199 (197), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 171 (4.93), Rebounds (Offensive) per game: 339 (1.86), Rebounds per game: 193 (6.8)
- Kamaka Hepa -- Blocks: 262 (26), Blocks per game: 299 (0.84), Double Doubles: 150 (5), Minutes per game: 312 (32:22), Rebounds: 186 (202), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 126 (5.29), Rebounds per game: 223 (6.5), Three Point Attempts: 254 (163), Three Pointers per game: 247 (2.06), Three Pointers: 204 (64)
- Mor Seck -- Blocks per game: 316 (0.81), Double Doubles: 392 (2)
- Samuta Avea -- Double Doubles: 263 (3)
- Noel Coleman -- Free Throw percentage: 51 (.863), Free Throws: 288 (88), Minutes per game: 126 (34:15), Three Point Attempts: 294 (157)
UCSB National Ranking Outliers
Team
- Bench Points per game: 289 (15.07)
- Effective FG percentage: 32 (.544)
- Field Goal percentage: 8 (.493)
- Rebounds (Offensive) per game: 290 (8.43)
- Rebounds per game: 295 (32.43)
- Scoring Defense: 57 (65.6)
- Three Point Attempts per game: 341 (15.9)
- Three Pointers per game: 330 (5.5)
- Winning percentage: 27 (.767)
Players
- Ajay Mitchell -- Assist/Turnover ratio: 78 (2.14), Assists: 47 (148), Assists per game: 49 (4.9), Double Doubles: 392 (2), Field Goal Attempts: 332 (328), Field Goal percentage: 109 (.497), Field Goals: 194 (163), Free Throw attempts: 74 (161), Free Throw percentage: 144 (.820), Free Throws: 49 (132), Minutes per game: 230 (33:16), Points: 175 (476), Points per game: 185 (15.9), Steals: 269 (40), Steals per game: 285 (1.33)
- Andre Kelly -- Double Doubles: 118 (6), Rebounds: 265 (185), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 152 (5.00), Rebounds per game: 242 (6.4)
- Miles Norris -- Blocks: 243 (27), Blocks per game: 260 (0.90), Double Doubles: 263 (3), Field Goal percentage: 108 (.498), Field Goals: 281 (153), Minutes per game: 212 (33:25), Points: 320 (423), Points per game: 341 (14.1), Rebounds: 245 (188), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 272 (4.50), Rebounds per game: 255 (6.3)
- Josh Pierre-Louis -- Steals per game: 267 (1.37)
Prediction
Each team will suffer through scoring droughts. Take the under and never bet against the Gauchos in the close ones. UCSB 65, Hawai'i 62.
Official Site: https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball
Hey Guys!: https://247sports.com/college/hawaii/bo ... na-102452/
How to Watch: (ESPNU) https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/ ... 1537a8821d
How to Watch: (ESPN+) https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=bc ... a98edbd4d3
Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=428865
Thursday, March 2, 2023
UCSB vs UCD Game Preview, by gauchodan
Game 30 (BW Game 19)
UCSB at UC Davis
Thursday, March 2, 2023, 6:00 pm PST
Davis, Calif.
Quick Bite
They are all must-win games now. This week, we must win twice to have any chance to gain the #1 seed for the Big West Tournament. While UC Irvine at UC Riverside is the marquee matchup, in the end it doesn't really matter who wins that game from our perspective. The Gauchos (22-7, 13-5) just need to win to keep pace, and hope for some help on Saturday. A depleted UCSB squad played very well last week. It was nice to get JPL back for the UCSD game, but the Gauchos managed to outlast speedy Long Beach State without him. Matija Belic has taken advantage of injuries to take on a more prominent role. He brings a propensity to drive and kick, and flashes well to open spots on the floor. The team in general is adjusting to life without KKK and Ajare.
Will this game even be played? A week ago, the Aggies (17-12, 10-7) canceled a game at Cal State Fullerton due to not having enough healthy players to field the 8 required to play. Two nights later, they were able to make the trip to last-place Cal Poly. Hmmm. It actually wouldn't hurt us to have the game canceled...we could still win the Big West outright with a win vs. Hawai'i coupled with the UCI/UCR winner losing on Saturday. UCD is in a battle to avoid 7th place, but that will largely depend on their Saturday matchup with Long Beach State. Elijah Pepper has been a scoring machine for the last month. Pepper is averaging 28.1 points on 19 shot attempts per game since January 26. During that stretch he is shooting .494 from the field (season average is .457), .419 from 3-point range (season average .337) and .852 from the free throw line (.800 season avg.). All this while averaging 38 minutes a game over his last 7 games. And who can forget Ty Johnson, who ended his last outing against the Gauchos as the bottom flapjack in an Andre Kelly tall stack? He'll run the point and try to annoy Ajay Mitchell again. UCD is devestated inside, and UCSB big men should have a field day. Operative word: should.
Last meeting
Feb. 11: UC Santa Barbara 84, UC Davis 74
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Ajay Mitchell scored 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead the Gauchos (20-4, 11-2) over the Aggies (14-11, 7-6). Johs Pierre-Louis added 18 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists for Santa Barbara, which reached 20 wins for the 5th time in Joe Pasternack's six seasons at the school. UCSB shot 61% from the field. Elijah Pepper scored 30 points for UC Davis, the 5th straight game in which he has scored at least 28.
UCSB's last game
Feb. 25: UC Santa Barbara 87, UC San Diego 71
LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Miles Norris made his first 8 shots from the field, scoring a season-high 25 points to spark the Gauchos (22-7, 13-5) to the runaway win over the Tritons (10-20, 5-13). Each UCSB starter scored in double digits, with Andre Kelly recording a double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Gauchos shot 59% from the field and made 10-of-17 (59%) shots from the 3-point line. Roddie Anderson III scored 21 points and Francis Nwaokorie added 19 for UC San Diego.
UCD's last game
Feb. 25: UC Davis 58, Cal Poly 52
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Elijah Pepper scored 20 points to become the leading single-season scorer in school history and the Aggies (17-12, 10-7) returned from a one-game hiatus to defeat the Mustangs (7-23, 1-17). Pepper, who has 617 points on the season, made 3 free throws with 59 seconds left to break a 52-52 tie. Cal Poly has lost 17 straight games and is locked into the 10 seed position for the Big West Tournament.
The Arena
University Credit Union Center
Capacity: 6,003
The Pavilion was renamed in July, 2021 thanks to a 10-year partnership between UC Davis and the credit union. The arena, originally known as Recreation Hall, opened in 1977. On Dec. 9, 1995, the basketball floor inside the arena was renamed Hamilton Court, in honor of former men’s basketball coach Bob Hamilton, who passed away just days prior to the ceremonies. As of a few years ago, his wife was still attending the Big West Tournament as I got a chance to meet her.
UC Davis Roster
Elijah Pepper #40 JR G, 6-4 200, Selah, WA -- 22.0 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 3.4 Ast
Ty Johnson #2 SO G, 6-3 190, Chicago, IL -- 14.6 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 2.3 Ast
Christian Anigwe #4 SR F, 6-9 220, Phoenix, AZ -- 12.0 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Robby Beasley #5 SO G, 6-3 190, San Ranon, CA -- 9.8 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 1.2 Ast
Kane Milling #0 JR G, 6-4 180, Nantes, France -- 7.2 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Leo DeBruhl #10 SO G, 6-2 190, Seattle, WA -- 4.7 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Ade Adebayo #24 JR G, 6-4 200, London, United Kingdom -- 3.8 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Niko Rocak #20 SO F, 6-9 220, Geneva, Switzerland -- 2.1 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Sione Lose #22 FR G, 6-4 170, Sacramento, CA -- 1.1 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Sam Manu #13 JR F, 6-7 210, San Mateo, CA -- 1.6 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.1 Ast
DeAndre Henry #15 JR F, 6-7 225, Phoenix, AZ -- 5.3 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Jac Mani #11 FR F, 6-9 217, Beverly Hills, CA -- 5.0 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Francesco Borra #55 SO F, 6-11 250, Moncalieri, Italy -- 1.2 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Patrick Lambey #23 JR F, 6-5 190, Granite Bay, CA -- 1.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
UCSB Roster
Ajay Mitchell #13 SO G, 6-4 180, Sainte Marie Namur (Belgium) -- 15.7 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 4.9 Ast
Miles Norris #5 SR F, 6-10 220, San Diego, CA -- 14.1 Pts, 6.3 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Andre Kelly #2 SR F, 6-8 255, Stockton, CA -- 9.5 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Josh Pierre-Louis #1 SR G, 6-4 185, Plainfield, NJ -- 9.5 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 2.3 Ast
Cole Anderson #4 SO G, 6-4 185, Fresno, CA -- 7.1 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Calvin Wishart #10 SR G, 6-1 180, Delano, MN -- 6.7 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 2.9 Ast
Ajare Sanni #3 SR G, 6-3 170, Houston, TX -- 6.5 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Koat Keat Tong #00 FR F, 6-9 215, Bentiu, South Sudan -- 1.9 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Jakov Kukic #14 JR F, 6-10 230, Split, Croatia -- 2.3 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Matija Belic #32 FR G, 6-7 205, Belgrade, Serbia -- 1.1 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Evans Kipruto #12 JR F, 6-8 250, Nairobi, Kenya -- 0.8 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.1 Ast
David Pickles #40 SO F, 6-10 235, Seattle, WA -- 1.5 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Gage Gomez #50 JR G, 6-3 190, Arroyo Grande, CA -- 0.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Ariel Bland #23 SO F, 6-7 215, Eden Prairie, MN -- 0.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Henry Hartwell #51 FR G, 6-5 180, Oceanside, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Max Sheldon #53 SO G, 5-11 180, Santa Barbara, CA -- 0.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
UC Davis National Ranking Outliers
Team
- Assist/Turnover Ratio: 316 (0.84)
- Bench Points per game: 317 (13.83)
- Fastbreak Points: 14 (14.52)
- Fouls per game: 300 (18.7)
- Free Throw Attempts per game: 5 (24.1)
- Free Throws Made per game: 16 (16.7)
- Rebound Margin: 44 (+4.5)
- Rebounds (Offensive) per game: 38 (11.93)
- Rebounds per game: 69 (36.90)
- Three Point percentage Defense: 323 (.368)
- Turnovers Forced per game: 43 (14.93)
- Turnovers per game: 326 (14.6)
Players
- Elijah Pepper -- Assist/Turnover ratio: 349 (0.98), Assists: 267 (96), Assists per game: 242 (3.4), Double Doubles: 380 (2), Field Goal Attempts: 17 (453), Field Goal percentage: 186 (.457), Field Goals: 30 (207), Free Throw attempts: 35 (175), Free Throw percentage: 186 (.800), Free Throws: 27 (140), Minutes per game: 81 (34:52), Points: 14 (617), Points per game: 8 (22.0), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 216 (4.71), Rebounds per game: 342 (5.9), Steals: 208 (42), Steals per game: 182 (1.50), Three Point Attempts: 124 (187), Three Pointers per game: 181 (2.25), Three Pointers: 202 (63)
- Christian Anigwe -- Blocks: 83 (39), Blocks per game: 72 (1.44), Double Doubles: 380 (2), Free Throw Attempts: 282 (117), Rebounds (Offensive) per game: 95 (2.59)
- Leo DeBruhl -- Double Doubles: 587 (1)
- Kane Milling -- Double Doubles: 587 (1)
- Robby Beasley -- Double Doubles: 587 (1)
- Ty Johnson -- Free Throw Attempts: 72 (159), Free Throws: 109 (112), Points: 345 (408), Points per game: 292 (14.6), Steals: 92 (50), Steals per game: 82 (1.79)
UCSB National Ranking Outliers
Team
- Bench Points per game: 287 (15.07)
- Effective FG percentage: 39 (.543)
- Field Goal percentage: 10 (.491)
- Rebounds (Offensive) per game: 279 (8.59)
- Rebounds per game: 288 (32.59)
- Scoring Defense: 41 (64.9)
- Three Point Attempts per game: 339 (16.1)
- Three Pointers per game: 328 (5.5)
- Winning percentage: 31 (.759)
Players
- Ajay Mitchell -- Assist/Turnover ratio: 78 (2.12), Assists: 52 (142), Assists per game: 54 (4.9), Double Doubles: 380 (2), Field Goal percentage: 105 (.500), Field Goals: 217 (157), Free Throw attempts: 89 (153), Free Throw percentage: 164 (.810), Free Throws: 65 (124), Minutes per game: 243 (33:07), Points: 201 (456), Points per game: 196 (15.7), Steals: 256 (40), Steals per game: 261 (1.38)
- Miles Norris -- Blocks: 251 (26), Blocks per game: 262 (0.90), Double Doubles: 261 (3), Field Goal percentage: 114 (.495), Field Goals: 321 (147), Minutes per game: 222 (33:19), Points: 345 (408), Points per game: 345 (14.1), Rebounds: 261 (183), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 276 (4.48), Rebounds per game: 252 (6.3)
- Andre Kelly -- Double Doubles: 113 (6), Rebounds: 273 (181), Rebounds (Defensive) per game: 151 (5.04), Rebounds per game: 231 (6.5)
- Josh Pierre-Louis -- Steals per game: 257 (1.38)
Prediction
Both teams have been degraded by apparent season-ending injuries. While UCSB appears to have rebounded, each player remaining needs to be play at a high level for them to win. The Aggies are a tough out, especially at home. Of course, they're depleted as well, but Pepper makes up for it with his bull-in-a-china-shop play. Pepper is unstoppable and playing at home...I think he's the x factor in this game. Prove me wrong, Gauchos! UC Davis 68, UCSB 66.
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