2023-24 college basketball Big West conference preview: Santa Barbara is a mid-major sleeping giant!

 

UC-Santa Barbara vs. Cal State-Northridge - 2/3/18 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction

https://sportschatplace.com/college-basketball-picks/2018/02/03/uc-santa-barbara-vs-cal-state-northridge-2/3/18-college-basketball-pick-odds-and-prediction?utm_campaign=Contact+Quiboat+For+More+Referrer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=quiboat&utm_content=&utm_term=

Montana vs. UC-Santa Barbara - 11/21/17 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction

https://sportschatplace.com/college-basketball-picks/2017/11/21/montana-vs-uc-santa-barbara-11/21/17-college-basketball-pick-odds-and-prediction?utm_campaign=Contact+Quiboat+For+More+Referrer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=quiboat&utm_content=&utm_term=

Ranking every team in college basketball from 1-351

UCSB is ranked 226 in this preseason ESPN men's basketball poll.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21238280/ranking-every-team-college-basketball-1-351

College Basketball So Far

http://www.independent.com/news/2014/dec/18/college-basketball-so-far/

Night Court: First day of college basketball season full of blowouts

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24807911/night-court-first-day-of-college-basketball-season-full-of-blowouts

#5 Kansas defeats plucky UC-Santa Barbara team by 10 at Phog Allen Fieldhouse
In a physical, ugly game, Kansas came away with a 69-59 win against a tough mid-major in UC-Santa Barbara. The Jayhawks got a well-rounded performance with five guys scoring between 14 and nine points. They probably would have liked to see a stronger performance though, given that their next matchup is Kentucky on Tuesday. UCSB's 2-3 zone forced Bill Self's team into 16 turnovers, and repeated failed defensive rotations led to open Gaucho looks. Alan Williams of UCSB was a dominant force inside as usual, scoring 22 points and adding 13 rebounds with four blocks, but the Kansas bigs availed themselves well in making life extremely difficult for him. UCSB faces a pretty tough schedule with five high-major out-of-conference opponents, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them pull an upset or two based on their performance tonight.

Early College Basketball Non-Conference Upset Alerts

http://bustingbrackets.com/2014/09/12/early-non-conference-upset-alerts/

UCSB @ SMU 12/8 

Even without Emmanuel Mudiay, SMU is a hot pick as a team to break out this season. With a highly respected coach in Larry Brown and a roster full of the guys who almost won the NIT last season, the Mustangs do appear primed for a big season.

While dates at Gonzaga, Michigan, and Indiana will be the main non-conference stressors for SMU and its fans, Alan Williams and his Gauchos lurk in the shadows, ready to strike.
Williams is a legitimate star, and gets ignored far too often because he plies his trade in the basketball Siberia of the Big West (ironically, UCSB is basically paradise for an 18-23 year old in all other respects. Fair trade-off).

The big man averaged 21.3 and 11.5 on 53% shooting last year, and should push those numbers even higher last year. If UCSB is able to dominate the Big West as many think they should, Williams will be a potential All-American. He’s that good.

The ‘Chos will also bring back sharp shooter Michael Bryson (11.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG, shot 42% from beyond the arc) and point guard and leading assist-man Zalmico Harmon (8 PPG and 5 APG). They are an experienced bunch, and with a workhorse like Alan Williams, they won’t be afraid of any Mustangs.

Predicting the Top Mid-Major Stars for the 2014-15 College Basketball Season - Alan Williams

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2106964-predicting-the-top-mid-major-stars-for-the-2014-15-college-basketball-season/page/19

The Forgotten Little Big Man Of College Basketball

http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-forgotten-little-big-man-in-college-basketball-1507331661/@kylenw

Shorthanded UCSB Battles Utah State Before Falling, 71-64

http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2013-14/releases/20131117xqm39s

Box Score

USU Men's Basketball Hits Road For First Time In Match Up With UC Santa Barbara

http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111413aac.html

Inspired Gauchos Crush UNLV, 86-65

http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2013-14/releases/20131113z1xw4t

Box Score

UCSB shows Rebels, Rice how to play, coach

http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/ed-graney/ucsb-shows-rebels-rice-how-play-coach

UNLV’s Dejean-Jones could make his season debut against UC Santa Barbara

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/nov/12/unlvs-dejean-jones-could-make-his-debut-against-uc/

UC Santa Barbara: Ranking the 20 Best Court Designs in College Basketball

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1689707-ranking-the-20-best-court-designs-in-college-basketball/page/11

10 NCAA Basketball Players Who Will Be Dominant Rebounders in 2013-14 Season - Alan Williams

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1660550-10-ncaa-basketball-players-who-will-be-dominant-rebounders-in-2013-14-season/page/10

Bryson Leads Stirring Comeback but Gauchos Lose Thriller to Pacific, 71-68

http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/releases/20130314dxvt8k

Box Score

Ventura College point guard Zalmico Harmon is driven to succeed

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/feb/15/ventura-college-point-guard-zalmico-harmon-is-to/

Williams Selected Big West Player of the Week for the Second Time in 2012-13

http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/releases/20130311jikj2m

VC's Zalmico Harmon named top player in WSC North

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/mar/02/vcs-zalmico-harmon-named-top-player-in-wsc-north/