Gaucho preview: James Nunnally

James Nunnally had a stellar freshman season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. But his overall season statistics are a bit misleading, as the sophomore wing really didn't come into his own until later in the season, when he scored double figures in six of the last seven games. Over the course of the season, Nunnally gradually improved, becoming acclimated to the faster pace and physical nature of Division 1 NCAA basketball.

The 6'5" Nunnally had a breakout game against the University of North Carolina Tarheels, the eventual NCAA champions. He scored 22 points and had 7 rebounds against the best team in the country, all within 26 minutes of play. Another highlight was the regular season finale against Long Beach State, when Nunnally made the winning basket--a running 3-point buzzer-beater, on his way to 20 points for the game. For the season, Nunnally made 36.1% of his 3-point shots, but made 66.7% over the last 4 games.

Nunnally has a well-rounded offensive game, with the ability to finish inside, shoot the outside jumper and find his open teammates. With improved strength, explosiveness, basketball IQ, handles, and defensive intensity, Nunnally could become one of the best perimeter players in the Big West Conference.

Gaucho preview: Will Brew

Will Brew, Jr. is entering his second season as a Gaucho with a season of starting at the point guard position under his belt. The 6'3" sophomore started 23 of 31 games last year, averaging 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, while dishing out 54 assists and stealing the ball 30 times.

As Brew gained more experience, his shooting percentages improved through conference play. His fg% was .421, while his 3-pt. fg% was an outstanding .403. Besides being forced to handle point guard duties on offense due to a season-ending injury to Justin Joyner, Brew's biggest asset is his defensive intensity. Aside from being a tenacious rebounder on the perimeter, Brew forced numerous turnovers with defensive pressure. Brew's athleticism also allows him to finish strong at the rim, while his penetration skills open up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

With Joyner back, Brew will provide experienced depth at both guard positions, giving the Gauchos lineup a lock-down defender who can create at the offensive end, and shoot the 3-point shot.

Gaucho preview: Sam Phippen

Sam Phippen will provide much needed experience at the power forward position his junior season. Phippen played in 30 games last season, averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds a game. With Jesse Byrd out for the season due to a knee injury, the 6'9" Phippen figures more prominently in the Gaucho frontcourt, and will be expected to pick up some of the void left by Byrd on the boards and on defense.

However, Phippen's greatest talent is his ability to knock down the outside jumper, an advantage for a post player, as he can draw his defender out to the perimeter. In fact, Phippen was so proficient from beyond the 3-point arc, that he led the Gauchos in 3-pt. shooting with an outstanding .563 fg percentage. The redshirt junior will be asked to play more minutes and carry more of the offensive load this season.

Gaucho preview: Justin Joyner

Justin Joyner returns as the Gauchos starting point guard after sitting out last year due to a broken wrist. The six-foot redshirt junior will again run the Gaucho offense, as he did his freshman and sophomore seasons. Joyner started all 32 games his sophomore season, averaging 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds despite playing through that injured wrist. More importantly, he dished out 116 assists and committed only 56 turnovers, giving him an assist/turnover ratio of 2.1/1.0, among the best in the Big West Conference.

A ball hawk on defense, Joyner also had 35 steals during that 2007/2008 season. He will provide proven, experienced leadership on both sides of the ball, with increased basketball knowledge from watching the action from the sidelines all last season. Another benefit from being sidelined with an injured right wrist is that Joyner has been able to increase his dexterity with his left-hand, making him even more dangerous with penetrations and finishes.

The play-maker will be able to provide leadership while on the court, and not just from the sidelines. The only people looking forward to the upcoming season more than Joyner may be his teammates, as they know he will provide them with plenty of scoring opportunities.

Gaucho preview: Paul Roemer

Paul Roemer, a 6-foot senior guard, returns for a 4th year in the Gaucho program. The scrappy combination guard started 18 games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds a game last season. He was also second on the team in assists with 56 and contributed 30 steals.

In fact, that is where Roemer is at his best, usually checking the opponents' best perimeter player. Along with backcourt mate Justin Joyner, who was a high school teammate at De La Salle High School in Concord, CA, Roemer will be expected to provide senior leadership for the younger guns in the program. Whether it's handling the ball or taking a charge on defense, Roemer will lead by example as the Gauchos seek a Big West Conference title for the 2009 - 2010 season.

Gaucho preview: Jordan Weiner

Jordan Weiner will continue his role as a designated 3-point shooter. The 6-foot junior averaged 3.5 points per game last season, and shot .382 from beyond the 3-point line. His 29 3-point field goals ranked second on the team, a remarkable feat considering his minutes played ranked 10th on the team.

Weiner also collected 12 steals on the defensive end. Look for the sharp-shooter to be a zone buster from the perimeter again, and scoring more 3-point buckets this season.

Gaucho preview: Chris Brew

Chris Brew is a highly-decorated true freshman from St. Mary's High in Berkeley, CA. The 6'3" guard averaged 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.3 steals, and 8.6 assists per game as a senior last year. As a junior, along with older brother Will Brew, Jr., Chris helped St. Mary's win the CIF championship and finish 2nd in the State tournament. Will, now a Gaucho sophomore, and Chris bring aggressive styles of play both on offense and defense.

Chris attacks the basket and finishes at the rim in traffic. Known for being extremely athletic, he excels in transition. Due to his length, he also causes havoc on the defensive end. With a developing outside jumper, Chris also needs work in the weight room to withstand the rigors of Division 1 play.

While a candidate to redshirt in order to adjust to NCAA basketball on and off the court, Chris may be too talented to redshirt, despite quality depth in the Gaucho backcourt. Whether he redshirts or not, Gaucho fans can expect plenty of excitement at the Thunderdome the next few years from both Brew brothers.

Gaucho preview: Jaime Serna

With practice starting next week, and the season a month away, it's about time to re-visit Gaucho returnees, and get acquainted with the newcomers. Up first is Jaime Serna, the 6'7" sophomore power forward / center for the Gauchos.

Serna averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a true freshman last season, shooting .538 from the field, and .662 from the free throw line. Serna will be called on to play tough interior defense, and grab rebounds on both ends of the floor, especially with frontcourt mate Jesse Byrd out for the season due to a lingering knee injury. Serna will also be counted on to score more inside, expanding his repertoire of offensive moves in the post. His physical presence inside will be important for the Gauchos, as the Gauchos appear loaded on the perimeter.

Serna will probably start at one of the forward positions, which he did for the last 16 games last season. He is one of four returnees who were part of a vaunted freshman class from 2008, and if form holds true that the biggest improvement occurs between the first and second seasons, look for the Gauchos to have a much better team this season.

Byrd's Gaucho career ends

Jesse Byrd's career with the UCSB Men's basketball team has prematurely ended. A second injury to the senior center's left knee has resulted in his decision to no longer play for the Gauchos.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100909aaa.html

Gaucho season tickets on sale

The UCSB Men's basketball program is now offering tickets for the 2009-2010 season at the Thunderdome.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091409aab.html

Also, check out the newly painted floor in the Thunderdome:

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091409aad.html

The Gauchos return a lot firepower and add a talented corps of newcomers in their pursuit of a Big West Conference championship.

Justin Joyner

With the UCSB Men's basketball season just around the corner, it's time to get re-acquainted with returnees as well as introduce ourselves to incoming players. Here is an article from the UCSB official athletics site on two-year starting point guard Justin Joyner.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/083109aae.html

Justin redshirted last year to recover from a broken wrist and he looks ready to lead the Gauchos back to a Big West title. Good luck Justin!

All-time list of NCAA basketball programs

Based on subjective criteria, the UCSB men's basketball program is ranked #142 among Division 1 programs, in a survey created by ESPN/Sagarin.

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/1004/cbe1.pdf

Troy Leaf verbals to UCSB basketball

Combination guard Troy Leaf from San Diego, CA gave a verbal commitment to play basketball for the UCSB Gauchos Men's team starting in 2010. The 6'2" senior from Foothill Christian High in El Cajon, CA has averaged 25.5 points per game over three years. Leaf originally committed to San Diego State after his freshman year, but de-committed last month, citing concerns of over-recruitment of guards by SDSU.

Leaf was named the All-State Junior Basketball Player of the Year last year by CalHiSports.com.

Here are photos of Troy Leaf in action:

http://www.maxpreps.com/photo/gallery.aspx?athleteid=1eff71c3-8fe8-454b-a95c-7ca7e4b27812&imageid=370afdcc-1b30-49c2-82c6-2f3bd237f1a5&ssid=08e31156-1f2d-4c08-b687-afb41d9f9601#imageid=370afdcc-1b30-49c2-82c6-2f3bd237f1a5

Orlando Johnson dunk

Orlando Johnson, playing in the San Francisco Summer Pro-Am league, dunks on an opponent. Hope we see more of this from the sophomore transfer in the upcoming season.

Chris Devine signs to play in Belgium

Chris Devine, former UCSB Men's basketball player, signed a professional contract to play for Voo Verviers-Pepinster in Belgium's first division league. Devine ended his career as the third-leading scorer and fifth-leading rebounder in Gaucho history.


http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/080509aaa.html

Gaucho Summer Hoops

Several UCSB Gaucho hoopsters are playing well in various venues this summer.

Greg Somogyi, a 7'2" sophomore center, is representing his native Hungary in an under-20 age group European championship tournament.

James Nunnally and Orlando Johnson are playing in the San Francisco Pro-Am League, while Jaime Serna and James Powell are in the Rod Smith Say No Classic in Los Angeles.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/072109aaa.html

Guard Kyle Boswell verbals to UCSB

According to the Orange County Register:

Edison guard Kyle Boswell, 6-foot-1, has committed to UC Santa Barbara, Edison coach Rich Boyce confirmed today.

Boswell missed much of the 2008-09 season, his junor year, because of a back injury. He set the school single-season scoring record as a sophomore. He can sign a letter of intent with UCSB in Novemeber.

Here is ESPN's evaluation of the 2010 recruit from Huntington Beach, CA:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=54709&season=2010&action=login&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player%3frecruitId%3d54709%26season%3d2010

Apparently, the shooting guard can fill it up from the perimeter. Good luck to Kyle and welcome to the Gaucho program.

Somogyi will represent Hungary in 20-and Under European Championships

UCSB Gauchos freshman center Greg Somogyi will represent his country in the 20-and Under European basketball championships. The 7'3" Budapest native will train with the Hungarian national team this summer.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060909aab.html

Orlando Johnson article

There is a great article on the UCSB Gauchos athletic website about Orlando Johnson, a redshirt freshman transfer from LMU. OJ had to sit out the past basketball season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will be eligible to play his upcoming sophomore season.

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061709aaa.html

It chronicles the struggles he's overcome, and the great support system his two brothers have provided him. He has become one of the team leaders and a player Gaucho fans can look forward to following.

UCSB Recruit Lucas Devenny Highlight

2009 UCSB Men's basketball incoming freshman Lucas Devenny runs the floor and dunks: