Our Stories: The Thunderdome

http://youtu.be/o6k61aNarls

College Basketball Predictions: Top 10 Scorers in 2011-12: Orlando Johnson

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/739968-college-basketball-predictions-the-top-10-scorers-in-the-country-in-2011-12/page/9

College Sports Madness Top 144 Previews

Here are previews of Big West rivals Cal Poly, SLO and Long Beach State:

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/657

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/1090 

Long Beach State dominated the Big West last season, but an upset loss at the hands of UCSB in the Big West Conference Tournament left the 49ers out of the big dance and stuck in the little dance. However, the big four are back and all seniors and they will not let that happen again.

Cal Poly may give Long Beach State a run for their money, but this team is too talented to lose the Big West. With Ware, Anderson, Robinson and Phelps leading the way, it is impossible to find a more talented group of starters in the Big West.

Ummm, this should be good locker room material in the Thunderdome, and in Anaheim.

Pacers hire former UCSB star Shaw as associate head coach

http://www.ksby.com/news/pacers-hire-former-ucsb-star-shaw-as-associate-head-coach/

Kobe takes on teen trash-talker

Here is another video of Kobe Bryant at his basketball camp in UCSB's Thunderdome. 


http://outofbounds.yahoo.com/?vid=25909171

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant basketball camps at UCSB

UCSB is a beautiful campus in a beautiful location.  It's been home to Michael Jordan's Flight School basketball camp for years. 

http://michaeljordanbasketballcamp.com/navigation.html

And for the 2nd year, it is also home to Kobe Bryant's Basketball Academy. 

http://www.kobeacademy.com/

Here is a video of former UCSB and NBA star Brian Shaw at Kobe's camp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxBfoJr6oQY&feature=player_embedded

College Basketball: Ranking the 12 Best Players of 2011-2012, Honorable Mention: Best of the Rest

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/757919-college-basketball-ranking-the-12-best-players-of-2011-2012/page/14

Orlando Johnson, Guard, UCSB: Johnson is the most unknown talent in all of College hoops. The two-time Big West leading scorer is in a league of his own. Two game winners last year and multiple 30+ showings are an appealing prospect for NBA teams looking for a second round steal.

Orlando Johnson invited to LeBron James Skills Academy

http://www.fivestarbasketball.com/articles/07-06-2011-lebron-james-skills-academy-preview

Student splits $40K in winnings among runners-up

This is a feel-good story about a recruit from one UCSB's Big West Conference rival programs, CSUN. 

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1237085

On the Mark The AD Report

http://ucsbgauchos.com/information/on_the_mark

Butte standouts moving on: Shawn Moore

http://www.chicoer.com/rss/ci_18351873?source=rss

Shawn Moore, a Pleasant Valley High grad, chose a different path. The reigning GVC's Most Valuable Player passed up offers from smaller schools for a chance to walk-on at UC Santa Barbara.

Moore had offers from schools such as Lewis and Clark, Pacific (Ore.) and some schools in the Midwest region and some schools back east, Butte men's basketball coach Russ Critchfield said.

The Roadrunners coach added Moore has a good chance of becoming a player for the Gauchos.
"They're going to give him a good look down there. They had an interest. They liked him on film," Critchfield said. "He's accepted, and he's going to try to take down a spot. He chose the challenge."

Of course, by walking on, Moore won't have anything handed to him.

"No guarantees," Critchfield said, "but I wouldn't bet against him."

Butte's opponents wouldn't either most likely. The nearly 6-foot-5, 210-pound player came on strong in conference play as he earned MVP honors. He led Butte, which went 9-1 in GVC play, in several categories including conference scoring.

"He was getting more aggressive on offense, looking to score," Critchfield explained. "After Christmas, we sat down and talked.  He had to step up and almost be a little more selfish."

One of the traits that the Gauchos liked about Moore is his versatility, Critchfield said. 

Moore can contribute on both ends of the floor, where he can play as both a perimeter player with a medium-range game or inside as his knack for getting rebounds and drawing contact comes in handy.  His defensive assignments were also just as varied sometimes guarding bigger players.

"He really improved as he gained more confidence," Critchfield said.   

Taran Brown highlight 2011

http://youtu.be/dn7-AEqyKys

Interview with Tom Hastings, UCSB Executive Associate Athletics Director

With the recent hiring of the Gaucho Women's basketball head coach and assistant coaches, the baseball head coach, and the men's basketball assistant coach, the UCSB Athletics Department has been a whirlwind of activity.  Tom Hastings, Executive Associate AD, External Affairs, was kind enough to check in with Gaucho Hoops during this very busy off-season.  We touched on a variety of topics, and here is a recap: 

Gaucho Hoops (GH):  The men's volleyball had a magical run that just fell short in the national championship final, against long odds.  What can we learn from that? 

Tom Hastings (TH):  Our expectations for that team last year were really high. We felt that with our coaching staff and the 8 seniors we had, that we were poised all year to make that run. I think, more than anything else, it re-energized our volleyball community and our alumni base. Certainly it has sparked some interest on the recruiting trail as well and we hope that our coaches can capitalize on that.

GH:  Speaking of national championships, the hosting of soccer's College Cup at Harder Stadium was a resounding success.  Are there plans for UCSB to host College Cups in the future?  Can you expand on the benefits to UCSB Athletics and the Santa Barbara community in hosting the Cup? 

TH: We are certainly interested in hosting the Cup again. At this point we are waiting for the NCAA to open the bidding process for 2012 and beyond which, we are told, should happen in the fall. The benefits to the community and our University were several:

• Out of town visitors brought in, we think somewhere close to $1-million in economic impact.
• Having UCSB and Santa Barbara showcased on ESPN is exposure you just can’t get anywhere else. And when you get an 80+ degree day on December 12, people really take notice of just how beautiful and special Santa Barbara and this campus is.

GH:  Since the interview with Mark Massari <click here>, UCSB has implemented some marketing ideas to enhance the "Loco" experience.  With the help of another Big West championship, are we seeing higher attendance, more donations, and increased fan interest, also?  Can we expect a return of Thunder to the Thunderdome? 

TH: We will always work to increase fan interest and donor involvement. They are paramount to the future success of our department, particularly in this time of unprecedented crisis in the UC system. Our Gaucho Fund donors responded this year with the highest ever level of annual giving. Its truly incredible when the overwhelming majority of our donors are not UCSB alums. We think they support us because we run a clean, sound department and have terrific young men and women who compete at the highest levels.

In specific terms of the ‘Loco’ experience. We will continue to offer special promotions, incentives and opportunities for our students. Ask every one of our student-athletes and they will tell you just how much of a bump they get from a packed crowd. When the Thunderdome is rocking, there is no place like that and Locos make the difference. We want that at all of our venues.

GH:  Have the successive runs into the NCAA's raised UCSB's visibility from a national perspective?  What can fans do to maximize the momentum of our recent success in men's basketball? 

TH: There is no doubt that men’s basketball’s visibility has raised our National profile. It also boosts the school pride of everyone at UCSB, from current students to alumni. I think for fans to maximize it, they need to come and watch us play, get involved and really understand what we are about.

GH:  Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to discuss Gaucho athletics, Tom.

Somogyi to Join Hungarian National Team for World University Games

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062211aaa.html

UCSB Hires Checketts as New Baseball Coach

The head baseball coach hire was important to UCSB Athletics, so I am including the announcement. 

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/062211aae.html

2011 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team Training Camp To Feature 22 Top Collegians

http://www.teamusa.org/news/2011/06/08/2011-usa-basketball-men-s-world-university-games-team-training-camp-to-feature-22-top-collegians/42718

Williams Adds Ryan Madry to Complete Coaching Staff

It's official: 

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061611aaa.html

Is Ryan Madry the new Gaucho men's basketball assistant coach?

Rumor on the Gaucholocos message board is that Ryan Madry has just been hired as the new UCSB men's basketball Assistant Coach.  Ryan previously served as the Director of Basketball Operations for the CSF Titans program.  There have been no confirming official press releases, but expect one soon.

Video of UCSB 2012 recruit Delante Dunklin

http://www.dreamvisionaau.org/ballislife-video-60-delante-dunklin-real-deal-in-the-rock/

Delante Dunklin interview:


http://youtu.be/zcOO_nPNGwc

Scout: 2012 recruit Delante Dunklin

http://hscalifornia.scout.com/a.z?s=153&p=8&c=1&nid=5605299

Schools of Interest:

School	Interest Level	Offer?	Visit Date	Signed LOI?
Boise State	Med Interest	No	None
Cal Poly	Med Interest	Yes	None
Fairfield	Med Interest	No	None
Harvard	Med Interest	No	None
Pennsylvania	Med Interest	No	None
San Diego	Med Interest	Yes	None
Santa Barbara	Med Interest	Yes	None
Yale	Med Interest	No	None