UCI hasn't danced for four years and will be hard pressed to this year after losing their two best players to the portal. NIL has changed everything and UCSB has the fortune to have some resources that most mid-majors do not. We landed 3 transfers from power conferences, each rated 4* or higher out of HS beating out the likes of Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma and Providence. UCSB has danced two of the past three years, including a last second 1pt loss to Creighton in 2021 plus led at HT this year vs. Baylor. A lack of depth due to late season injuries to Sanni and Keat Tong caught up to the Gauchos in the 2nd half. Even fans in the Big East recognize that something special is building in Santa Barbara. With UCI losing Dawson & Butler and LB without a PG, the bullseye lands squarely on the chest of the UCSB jersey.
I don't have direct knowledge but it can be inferred that Pasternack has tapped into $ for NIL
Since he came to UCSB Pasternack has landed millions for improvements to the Thunderdome. Seems logical that the pipeline is now feeding the NIL
Without that I doubt SB lands the caliber recruits they have, let alone keep their best returning players
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