Next yer the Aggies will be without four current starters, returning only Sevilla. Between the returning players and the new recruits this will be one of Coach Les' biggest challenges in molding a new team. Then, too, I wonder who we meet lose to the transfer portal?

This is not meant as a criticism of TY Johnson, but it just struck me that one of the main problems that the Aggies have had recently is the lack of a true point guard. TY is really more of a shooting guard, yet he usually brings the ball into the front court. He only averages 2.8 assists per game, which is 15th in the Big West. Devin Askew of Long Beach State is first with 4.7 apr. TY's assist to turnover ratio is 0.72. Leo DeBruhl, meanwhile, has a 2.1 ratio and leads the Ags in that category as well as apr, 2.1. Maybe Coach Les thinks of DeBruhl as his point guard, but I haven't had the sense that Leo really has that role. Thus UCD ranks 9th in the conference in assists per game and 8th in assist/turnover. Eli Pepper was not a true point guard either, but his presence really gave the Aggies a great 1-2 scoring punch and it placed TY in the point guard role last year in which he averaged 3.3 apg.

Yes, I addressed both of these points in the discussion about the Big West post-season.

Games of Feb. 22

UC Santa Barbara (18-10/10-7) 58, Long Beach State (home,7-21/3-13)
Cal Poly (home, 11-15/5-11) 110, UC Riverside (18-11/11-6) 100 OT
UC Irvine (23-5/13-3) 73, CSU Bakersfield (home, 12-17/6-11) 64
UC San Diego (home, 24-4/14-2) 83, Hawai`i (14-13/6-10) 44

It’s scary to note that the Tritons have now won their last 3 games by an average of 26 points and have won 10 in a row. Hawai`i, the Aggies next opponent has gone in the other direction having won only 2 of their last 9. I note that this discussion has not drawn much interest lately, so unless I hear from those of you who like it, this will be my last post here.

With today's loss a four seed for the Aggies is likely out of reach even with Riverside’s loss to Cal Poly. UC Santa Barbara's win makes the fifth seed less likely although the Gauchos could finish 10-10 and would lose the tiebreaker with the Ags. For that to have a slight chance, UC Davis has to beat either Hawai`i on the road or UCI or UCSD. Whether or not they beat Hawai`i, I don't see us falling below a 6 seed unless Bakersfield edges us out. The way CSUN is playing right now, one has to think they could edge out the Anteaters for the second seed. Looks like UCR and UCSB will fight it out for the last top 4 spot.

I get that the Aggies played well for most of the game and the Matadors need to have full credit for coming on strong at the end and winning. If I were a CSUN fan I would be very happy. Still, I did not see fatigue toward the end as much as a case of panic setting end when the Mats started their run. It was similar to the way we lost to the Roadrunners. Good teams are able to find ways to win in the clutch. Right now, UCD appears to be headed for a 9-11 season and a probable 6 seed. I'm hoping for 10-10 if we can beat Hawai`i.

I'm still doing a slow burn after the game. It's like the whole season is in the toilet, but I'm still going to the game next Saturday hoping the Ags can beat Hawai`i.

That was the worst collapse it has ever been my misfortune to see. How do you blow a 12 point lead with less than 7 minutes to go? I'm beginning to think that what this team lacks is that psychological toughness it takes to win in the clutch. Second straight game that they've let one of the role players on the opposition take over the game. I'm pretty disgusted.

Terrible time for the Ags to fall apart and let CSUN go on an 11-0 run. Time to settle down, guys. Pull this one out.

Ags continuing to play solid D plus making 80% of their foul shots. Where was this on Thursday? Now up by 10 with 11 to go.

Decent first half, but I wish we were up by a lot more than 3 at the half. CSUN is not likely to have 13 turnovers in the second half.

Ags have come out with a lot more energy in this one. They're going to need to sustain it and shoot better.

AGs offense was sporadic for reasons I can't guess. They opened the first half hitting 8 of 12 from the floor including 4 of 5 from trey range and getting out to a 5 point lead, then they went stone cold until midway through the second half only making 5 of 16. They ended the game with another decent shooting effort. I can see how a team can go hot and cold for short stretches but this seemed unusual. Could it be attributable to the changing tactics of the coaches? If so, why didn't Coach Les make adjustments earlier, especially at halftime?

I envy all who can attend the games in person at Davis. I'll be going to the game next week in Hawai`1, where I will be cheering for the Aggies in the middle of a hostile crowd seeking revenge for the Warriors loss at Davis, but it won't keep me from voicing my support. I've seen more Aggie men's basketball both live and on ESPN than any other sport.

I've often thought that we fans have lost the value of every game for the game itself. The context of leagues and playoffs has resulted in the concept of a "meaningless" game, but for most athletes the game is context in itself, to be played to win. So my point is that the season might seem hopeless for UC Davis in that the chance of getting to the NCAAs or winning any kind of title is almost nonexistent. For myself now, each game becomes a chance to root for the team to play better and to win. It starts tomorrow with CSUN. Go Ags!

Games of Feb. 20

UC Santa Barbara (home, 18-10/9-7) 86, CSU Fullerton (6-2 2/1-15) 56
CSUN (19-7/11-4) 84,UC Irvine (home, 22-5/12-3) 72,
UC San Diego (23-4/13-2) 81, Cal Poly (home, 10-17/4-11) 67
UC Riverside (home, 18-10/11-5) 87, Long Beach State (7-20/3-12) 66

The Aggies loss today coupled with the wins by both CSUN and UCR really make the odds of UC Davis getting a first round bye look pretty small. It looks like UCI is starting to struggle. In addition to being hammered by UCSD and upset by CSUN, two of their victories have been by close even though they were in Irvine. The way they dismantled t4h Aggies makes me think the Tritons are the class of the Big West. One thing is now certain: Fullerton will not make the Big West tournament.

It would be too easy to say that the Aggies lost this game at the foul line since CSU Bakersfield outscored us there by 14 points, but the Ags didn't play very good defense, didn't rebound well especially on their own boards, and you can't blame the officials for calling a one-sided game. It's worth noting, too, that TY hit only 3 of 9 from inside the arc. It looks like there is something about the matchups against the Roadrunners that placed UCD at disadvantage.

I can't understand how these guys are only 5-10 in the Big West. They're a lot better than their record. They play good defense. They've out-rebounded UCD 20-10. They shoot well. What's their problem or do they only play well against the Ags?

It ranks right there with Oregon's old Donald Duck logo.

Scott noted that the Aggies can clinch a playoff spot with a win today.