Sorry to hear he was hurt. Of course us Gaucho fans will root for him, and for Milling (as long as we have a comfortable lead :-)

Copying my post from BW Stretch topic to here now that I see that there was a mistake made in the header of the redundant Bake thread:

You guys are correct, tonight's game is the biggest one of the conference season for both teams with the loser forced to play the extra game.

As for the outcome, with Davis being the most schizophrenic team in the conference, impossible to make a prediction with confidence.

UCSB has been trending in a positive direction, largely due to freshman pg Ajay Mitchell growing into a star player. The improvement has happened despite losing starting SG Ajare Sanni to an ankle injury; the reigning BW 6th Man award winner hasn't played since the end of January. Amadou Sow, with the exception of a 4 game slump early in the conference season, has been very reliable and will likely be All BW 1st team again and the other two back court players; Calvin Wishart and Josh Pierre Louis have stepped up of late too.

In all but one BWC game, UCSB has held a double digit lead in the first half yet they are only 4-5 in conference (5-6 counting games vs. UCSD). The one exception was a one point loss to UCI. It looked like that pattern was going to repeat vs LB as they went down in the 2nd half after leading the entire game, but they were able to quickly get the lead back and win by 13 over the 1st place Sharks (or whatever they're calling themselves now).
Point being, UCSB may very well jump out to a big lead but they suck at holding them so won't mean a Gaucho win.

It will likely come down to whether or not UCSB guards can stop Manjon, Fuller and Pepper from penetrating. If they can keep them out of the paint effectively, the Gauchos probably win.

Question, is BJ Shaw injured? I see he played just two games and not since December

You guys are correct, tonight's game is the biggest one of the conference season for both teams with the loser forced to play the extra game.

As for the outcome, with Davis being the most schizophrenic team in the conference, impossible to make a prediction with confidence.

UCSB has been trending in a positive direction, largely due to freshman pg Ajay Mitchell growing into a star player. The improvement has happened despite losing starting SG Ajare Sanni to an ankle injury; the reigning BW 6th Man award winner hasn't played since the end of January. Amadou Sow, with the exception of a 4 game slump early in the conference season, has been very reliable and will likely be All BW 1st team again and the other two back court players; Calvin Wishart and Josh Pierre Louis have stepped up of late too.

In all but one BWC game, UCSB has held a double digit lead in the first half yet they are only 4-5 in conference (5-6 counting games vs. UCSD). The one exception was a one point loss to UCI. It looked like that pattern was going to repeat vs LB as they went down in the 2nd half after leading the entire game, but they were able to quickly get the lead back and win by 13 over the 1st place Sharks (or whatever they're calling themselves now).
Point being, UCSB may very well jump out to a big lead but they suck at holding them so won't mean a Gaucho win.

It will likely come down to whether or not UCSB guards can stop Manjon, Fuller and Pepper from penetrating. If they can keep them out of the paint effectively, the Gauchos probably win.

Question, is BJ Shaw injured? I see he played just two games and not since December.

Congratulations Aggies!

Bad news for Davis, Damian Squire hits the portal.
https://www.verbalcommits.com/players/damion-squire

If interested, I am tracking the Big West transfer portal:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQnxb9boz-Su98F0dIuwClcqLNle9NpINHDZv_b_GRSsVNml64a5RYeXFjfCFei57x-1VDIpt1TscHa/pubhtml

Btw, Milling looks like a player that can make an impact for you guys. I know that highlight videos can be misleading but his quick release and first step moves seem legit. Last year I was telling friends, ok lets see UCSB beat up on Davis but I hope Shaw goes off for 20. Now I can maybe hope that Shaw & Milling go "off" for maybe 10 apiece ;-)

UC Davis sure likes the Gaucho legacy players, Kane's dad, Kyle Milling, played for UCSB for two years before transferring to Oregon. So Kane & BJ Shaw have that in common.

As for UCSB hitting the transfer market hard since Pasternack took over, transfers have definitely been the bedrock of the program's success. That being said, two time All BW 1st Teamer Amadou Sow was a HS recruit. The other HS players Pasternack has recruited have had small roles. I had misgivings on it at first but given what is happening (1300 players in the portal now) it seems that he was just a bit ahead of many of the other programs. UCSB does have two freshmen guards coming in next season that are supposed to be good but will probably need some time to make a major impact. Depending on if any players take advantage of the waiver year or not, SB will probably pick up at least one more transfer for next season.

Hey Aggie fans, looking forward to the games this weekend. Tough haul for you guys with the most restrictive county in the country handcuffing your teams. Glad you're finally free.
Of note, in each of the three years since Pasternack has taken over the Gauchos, Davis and UCSB have split the series, with Davis winning second each time.
Pasternack is running a deeper bench since the initial weekend sweep at Irvine and that has helped in the second games of these back-to-backs.
Gauchos are having a good season, they have the leading POY candidate in Jaquori McLaughlin who is having, in my opinion, the best all-around season for a Gaucho since Orlando Johnson about 10 years ago. I am predicting a sweep but am leery of Les's ability to get his team's to adjust. If the Gauchos do win the first one, I expect the second one to be closer.

From a Gaucho perspective, we're rooting for Gaucho wins of course but we would love to see BJ Shaw, son of Gaucho great Brian Shaw, play well too.

Hey Movielover,
the shove(s) with the student(s) weren't captured in that video, it was just mentioned both on the message board and, as you posted above, in the Newspress writeup of the game. From the feedback, the interaction with the fan(s) (some said it was one fan, others two) weren't egregious and nothing escalated from there but were still unnecessary.
Another poster mentioned there was a hard shove in the back by Mooney on Heidegger in the second half of the first game too. I did not watch that game but perhaps there was some bad blood and yapping carrying over from the first game.
The NBA is hyper sensitive to player-fan interaction and if the NBA, Mooney would probably receive a suspension. I'm not sure how the Big West will handle it. If up to me, I'd go with a warning and advice that BW refs are going to be watching him closely for the rest of the season, especially if these two teams face off in the BWT.

The Gaucho fan site: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/ucsbgauchos/gaucho-sports-talk-f1/

Here is a video that shows Heidegger saying something to Mooney, who, after Heidegger has turned and is walking away, shoves him in the back. According to a fan that witnessed it, Mooney also shoved a couple high school students who, oblivious to what had just happened, were in his way on the way to the locker room. Nothing major but douche-baggy because he could have easily walked around them.


https://twitter.com/RyanFishTV/status/1231504703466307584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1231504703466307584&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2F2%2Ftwitter.min.html%231231504703466307584

Seems like a good rivalry is budding.

Forgot the link to the Gaucho board/preview:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/ucsbgauchos/uc-davis-game-t22893.html
My preview is several posts down in the thread.

Nice preview BGA.
The full preview of Davis I wrote, inclusive of the info above, can be found on the Gaucho board.
Below is a season update on the Gauchos:
Gaucho Update

Season summary
At 17-5, it can be said that Coach Pasternack has been successful in integrating so many new pieces after a massive roster turnover from last year. Last year’s star player, Max Heidegger, with two consecutive 20+ games on high % shooting seems to be back after dealing with injuries and shaking off the rust the first 2/3 of the season. Even with Max now back in the starting lineup, the Gauchos have 4 new starters from a year ago.

Despite leading the conference in scoring defense, KenPom rates the defense below average, ~185, having played one of the weakest schedules in the country factoring into that low rating. The Gauchos started the season as a mediocre three-point shooting team but have improved in this regard outside of the still rusty Max Heidegger (but he has been on fire the last two games). Three of the starters (Ramsey, McLaughlin and Davis) are coming back after a year off so some early season rustiness was not surprising. Ar’Mond Davis in particular has really stepped up and has taken over the team scoring lead while also being a high energy rebounder. Point Guard Devearl Ramsey has taken on the leadership role for the Gauchos and is doing a very nice job running the offense. He is a good three point shooter while showing off his quickness in penetrating deep into the defense. Team chemistry is impressive, especially given how new they all are to each other. They are unselfish and adept at getting the hot hand the open looks on offense; with 7 different players having led the team in scoring this year and three players averaging more than 3 assists per game.

Trend: In Big West Play, UCSB has defeated all but the other top two teams in conference, CSF & UCI. It could be said that in the past two games, the Gauchos are finally at full strength with Max Heidegger reverting to his last year’s All Big West form. As the season has progressed, the workload for the starters and 6th man Jariesse Blackmon has increased. The Gaucho defense has been improving, tops in the conference in points allowed and climbing to a 185 Efficiency Rating (Kenpom) from a low of about 245.

The Roster
The Gauchos experienced major turnover from last year and with leading returner Max Heidegger out for much of the season, played an entirely new starting 5 for all but five games this year. Besides the major roster turnover, the biggest difference is depth. After going 12 men deep early, Pasternack has settled on a 10 man rotation. Four of five starters average double figures; the bench is providing about 28% of the offense compared to 17% last season. With Max back in the starting lineup the Gauchos now have a short starting lineup with three guards, a wing and one true big, but have a very tall bench.

Probable Starters
Devearl Ramsey: #4 PG, RS Sophomore. 6’0”, 185 lb 11.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.3 rpg, 31 mpg, 43% from the field, 39% from three and 82% from the FT line. A very athletic and exciting point guard that can drive, Ramsey is eligible this year after the requisite red shirt season after transferring from Nevada. A highly recruited 3-4* player out of high school, his defense is fantastic and helps UCSB shore up it’s Achilles heel from last year, guarding quick point guards. He has become the most accurate shooter from deep for the Gauchos, showing massive improvement as the season has progressed. A vocal leader, he has been named team captain. His aggressive play and ability to penetrate defenses creates opportunities. His blitzkrieg approach sometimes leads to him forcing the issue and make poor passes leading to turnovers, has a 1.6 A/TO ratio. His scoring has dropped over the past couple games as Max has come back.

Max Heidegger: #21 Guard, Junior. 6‘3”, 180 lb, 10.2, ppg, 86% FTs, 24% from deep, 3.2 apg. ATO ratio of 4.4, 27 mpg. Has played just 11 games after sitting out much of the season with a concussion and a minor leg injury. The Gauchos star player from a year ago, Max had one of the biggest leaps in improvement in Gaucho hoops history from his freshman to sophomore years. An amazing talent, he is a terrific three pointer shooter with NBA range, setting the school record for threes, and can drive & finish. A very capable ball handler, he can run the point but will play the off-guard position most of the time. He seems to be getting his fitness back but his shooting from outside was atrocious up until the last two games. He has been more of a facilitator this season vs. last, so in some respects, he is a more well-rounded player now.

JaQuori McLaughlin, #3 Guard, RS Sophomore 6’4, 190 lb 10.8 ppg, 3.1 apg, 35% from three, 32 mpg. Another transfer, McLaughlin came to UCSB from Oregon State where he set the freshman record for three pointers made. He can play either guard position. He is the fourth Gaucho averaging double figures and is second in assists but gets most praise from Coach Pasternack for his defense. As a starting shooting guard and a back-up point, he leads the team in minutes played. After a bit of a slow shooting start, he has really improved, and has provided some clutch offense in close games. Like Ramsey, his scoring has dropped with Heidegger taking more shots.

Ar’Mond Davis: #1 Wing, 6‘6”, 190 lb 14.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 43% FG, 39% from three, 1.7 apg, 29 mpg. Grad Transfer (Alabama). Davis sat out last year with an injury after playing the 6th man role at Alabama his junior year. Prior, he excelled at the College of Southern Idaho, earning a top 5 ranking at the JC level so has had just one year of D1 experience before UCSB. He is athletic and loves to score but has been doing a great job on the boards too, second on the team. He is the go-to guy for the Gauchos on offense. He can drive through the paint or hit from deep, shooting an amazing 56% there in BW play. Leads the team in scoring, three point shooting and FT attempts, hitting them at 77%. He is high energy on the rebounding front and is second on the team in that category.

Amadou Sow: #12 Forward, Freshman, 6’9”, 235 lb 11.2 ppg on 57% shooting, 6.6 rbg. 23 mpg. One of the more highly rated recruits in Gaucho history, Sow turned down the likes of Cal, Illinois and Wichita State to come to UCSB. The athletic freshman demonstrated range to outside the arc in high school but has sticks to patrolling the paint at UCSB. The only true big that starts, Sow is showing improvement in his defense. Still suffers freshman mistakes at times and needs to improve on handling double-teams—only 5 assists on the season. Is a bit up & down, had a monster game vs. USF, earning him BW POW honors but followed it up with a stinker vs. Cal Poly. Is coming off a double-double vs. Hawaii and a near double-double vs. CSUN.

Main Reserves
Jarriese Blackmon: #2 Forward, Senior, 6’7”, 220 lb 4.9 ppg, 4.3 rbg, 20 mpg The “Glue Guy” for the Gauchos, Blackmon’s high energy and athleticism earned him the starting role while Heidegger was injured. Blackmon leads the team in blocks and is third in rebounding. He has impressed all the Gaucho fans with just how much he has improved in all facets of his game over last year. His defense is terrific, his unselfishness and team-first attitude deserve a lot of credit in setting an example for all the new players and is a big reason why team chemistry is so good on this team. He has some decent moves within the arc and is shooting 53% from the field.

Jay Nagle: #5 Wing, Freshman. 6’8”, 205 lb 3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 45% from three The son of basketball coach, Nagle was the first HS recruit signed by Pasternack. A terrific outside shooter but not the quickest or best athlete, he is still effective on defense with high basketball IQ. His minutes have been eaten up some by Heidegger.

Robinson Idehen: #35 F/C, Sophomore, 6’10”, 230 lb 4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg. 11 mpg Shooting 70% from the field. A JC transfer, the strong & athletic forward improved over the pre-conference season. Still raw at times.

Sekou Toure: #0 Guard, Freshman, 6’5”, 185 lb 3.8 ppg, 2.7 rbg 9 mpg Lightly recruited, Toure made great strides his senior year at Prolific Prep where Sow also attended, averaging 16ppg and 8 boards; UCSB may have got a steal in him. Toure has terrific skills in slashing through the defense and finishing. His defense is good, but, like a typical freshman, his decision making isn’t a strong suit.

Ami Lakoju: #14 Center, Senior, 6’9” 260 lb, 2.7 ppg, 2 rpg, 7 mpg A physical presence, Ami has been prone to foul trouble over his career and is struggled with that earlier this season. Has seen his minutes replaced by Idehen & Blackmon. Has had two double-double games, both against non-D1 competition.

UCD-UCSB History/Game 1 Recap
This will be the 69th meeting between the schools with the Gauchos holding a 39-29 advantage. The Gauchos defeated the Aggies 69-58 in Davis in January starting a new winning streak. Armond Davis led the way with 23 points and 8 rebounds while both Nagle & McLaughlin pitched in with a pair of three pointers each. The Gauchos out rebounded the Aggies 37-21

Hey Guys!

Well, not as close as I anticipated. UCSB's rebounding was incredible and we were able to contain Shorts enough. It also helped that Davis was on fire and our guys were really unselfish to work the offense to get him open.

Last year the Gauchos won big in Davis and the Aggies returned the favor later. Im sure Pasternack will be reminding our guys of that next time....

Never let facts get in the way of a good smack talk!

Smack is good for the fan game and I love it when our Gaucho ambassador pays a visit, his threads always get a lot more traction than my academic ones about the game itself.

Now go close the barn door, our players don't need to smell the stench of manure during the game tonight

US : 3 championships (2 regular, 1 tourney)
THEM : 2 championships (1 and 1)

Incorrect diagnosis doctor, UCSB also has 3; BWT in 2010 n 2011, Season in 2010

Dont think that is an accurate analogy. Its been known by SB fans and other BW fans all along that UCSB has a great starting line-up but a very shallow bench. Gaucho starters have played more minutes than any other team in conference. That, along with the Canty suspension, explains why the team wore down at the end and is why UCSB will be challenged to win the three day tournament. Its not a lack of team-play, as you seem to be implying, it is a lack of depth. They may have the most talented set of starters but can their bench do enough over the three days?

On another note, three of UCSB's conference losses were by one point. Their bag of cosmic basketball fairy dust is still full while Shorts has used up all of Davis's quota! ;-)

By the way, on a yearly selection, the Celtics had 27 all stars through out the 1980s and the Lakers 26. The Celtics had four HOF players from that era and the Lakers 5. Seems to me that both teams were pretty stacked.

What a series this has turned out to be this season. Both teams delivering dominating performances on the other team's court but at least Davis fought back in their home game.
Would be very interesting to see what happens should the two teams play again and I think there's a pretty good chance of that happening in Anaheim.
The Big West is wide open; SB, Davis, UCI and Fullerton with all similar odds to win it at this point. And LB & Hawaii with outside shots to take it.

Nice game Aggies, we'll see you guys on the 17th in SB. Hopefully we get to see how the teams match up when both are at full strength.

So going on a sports message board and disclosing sensitive information which may or may not be accurate then talking tough to others who show respect for the process makes you a man? You're the living definition of BAP.

Jalen Canty update: According to the SB Newspress his status for tonight's game is still undetermined but he is making the trip and bringing his gear. The offense was neither criminal nor academic and the decision for him to play is purely by the athletic department so apparentlly a more minor violation.