Today’s combine

I'm not exactly sure why you think I'm "defend(ing) the board". When movielover comes in with his completely unnecessary right wing propaganda and transphobia - which is exactly what his post from the Stanford message board one, bold text and all, was - yes, I'm going to respond and call him out on it.

Spring ball is almost here. Tap in to today’s newest episode!

Occasionally someone calls me for a reference and I’m not even allowed to acknowledge if they are/were an employee, let alone give any feedback, on orders from the legal department. I’ve found that the “perfect” resumes and interviews are from the people who have “studied for the test” rather than mastered the material.

Thank you.

This thread will be closed with the next combative political post. Take it over to the OT board or better yet, meet up in-person and have a cup of coffee - you might actually like each other.

It’s been a minute! For those who haven’t checked in, our Bob Dunning episode has been live for a few weeks. A couple new ones set to drop soon-ish. Our lives are busy!

Woke = whatever certain people don't like at the moment — BaseballAtDobbins

The Right uses it almost exclusively in a negative context as a response for when anyone calls them or their policies discriminatory in some way.

All - Let us refrain from engaging in political discourse and instead approach this matter with a spirit of mutual understanding and respect, embodying the values of our Aggie community ✌

I'm glad Trump is taking aim at DEI programs — yolohw

Sorry but this undermines your whole argument. What Trump is doing with this is solely to keep straight white men in positions of power and to exclude anyone else.

You can always find exceptions to the rule and with 8 billion people in the world, there are plenty of them. But I would say more people than not fall under what I said in that they do their best to treat people fairly no matter what.

Now what you say (or are accused of saying, even if you didn't) is weaponized more than ever. It's 1000 times worse to be accused of being a racist or a homophobe than it is to be a poor worker. — yolohw

This is gibberish. I've never been accused of being a racist or a homophobe. Want to know why? I don't say anything racist and I don't say anything homophobic. Because I try my best to be a nice person. Generally speaking, the people who are accused of being racist or homophobic very likely, on more than one occasions said something racist or homophobic. Don't be an asshole and you won't be accused of being an asshole.

As for movielover, he didn't oversimplify anything. He a right wing lunatic and meant exactly what he said.

We're not in "woke times". We're in "treat people fairly, equally, and courteously regardless of race, gender or sexuality" times.

https://x.com/TBM_JY/status/1904385967047188873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1904385967047188873%7Ctwgr%5E254561f2aeebe98a1ed7ca29266a55f0089554d5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTBM_JY%2Fstatus%2F1904385967047188873

I'm always of the opinion that you treat people with respect, focus on the job at hand, and as adults come up with a means of communication with each other where all avenues are met and you can conduct business together.

Returning Backcourt Players:

Despite the departures of Sabel, Burns and Baker, the Aggies have a strong nucleus of returning guards, led by rising senior Nya Epps.

After two years playing behind Evanne Turner, Epps smoothly transitioned to starter. Already a formidable defender, Nya improved significantly in every offensive category. Epps broke the 20-point barrier twice, and ended the year as the team’s #3 scorer. Watching her interact with teammates on the court and on the bench, it’s clear that she’s begun asserting the leadership that the Aggies will need from her next season. Like Megan Norris, Nya needs to become a more consistent double-digit scoring threat next season.

Joining Epps in Jen Gross’ 3-guard, Princeton offense will be true sophomores, Ryann Bennett and Avery Sussex, and redshirt sophomore Sahana Kanagasabay.

Bennett played in every ballgame, averaging over 19 minutes a game. Solid defensive skills, unusual for a freshman, along with the ability to play both guard spots made Ryann one of the first perimeter players off the bench. Bennett put up more than solid numbers, played through some typical freshman miscues, and finished the season playing her best basketball at crunch time. Ryann should definitely move into the starting lineup next season. The only question is where.

Like most freshmen, Sussex was still mastering D1-level defensive skills, yet averaged right at 8 minutes a game. Very confident, Avery exhibited the passing and scoring abilities that attracted Jen Gross’ interest, Like Bennett, Avery can score at all three levels, and she put up decent numbers relative to playing time. Also like Bennett, Sussex is comfortable playing either guard position. Improvement on defense will likely determine if Avery moves into a starting role or comes off the bench.

Sahana Kanagasabay transferred from Providence, and saw limited playing time, in part because she backed up Tova Sabel (and the more experienced Clara Glad), and in part because she was coming off a knee injury that cost her most of her freshman season. Despite playing limited minutes in 14 games, Sahanna seemed an able defender and rebounder. Her speed and quickness were also apparent. If Sahana can progress into a solid option off the bench, it will further solidify the backcourt.

At this point, the development of Sussex and Kanagasabay seems crucial to what the Aggie rotation will look like next season. IF it goes well, the versatile Clara Glad is more available for minutes in the front court, where the Aggies are a little thin at this point. Either way, it will may influence what kind of players Jen Gross and her staff look for in the portal, or among late freshman commits, if viable prospects are still available.

Tomorrow: the incoming freshmen.

Hawkins also arrived in 2017...winning has a bigger effect on ticket sales, my 2 cents. 5 years is a good amount of time, hope the AD uses it efficiently and wisely!

Well deserved! A great write up of his accomplishments too. As a student, getting responses via email from him and seeing him around campus (same with the chancellor) sound like small things but are really nice from a local standpoint.

In the classroom, student-athlete academic success has risen under DeLuca's leadership, with the department recording a 93% Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in 2024, ranking among the top 10 nationally and establishing a program record. On the fields and courts of competition, UC Davis teams have captured 12 conference championships since his elevation to director of athletics in 2021, with 25 individual Aggies winning conference titles.

Financial growth and stewardship have also been hallmarks of DeLuca's leadership since his arrival in Davis in 2016. Ticket sales have increased by 108%, contributing to a 150% rise in football revenue, while Olympic sports have seen a 140% revenue boost. Annual fundraising has consistently exceeded goals, leading to the department's budget growth to $50 million in fiscal year 2024. These financial gains have supported significant investments in student-athlete services and facilities, including the $52 million Edwards Family Athletics Center, a $5 million addition of lights to Aggie Soccer and Dobbins Baseball Stadium, a $3.2 million Aquatics Team Center, and upgrades to softball, baseball and beach volleyball venues.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/3/20/uc-davis-extends-director-of-athletics-rocko-delucas-contract.aspx

Hot take: it was never ok to assault people or throw chairs.

Posted in Football, if we should move to OT let me know

UC Davis Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca signs five-year contract extension. Chancellor May has high praise for DeLuca as switch to the Mountain West looms

Per BOB DUNNING
MAR 21

I grew up in Indiana. Bob Knight was a great basketball mind but he was also an abusive coach and a disgusting, vulgar man. Yes, he won lots of games and championships but, over the years, he brought a lot of shame to a cherished basketball program.

The IU administration looked the other way for years until they couldn't anymore after he physically choked one of his own players. He should have been fired long before he ran the reputation of the program into the ground. The Big Ten had several coaches who were abusive like Knight: Woody Hayes at Ohio State and Bo Shembechler at Michigan but Knight was the worst of them all.

The fact that Bobby Knight lasted as long as he did is a testament to America's unhealthy relationship with sports and sports figures, IMO. Nothing to do with "woke" or "PC" or any of that.

Front Court Returnees:

At this point the front court has quality - Megan Norris, and question marks. And a possible answer.

Three-year starter and mainstay in the post, Norris returns to Hamilton Court for her final Aggie season. As a junior, Megan showed improvement in most statistical categories, becoming the team’s #2 scorer. Importantly, she was often at her best in big moments: draining a 3-ball with less than 3 minutes left to give Davis the ultimate lead in the must-win final game at UCSD. Or her 19 point, 15 rebound road outing that fueled a 45 point, 2nd half rally to stun Idaho. Megan needs to become a consistent double-digit scorer next season, AND importantly, stay on the court.

Backing up Norris, Ally Fitzgerald brings a sweet shooting touch off the bench, and a wiggy back, which is one of the question marks. Fitzgerald missed games when her back flared up, and wore a therapeutic device while on the bench. She still upped her playing time over the previous year, improved her rebounding, 3-point shot, and scoring average. A healthy Fitzgerald strengthens the post next season, and possibly the following season. Since Ally played limited minutes in few games as a Colorado freshman, she could get a 5th year of eligibility. Working to get a healthIer back should be an off-season priority.

Theoni Tsami is the other question mark. Theoni redshirted her freshman year, and played for Greece in the U20 Eurobasket last summer, averaging 17 mpg, 5 rpg, 2 assists, and shot 38% from the field. A knee injury prior to the Aggies’ exhibition game cost her the 24-25 season. In her single appearance on Hamilton Court during the Aggies’ 2023 exhibition game, she definitely looked like a player to watch. Her return and development would really bolster the UCD front court.

Because Clara Glad has mostly backed up Tova Sabel, we think of her as a perimeter player. But when Mazzie Harris and Bria Shine missed a couple of late season games, and Fitzgerald was limited by back issues, Clara stepped into the front court at forward, and played well. Currently, Glad is the tallest returning player with NO injury history, and who has some game experience at forward. Clara improved across the board during her sophomore season, regardless of position, and her increasing confidence was apparent. At this point, she should be expected to contend for a starting position or play significantly increased minutes off the bench…somewhere.

Tomorrow: the returning backcourt players.

When the season is over, I like to look ahead to the next season's roster and try to figure out what the team will look like.

So today, what we’re losing:
With the graduation of 5 seniors, a big chunk of the UCD Women’s Basketball roster of the last 3 years departs. The arrival of 3 high school commits this fall, and the injury-delayed debut of Theoni Tsami will fill some of the gaps. But expect Coach Jen Gross and her staff to be looking to add 2-3 more players to the Aggie roster.

Davis was at, or near the top of the Big West in scoring offense all year, finishing 2nd, behind Long Beach State, with 66.5 points per game. However, departing seniors Tova Sabel, Sydney Burns, Mazzie Harris, Victoria Baker and Bria Shine accounted for just over 50% of the scoring (33.2 ppg.)

Likewise on the boards, UCD was again 2nd, behind Long Beach, in both Total Rebounds and Rebounding Margin. Seniors accounted for 47.8% of the total - 19 out of 39.8 rpg.

Finally, the Aggies were tops in the conference in Assists per Game at 14.5. Seniors dished out 7.3 per game, about half in the assists.

So, lots of offensive production to replace.

Harder to analyze is team defense, an area where the Aggies also shined this season, finishing 3rd in the BW, behind Hawaii and Irvine, and 18th nationally. More impressive, UCD ranked 3rd nationally in both 3PT %-age defense, and overall FG %-age defense, a testament to how well the Aggies contested ALL shots this past season. Since Davis likes to “hang its hat” on the defensive end, that cohesive teamwork and communication will also need rebuilding.

Tomorrow: the returning front court players.

The Big West according to the long time Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell is” a cost containment conference.” The move will help out the California schools are UCD and Hawaii leaving
NLI money is going to hurt the NCAA sports and when we have a downturn cost containment will help keep the Big West school afloat rather than the wholesale cutting of ICA departments.
Good for CBU and the Big West. I wish them both well.

Despite the disappointment of losing in the Big West Tournament Championship game for the second consecutive year, the 2024-25 season checked several program boxes under Coach Jen Gross:

The 5th season of 20 or more wins
10th consecutive winning season
Defeated a Power 4 opponent for the 1st time since 2021
14th consecutive year to make the Big West Tournament
8th time in 9 years playing in a BW Tournament Semifinal
6th time in 9 years playing in the BW Tournament Championship (Hawaii 2nd with 4 appearances during that span)

Then there are the individual achievements; among them:

Coach Jen Gross becoming the winningest coach in UC Davis Women’s Basketball history 258 and counting…
Tova Sabel’s steady ascent in the UCD Record Book; in just the D1 Era (career), Sabel now stands 2nd in 3-pointers (in both attempts and makes), 3rd in points per game, 5th in total points scored, 9th in rebounds, and 10th in free throws (in both attempts and makes)
Sydney Burns moving into 3rd place in D1 Era (career) assists
Megan Norris breaking her own D1 Era single season rebounding record, as well as moving into 5th place on the D1 Career rebounding list.

Beyond those milestones there are memories of games won and lost. On one hand the four losses in conference by 3 points or less. Balancing those out - the home win over Arizona State, the run to the BW Tournament Championship game, the eight game win streak, and the Senior Day takedown of regular season champion Hawaii in front of a raucous, appreciative crowd.

It was announced today at the end of todays podcast on “the Big Mountain Podcast” that AD Rocko DeLuca will have an interview with them next week discussing UC Davis’s future in the MW and the future of football.

Todays episode/podcast:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5RvmOB3VnlI&t=31s

Link to the general Big Mountain Podcast:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtwIR_2IJq3tLPVsL2-i96Q

I do recommend subscribing to them. They focus on the Mountain West, Big10, and PAC.

Aggie swept UCR. Love a good 4 game sweep.

It’s been a fun ride here in Vegas. Time to bring it home tomorrow Ags!

It’s the postseason: Win or go home!

With a win over UC Riverside yesterday, the Aggies will #2 seed, UC Irvine. During conference play, Davis dropped two close games against the Anteaters, losing by 3 in Davis on February 1st, and by 2 at Irvine just 8 days ago. UCD will need to play another great game against a strong Irvine team that’s looking to defend its tournament crown. Today’s winner will play for the Big West Tournament title on Saturday.

The Aggies' 8th Semifinal in the last nine years. Great run!!

I think we could use a fresh face on the staff somewhere to help with recruiting. Young assistant who can work SOCal and find some long, athletic wings!

We were just offered 2 for 1 tickets to Carrot Top. I told the guy ‘we’ve suffered enough this trip!’

It does seem that when we go cold on offense, we get out of sorts and things start breaking down on both ends of the court. We miss a few shots and it's like it's contagious and everyone goes cold and then we start rushing our shots and it gets worse. Maybe it did become psychological at some point because it was happening so often. It was tough to watch because you could see the disappointment in the players body language. We'd continue to play hard but you could really see the frustration.

Tough season for the Aggies but my wife and I have enjoyed following them. They're all great, young men and they'll be able to take what they learned from their sport and from their education and carry it forward into the careers and lives ahead. I wish all the graduating seniors all the best. Aggie Pride...

Tova Sabel, Megan Norris, Nya Epps and Ryann Bennett receive well-deserved post-season Big West honors.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/3/11/womens-basketball-sabel-norris-epps-and-bennett-named-to-womens-basketball-all-conference-team.aspx

HM 2 years ago, 2nd team last and well deserved first team this year. Put the team on his shoulders all season.

Hope he shines in Henderson!

I figured the game was chosen by ESPN/BWC to showcase the Tritons and show they were worthy of a bid even if they don’t win the tournament. Also, pump them for a 11-12 type seed. I think they were expecting a scoring outburst like down there…….which didn’t happen!

Aggies were cast as the Washington Generals or (old WWF reference) Iron Mike Sharpe to the unbeatable Tritons!

As for their coach….he does come off as a smug bastard. He’s overtaken Pasternik in my disliked coaches ranking.