Schedule
Game No. 1
Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:00 PM
UC Santa Barbara vs San Francisco State
at The Thunderdome – Santa Barbara, Calif.
ESPN+ | Audio | Live Stats
Game No. 2
Monday, Nov. 15 at 8:00 PM
UC Santa Barbara at Washington State
at Beasley Coliseum – Pullman, Wash.
Pac-12 Network | Live Stats
Gauchos on the Air
Wednesday's season opener at home vs San Francisco State will be streamed live on ESPN+ with an additional audio-only cast on UCSBGauchos.com. Monday's matchup with Washington State will be aired on Pac-12 Network.
FREE FOOD!
The Habit Burger Grill will have a food truck outside of the Thunderdome prior to tip-off with SF State this Wednesday. The first 300 students in attendance will recevie a free charburger!
Run it Back
The reigning Big West champions return to the court with a new goal this season and it's becoming the first Big West team to repeat since the Gauchos did 10 years ago, and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Last season, UCSB went 22-5 overall and 13-3 in Big West Conference play on its way to a Big West regular season title, a Big West Tournament Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In addition to Norris and Sow, their key returners include Big West Sixth Man of the Year Ajare Sanni, senior forward Robinson Idehen, and junior guard Calvin Wishart, who will be making his Gaucho debut after redshirting last season.
UCSB Picked to Repeat in Preseason Polls
UCSB was picked as the unanimous regular season champion of the Big West in the annual preseason coaches' and media polls. The Gauchos accumulated 69 points and five first place votes in the coaches' poll beating out second-seeded UC Irvine by a narrow margin of just one point and one first place vote. The two teams spilt the nine first place nods.
In the media poll the Gauchos garnered 103 points and six first place votes to the Anteater's 100 points and two first place votes. Rounding out the top-four in both polls are UC Riverside and UC Davis finishing third and fourth, respectively.
Sow Named to Lou Henson Watch List
Just one day after being named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team, senior center Amadou Sow earned another preseason nod being named to the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award watch list. The award is presented to the best mid-major men's basketball player of the year. He is one of just two Big West players to be named joining UC Irvine's Collin Welp.
Sow and Norris named to Preseason All-Conference Team
Along with the preseason polls came two different Preseason All-Conference teams. Senior center Amadou Sow picked up his third straight preseason nod as a unanimous preseason pick on both the coaches' and media poll. The Gaucho big averaged 13.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds while shooting a potent 56.9% from the field last season.
Senior Forward Miles Norris was named to preseason team on the coaches' poll after exploding on to the scene in his first season with UCSB proving to be one of the most exciting players in conference. The 6-10 forward brought length, excellent shooting, and electric dunks to the Thunderdome on his way to averaging 9.6 points per game and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 39.4% from three and 49.2% from the field. He also led the team with 22 blocks.
Coming in at No. 14
College Insider has released its preseason Men's Mid Major Top 25 list naming the Gauchos as the 14th best mid major program in DI basketball. They are the only Big West team in the rankings and are the fourth highest ranked west coast team.
