Feb. 14, 2005

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The Schedule
Game No. 22
Wednesday, February 15, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at the University of the Pacific Tigers
at UOP's Spanos Center
Radio: KIST 1340 AM

Game No. 23
Saturday, February 19, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at Cal Poly Mustangs
at Cal Poly's Mott Gymnasium
Radio: KIST 1340 AM

Game No. 24
Thursday, February 24, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. Cal State Fullerton Titans
at UCSB's Thunderdome
Radio: KIST 1340 AM

The Gaucho Record
UC Santa Barbara enters this week's games with an overall record of 8-13 and a Big West record of 5-7. The Gauchos lost their last game, a 72-63 decision at future Big West opponent UC Davis last Thursday. Since putting together a season-best three-game winning streak in mid-January, UCSB has dropped two straight and five out of six games, including two home games. During the current six-game stretch, the Gauchos have lost home games to Pacific and Utah State, and road games at UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton and UC Davis. The only win for UCSB over that span was a 54-40 home win over Idaho on February 3.

The Week To Come
UCSB travels to Pacific for a game on Wednesday, February 16. The game was slated for Wednesday to allow the Tigers an extra day to prepare for an ESPN Bracket Buster game on Saturday. The Gauchos will return to Santa Barbara after the game on Wednesday and then travel to Central Coast rival Cal Poly on Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. game.

The Week That Was
UCSB lost its only game last week, 72-63 at UC Davis. The Gauchos led just once in the game, fell behind by as many as 22 points in the second half, but a furious rally pulled them to within five on four occasions before losing by nine. For the second straight game, a UCSB opponent shot a high percentage from the field. On the previous Saturday, Utah State set a Gaucho opponent record by making 71.1% of its shots. UC Davis made 21-of-39 field goals, 53.8%. The Aggies also hit 8-of-18 shots from beyond the three-point line, 44.4%. UCSB, which lost junior forward Cameron Goettsche in the first half with a back injury, and sophomore forward Glenn Turner when he hit his head after falling to the floor, was led by Josh Davis who had 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Freshman guard Alex Harris had 12 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Michael Chambers had a career-high 12 points, all in the second half, and junior guard Joe See had ten points. As a team, the Gauchos made just 37.0% of their shots and 16.7% from three-point range. UCSB also had 19 turnovers, its highest total since it had 20 at Cal State Northridge on January 2. The Gauchos also made a season-high 26 free throws on a season-high 40 attempts, 65.0%. The loss spoiled the return of Santa Barbara head coach Bob Williams to the school he led to an NCAA Division II National Championship. In his final season as the head coach at UC Davis, 1997-98, the Aggies won their only national title.

The Active Roster Remains In Flux
This is getting pretty monotonous. The UCSB active roster began the game at UC Davis with ten players. By the end of the game against the Aggies, the Gauchos were back down to eight, two of whom, David Kennedy and Derek Wheeler, were frontcourt players. In the first half of the game at Davis, forward Cameron Goettsche suffered a strained lower back and he was forced to sit-out the second half. In the second half, forward Glenn Turner dove to the floor on the defensive end of the floor, hit his head and went to the bench for the final 15 minutes. The status of both players is up in the air for Wednesday's game at Pacific. Turner, however, is expected to play, but Goettsche may have to sit. Derek Wheeler, who missed the game against Utah State with a sprained ankle, returned in the game at UC Davis, playing five minutes. Freshman forward Chris Moore, who suffered a concussion when he banged his head on the floor in the loss to Utah State, missed the game at Davis and is out for the Pacific game. Freshman guard Derek Rasp, out for five games with a lung contusion, returned for the February 6 game against Utah State, but he played just three minutes. In the game at Davis, Rasp logged 26 minutes and scored five points. Senior forward Casey Cook fractured a bone in his right foot in the game at Cal State Northridge on January 2, and he is out for at least another three weeks and possibly longer. Junior guard Cecil Brown missed the first six games of the year with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee and he mas missed the last 14 with a stress fracture in the left ankle. He is out for the season. Freshman forward Chris Devine had knee surgery before the start of practice and was expected to be ready in late-January. Now, Devine will miss the remainder of the year because while the knee is healing, it has not healed fast enough. Freshman forward Todd Follmer is redshirting the 2004-05 season and will not be activated.

Possible Starters - Notes
G - Chrismen Oliver - Has made just 1-of-11 shots in the last two games, 9.1%.
G - Alex Harris - Collected a career-high eight rebounds at UC Davis.
G - Josh Davis - Has had at least five rebounds in eight consecutive games.
F - Derek Rasp - Played 26 minutes at UC Davis, his highest total since returning from injury.
F - Glenn Turner - Has gone three consecutive games without a block for first time in league games.

Possible Reserves - Notes
G - Joe See - Fouled out at UC Davis, the first time in his career.
G - Michael Chambers - Scored a career-high 12 points in the game at UC Davis.
F - David Kennedy - His slam dunk at UC Davis was his first field goal of the season.
F - Derek Wheeler - Has played in two of three games since his return to active status.

The Sideline - Notes
G - Cecil Brown - Stress fracture in lower left leg has sidelined him for the season.
F - Cameron Goettsche - Back strain sidelined him second half at UC Davis. Doubtful for UOP.
F - Casey Cook - Injured tendon in right foot has him out at least three more weeks.
F - Chris Devine - Knee injury has not healed enough. Will miss remainder of year.
F - Todd Follmer - The seven-footer will redshirt his freshman campaign.
F - Chris Moore - Suffered a concussion vs. Utah State and will be out at least two weeks.

The Bob Williams File
Bob Williams is in his seventh season as the head coach at UC Santa Barbara. On December 30, when the Gauchos defeated UC Irvine, he became the fifth UCSB coach to record 100 wins. Last year, he guided the Gauchos to a 16-12 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Big West Conference play. He has also guided UCSB to three straight winning seasons, the first time the program has accomplished the feat since 1987-88 through 1989-90. In 2002-03, Williams' Gauchos went 18-14 overall and 14-4 in league. The 2002-03 Big West mark earned Santa Barbara its first-ever Big West regular season championship along with a postseason trip to the National Invitation Tournament. In addition, the success earned Williams his second Big West Coach of the Year award, his first coming after an impressive 1999 campaign. In 2001-02, Williams guided UCSB to its first Big West Conference Tournament Championship ever and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years. Including this season, Williams' UCSB teams have posted a 103-92 (.528) overall record and a 70-43 (.625) record in Big West games. Prior to his arrival at UCSB, he spent eight years at UC Davis and in those eight years, his teams recorded 20 or more wins five times and a 158-76 record. In Williams' final season, the Aggies went 31-2, won the NCAA Division II National Championship and he was named NABC Division II Coach of the Year. Including two seasons at Menlo College, Williams has a record of 292-192 (.603) at four-year schools.

The Opponents
UCSB and Pacific have played 90 times in a series that dates back to 1947. The Tigers hold a 46-44 all-time advantage and they have won the last three meetings between the schools. Last season, UOP defeated the Gauchos in Stockton, 76-56. Earlier this season, on January 22, the Tigers won by a score of 58-43. The last time that UCSB beat Pacific was in the first round of the 2003 Big West Tournament at Anaheim, 53-44. UCSB and Cal Poly have played 82 times in a series that dates back to 1938. Santa Barbara holds a 56-26 edge over its Central Coast rivals. The Gauchos swept the two games between the schools last season, including a 78-59 win in San Luis Obispo. In the first meeting between the schools this season, on January 13, the Gauchos posted their third straight win in the series, 76-56.

The Gauchos On The Road
UCSB is 1-10 in road games this season. Let's be more specific, since the overtime victory at San Diego State in the season-opener, the Gauchos have lost 10 straight road games, dropping decisions at Wisconsin, San Francisco, Pepperdine, the University of San Diego, Cal State Northridge, Utah State, Idaho, UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton and UC Davis. UCSB is winless, 0-5, in Big West Conference road games. Last season, the Gauchos went 6-10 in road games overall, and just 3-6 in Big West Conference road games.

Road Losing Streak Reaches 10
UCSB's 10 consecutive road losses is the longest such streak in several years, and the longest in the tenure of head coach Bob Williams. The last time a Gaucho team lost more consecutive road games was during the 1995-95 and 1996-97 seasons. Over that two-year span, UCSB dropped 12 straight games, losing the final two games of the 1995-96 campaign and then opening the 1996-97 season with 10 straight defeats. The 12-game run ended with an overtime win at UC Irvine.

No Close Encounters For UCSB
UCSB has had few close encounters this season. Of the Gauchos 21 games, 12 have been decided by 10 points or more. The closest game that UCSB has played this season was a 54-50 loss at UC Riverside on January 27. Prior to the four-point loss to the Highlanders, the smallest margin in any UCSB game this season was the five-point spread in a 67-62 win over UC Davis on January 15. The Gauchos' largest margin of victory this season came on January 13 when they defeated Cal Poly by a 76-56 score. The largest margin of defeat was their 80-50 loss to Utah State on February 6. The 30-point loss to the Aggies was, in fact, the second-largest margin of defeat ever suffered by a Bob Williams-coached Gaucho team. It was also the largest margin of defeat in a home game since UCSB dropped a 100-68 decision at home to UNLV on January 26, 1984.

Take Me To Your Leader(s)
If you include the injured Casey Cook, UCSB has three players averaging 10.0 per game or more. For better or worse, the Gauchos have spread the scoring around this season and each of their top seven scorers have led the way at least one time. Chrismen Oliver has led the team in scoring more than anyone else, doing so on seven occasions. Also, seven different players have led the team in rebounding with Glenn Turner leading the way seven times.

They're Anything But Free
UCSB has not only been struggling with its shooting from the field, it has also had its problems at the free throw line in recent games. The Gauchos have made fewer than 70.0% of their free throws in five straight games and eight times in the last nine games. UCSB is now shooting 65.9% from the charity stripe, a figure that is virtually identical to the percentage that the Gauchos shot in 2003-04.

Defense Takes A Holiday
When UCSB entered its game against Utah State on February 6, it did so with a defensive field goal percentage of just over 41.0%. In fact, the Gauchos were coming off of an outstanding defensive performance in a win over Idaho. In the game against the Vandals, UCSB limited the opposition to a season-low 40 points, and a 35.6% mark from the field. In the game against Utah State, things changed. For the second time this season, the Aggies scored an opponent-high 80 points against the Gauchos, but even more impressively, they made 32-of-45 shots from the floor, 71.1%, an opponents school record. In fact, the 32-of-45 was exactly double the damage that Idaho did against UCSB. The Vandals made 16-of-45 shots. In the Gauchos' last game, a loss at UC Davis, those Aggies made 21-of-39 shots from the field, 53.8%, and 8-of-18 from three-point range, 44.4%. In the last two game, the Aggies, both the Utah State variety and the UC Davis variety, have combined to make 53-of-94 shots from the field, 56.4%. In the last two games, the Gauchos have also allowed its opponents to make 18-of-33 shots from beyond the three-point line, 54.5%. On the season, UCSB opponents are now shooting 42.8%, a figure that is at its highest point since prior to the start of the Big West season.

What A Difference A Game Makes
UCSB's February 6 game against Utah State could justly be called a clean game. The Gauchos at USU combined for a season-low 14 fouls, eight by UCSB and six by the Aggies. Also, the game against Utah State also marked a season-low in free throw attempts for the Gauchos, six, and it tied the lowest total by an opponent with eight. The 14 combined free throws was, by far, the fewest attempted in a Santa Barbara game this season. Last week's game at UC Davis, on the other hand, could, in no way, be considered a clean game. UCSB and UCD combined for 54 fouls, the most in a Gaucho game this season. The teams also combined for 74 free throw attempts, 24 more than the second-highest total this season. On December 18, UCSB and Montana combined for 50 free throw attempts.

The Lowdown On Scoring
UCSB has certainly had its difficulties scoring points consistently this season, but with the exception of Utah State, the Gauchos have done a pretty good job of keeping opponents in check as well. Santa Barbara is averaging 59.0 points per game overall, a figure that would be the lowest during the Bob Williams era, if it ends the season in the same ballpark. In 12 Big West games, the Gauchos are averaging just 56.9 points per outing. Since scoring 80 points in the season-opener, an overtime win at San Diego State, UCSB has not scored more than 76 in any game. The Gauchos have been below 70 points 18 times this season, including eight games in a row. In fact, UCSB has been below the 60 point mark 12 times in 2004-05, including each of the last five Big West games. In fact, when the Gauchos tallied 63 points at UC Davis last week, it snapped the streak of five games in a row under 60. On the other hand, the Gauchos are allowing just 62.5 points per game overall, and just 59.2 per game in league play. They have allowed opponents to score a season-high 80 points twice, and each time it was Utah State. If you eliminate the two games against the Aggies, and UCSB would certainly love to, then the Gauchos are allowing 60.7 points per game overall and 55.1 per game in Big West play. In fact, with the Utah State games removed from the mix, opponents are shooting just 40.1% overall and 36.6% in league games. The Gauchos have allowed eight opponents to score more than 70 points, 13 have scored fewer than 70, eight have scored fewer than 60, and four have scored fewer than 50. Idaho's 40 point total was the lowest by an opponent this season.

Just Joshing
Junior guard Josh Davis was has been one of UCSB's bright spots recently. He is third on the team in scoring at 10.2 points per game, but in the last six games, he has averaged 12.2 points per outing and he has scored in double-figures four times. Although he made just 2-of-10 shots in last week's loss at UC Davis, Davis had 13 points, eight rebounds, a career-high five assists, and two steals. His rebound total of eight was just one under his career-high. With Gaucho players dropping like flies, Davis has been the only player on the team to start ever game this season, and he leads the team in minutes played with 679. While his minutes total is just 29 more than Chrismen Oliver, the next closest player, it is 147 more than Alex Harris, who ranks third on the team. Davis has logged 24 or more minutes in all 21 Gaucho games this season, and he has played 30 or more 16 times, including 10 times in the last 11 games. While Davis has scored 10 or more points 10 times in 21 games, he has also become one of the team's top rebounders. He is averaging 5.0 boards per game, a figure that is at its highest point since he was also averaging 5.0 per game after the first game of the season. Also, he has had five or more rebounds 13 times this season, including each of the last eight games. In the last eight, Davis has averaged 6.6 rebounds, the top mark on the team over that span. In UCSB's January 22 home loss to Pacific, Davis scored a career-high 21 points, making a career-high 5-of-7 shots from three-point range, and 7-of-13 overall. It marked the second time this season and in his career that he had scored 20 or more points. His previous high of 20 came on November 27 at San Francisco. He opened the season on an offensive roll, scoring in double-figures in each of the first four games, including 18 in a season-opening overtime win over San Diego State. His performance against SDSU earned Davis his first Big West Player of the Week honor ever. Last year, Davis had 18 steals in 27 games, and his two-year total entering the 2004-05 campaign was 40 steals in 59 games. This season, Davis has 34 steals in 21 games and he has had a career-high four steals three times this season, most recently in the January 13 win over Cal Poly. Davis' total of 22 three-point baskets are nine more than he had in his first two seasons combined. Finally, after shooting just 44.1% from the free throw line in 2003-04, Davis has improved his free throw percentage this season to 75.9%. In the last game at UC Davis, he had career-highs of 10 attempts and nine makes. In the last eight games, Davis has drilled 24-of-27 shots from the free throw line, 88.9%.

Oliver's Story
Senior guard Chrismen Oliver has really hit his first two-game lull of the season. While he remains the team's leading active scorer at 10.4 points per game, he has scored a total of just 10 points in the last two games, 5.0 per game. In the last two, losses to Utah State and at UC Davis, Oliver mas gone 1-of-11 from the field, 9.1%, and he has missed all five of his three-point attempts. In recent league play, he has done the majority of his offensive damage in the first of two weekend games, not in the second game. In his last three Thursday night Big West games (vs. Cal State Northridge, at UC Riverside, and vs. Idaho) Oliver made 22-of-39 shots overall, 56.4%, 8-of-15 from three-point range, 53.3%, and he averaged 17.7 points per game. In his last three Saturday night league games (vs. Pacific, at Cal State Fullerton, and vs. Utah State) Oliver made 4-of-29 shots overall, 13.8%, 2-of-19 from three-point range, 10.5%, and he averaged 4.0 points per game. Quite a contrast. Oliver has led the team in scoring seven times this season, the most of anyone on the team. He has scored in double-figures 12 times in 21 games, and UCSB has gone 7-5 in those 12 games. When Oliver scores fewer than ten points, the Gauchos have won just one of nine games. Oliver entered the 2004-05 season never having scored in double-figures in a game. In the Gauchos January 20 win over Cal State Northridge, he scored a career-high 21 points. His previous career-high of 19 points had been set in the previous game, a win over UC Davis. He has made a career-high three three-point baskets three times this year, including a perfect 3-for-3 performance on January 15 against UC Davis. He will enter Wednesday's game against Pacific having gone back-to-back games without a three-point basket for the first time this season. Prior to the last two games, Oliver had a streak of nine consecutive games with at least one three-point basket. He paces the Gauchos in three-pointers with 31, one more than Joe See. Not only does he lead the team in scoring and three-point baskets, but Oliver also paces the team in assists with 64, 3.0 per game, steals with 40, 1.9 per game, and free throw percentage at 81.8%. Oliver is averaging 31.0 minutes per game, second on the team, and he has played 30 or more 12 times. In his first three seasons, Oliver totaled 71 games, 595 minutes and 168 points. This year, he has scored 218 points in 21 games and 650 minutes. He has also made 31 three-pointers this season after entering the year with a career total of 27, and his 40 steals are nine more than his total for the previous three seasons combined.

See-Saw
Junior guard Joe See continues to have his ups-and-downs this season. He is second on the team in three-point baskets with 30, and he has had at least one in each of the last four games. See now has 74 three-point baskets in his career and with six more he would move into UCSB's career top-ten. In last week's game at UC Davis, he scored ten points, making 3-of-6 shots overall and 1-of-2 from three-point range. See, however, fouled out after only 19 minutes of action. On January 6, in a game at Utah State, See made a career-high eight three-point baskets, the second-highest single-game total in school history, and the most by a Gaucho player since Mark Hull made eight against Arizona in the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. See, who almost single-handedly kept UCSB in the game at Logan, scored a career-high 26 points against the Aggies. He is now averaging 7.3 points per game, and he has scored in double-figures three times this season, including twice in the last four games. Overall, See is shooting just 30.0% from three-point range, but since an 0-for-16 start, he has gone 30-of-84, 35.7%. Also, since opening the year at 2-for-20 overall from the floor, he has gone 48-of-127, a modest 37.8%.

The Harris Poll
Freshman guard Alex Harris scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting in last week's game at UC Davis. He also had a career-high eight rebounds against the Aggies. He enters the game at Pacific having scored in double-figures in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He had 11 points and made all three of his three-point attempts in the previous game against Utah State. Harris is now averaging 7.6 points per game, the highest his scoring average has been since it was 8.0 per game entering the sixth game of the year. Harris has scored in double-figures seven times this season, including six times in the last 12 games, and three in the last four games, including a career-high 16 on January 29 at Cal State Fullerton. In fact, in his last four outings, he has averaged 11.7 points per game and he has made 16-of-29 shots overall, 55.2%, and 7-of-11 from three-point territory, 63.6%. Harris has had a career-high three three-point baskets twice this season, with both times coming in the last four games. His three-point field goal percentage of 40.0% is second on the team among active players, and it is actually higher than his two-point field goal percentage, which is currently 40.1%. Harris is ranked third on the team in steals with 18 and he needs just one more to move into UCSB's all-time freshman top-ten list in the category. After producing four steals in the first nine games, he has had 14 in the last 12 games, including a career-high of four on February 3 against Idaho. Harris is second on the team in free throw percentage at 80.0%, a figure that would rank second all-time among Gaucho freshmen. He leads the team in free throws made with 44, and he is second in attempts with 55. Finally, ,when Harris tallied 15 points in the season-opener at San Diego State, it was the most points ever scored by a UCSB freshman in a season-opener and the most ever scored by a freshman in his Gaucho debut.

Cam I Am
Junior forward Cameron Goettsche suffered a strained lower back in last week's game at UC Davis. He played 15 minutes in the first half, went scoreless and had three rebounds. He did not play in the second half and he is highly questionable for Wednesday night's game at Pacific. Goettsche has struggled in his last two games, including the game at Davis and the previous game against Utah State. In 46 total minutes, he scored a total of six points and had six rebounds, an average of 3.0 per game each. In addition, while he is shooting 47.5% from the field overall, he went just 3-of-10 in last two games, 30.0%. Although he remains the team-leader in rebounding at 6.9 per game, Goettsche has averaged just 5.0 per game in his last five outings. At one point this season, in consecutive games at San Diego, and at home against Long Beach State and UC Irvine, he recorded double-figures in rebounds. In the December 30 game against UC Irvine, he had a career-high 14 rebounds, the most by a UCSB player since the 2001-02 season. His season-high of 15 points came on January 15 against UC Davis. In a six game stretch, beginning with the first game against UC Davis, and ending with the February 3 game against Idaho, Goettsche had his best offensive run of the season, scoring in double-figures four times and averaging 11.3 points per game. On December 22 at San Diego, he had the third double-double of his career with ten points and 11 rebounds. Goettsche has become a defensive presence inside. He is second on the team with 24 blocked shots, 10 more than he had last season. He had a career-high four blocked shots on January 15 against UC Davis and he has had two or more nine times this season. The one area of biggest struggle for Goettsche continues to be free throws. Since starting the season by making 6-of-8, has gone 10-of-27, 37.0%.

As The World Turners
Sophomore forward Glenn Turner is another addition to the Gauchos' lengthy injury list. In last week's loss at UC Davis, Turner banged his head on the floor early in the second half and sat-out the final 16 minutes. He played just 16 minutes, his lowest total since the first game of Big West play, and he had two points and three rebounds. In UCSB's previous game, a loss to Utah State, Turner had nine points, his second-highest total ever. He scored a career-high 12 points on January 13 against Cal Poly. Turner is now averaging 4.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Also, despite not blocking a shot in either of the last three games, Turner leads the Gauchos in blocked shots with 34, a figure that also leads the Big West Conference. Prior to going block-less in the last three games, he had two or more blocked shots in nine of the previous 11 games. In fact, over one stretch of six games, he had three or more five times, including six on January 8 at Idaho, tying Eric McArthur's single-game record. In the game prior to blocking six, he had five, giving him 11 over a two-game span, a school record. Turner now has 41 career blocked shots and is tied for ninth on UCSB's all-time career list. With 34 this season, Turner needs just six more to move into eighth on the single season list. In addition to blocking shots, Turner has developed into one of the team's most dependable rebounders. He is not only averaging 4.8 per game, but he has led the team in rebounding eight times, more than anyone else. He has had five or more 10 times this season, including in eight of the last 12 games. He has had a career-high eight rebounds three times this season.

Around The Key: Notes
Sophomore guard Derek Rasp scored five points at UC Davis. It was his second game back after missing five with a lung contusion. He had been scoreless in the previous game against Utah State...Sophomore forward David Kennedy, who has played in the last five games after missing all but one of the first 16 with a stress fracture, scored a career-high three points in the game at UC Davis. His second half slam dunk was his first field goal of the season. Kennedy played a career-high 17 minutes against Utah State and he had a career-high three rebounds...Junior guard Michael Chambers scored a career-high 12 points in the game at UC Davis, making 5-of-8 shots overall and 2-of-5 from three-point range. His total of 12 points were six more than he had scored in his previous four games. He made two three-pointers, the same number that he had made in the previous nine games combined...Junior forward Derek Wheeler played five minutes in the game at UC Davis. After being certified to play by the NCAA, Wheeler logged 14 minutes on February 3 against Idaho, but he missed the next game against Utah State after spraining his ankle in shootaround the day of the game. He rolled the ankle when he came down on freshman forward Chris Moore's foot...Speaking of Moore, his return was also fairly brief. After becoming eligible for UCSB's January 29 game at Cal State Fullerton, he went to the floor for a loose ball in the first half of the February 5 Utah State game, and in the pile-up, his head hit the floor, his lip split open and he suffered a concussion. He is likely to remain sidelined for the Pacific game, and possibly the game against Cal Poly.