Big West Conference report

SportsLine.com Report
March 14, 2000

In the Paint

For the second straight season UCSB surged late in the year. Again, the team could not parlay the late success into an upset or two in the conference tournament.

The Gauchos, after winning 10 of 13 games to close out the conference regular season, were dumped 85-78 by upstart Nevada in the first round of the Big West Tournament. The Wolf Pack shot 47.3 percent from the field in the game. UCSB held opponents to a conference-low 38.8 percent during the regular season.

A glance at 2001

After two straight years of miserable non-conference performances, the Gauchos might think about turning up the effort a little earlier in the season. Imagine how tough this team would be if it entered conference play with some confidence and more than a handful of victories already under its belt.

Returning personnel should provide the Gauchos with plenty of athleticism and grit on the defensive end, but finding more consistent scoring sources will be a big key to how many games the team wins. Defense alone should get this team to .500 and a conference tournament berth.

The Coach

Bob Williams is 29-27 in two years at the helm. In his rookie season he was named the Big West and NABC District 15 Coach of the Year after guiding the Gauchos to a 15-13 record following an 0-8 start.

Who'll Be Back?

The Gauchos lose the three-pronged senior guard attack of Erick Ashe, Derrick Allen and Larry Bell, but their departure opens the door for another guard trio in Brandon Payton, LaRon Bryant and B.J. Ward. All three saw quality minutes in the Gauchos' guard-oriented offense.

Mark Hull and Adama Ndiaye will give the Gauchos a solid presence in the paint, both offensively and defensively, while key reserves include forward Juliano Jordani, Mike Vukovich and Ross Carmichael.

Who's gone?

Ashe, Allen and Bell take with them a combined 22.7 points and 11.5 assists a game.