UCSB @ NDSU preview by a Gaucho fan

Hey Bison fans,
I do a preview of UCSB opponents for us Gaucho fans so this is more about your team from an outsiders perspective. I'll provide more info on UCSB in a separate post.

Game 2
UCSB @ North Dakota State
Sunday, November 11, 2018, 11 am PST

Overview:
The Gauchos return to the cold northwestern part of the country to take on the NDSU Bison of the Summit League with the Bison looking to revenge the 85-66 walloping at the hands of the Gauchos in the Thunderdome last year. The Bison, coming off a 15-17 season, have to replace their best player in Paul Miller plus one of their all-time scorers in Adam Jacobson. In their season openers, the Gauchos defeated Wyoming in Laramie 76-66 and the Bison lost at New Mexico State 73-56. According to the UCSB press release, Max Heidegger continues to exhibit concussion symptoms and will not be making the trip but an insider in the program said that it is still undecided. Fingers crossed.

By the Numbers
Table did not format, you can check out the preview on the Gaucho board to check that out. If you want to introduce yourselves there too & discuss the game, please follow protocol and title your post "Hey Guys!"

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/ucsb...108643#p108643

NDSU-UCSB History
UCSB All-time record vs. Bison: 1-1
Last game (2017): UCSB 85-66, in SB

The Arena: The Bison play in the Scheels Center, originally built in 1970 and known as the Bison Sports Arena, it was redone in 2016 as part of the construction of the Sanford Heath Athletic Complex and bestowed with its new name. Capacity is 5,830 and they averaged 2,757 fans last season.

Head Coach:
Coach Dave Richman enters his fifth season as the Bison HC and has been with the program for 13 years. He has a 77-52 record including an NCAA appearance his first year, losing by 10 to Gonzaga as a 15 seed. While he possesses a solid record as HC, he has trended downward every season with win totals of 23, 20, 19 and 15. Age 39, this has been his only HC position.
Roster
The Bison are tasked with replacing three starters from last season including two of their all-time best players and have no seniors on this year’s roster. Their leading returning scorer is junior wing Tyson Ward who led the team in rebounding (5.9) and is a preseason 2nd team All Summit pick. It was a former reserve that led the way in their first game as F/C Rocky Kreuser had a career night.

Bison Probable Starters
Vinnie Shahid #0 Guard, JC transfer Jr, 5’11”, 190 lb Bison fans are excited about this quick, dynamic pg who averaged 18 ppg and ~ 5 assists at Western Nebraska CC and was named 2nd Team All JCC. Shahid hit a whopping 48% of his three point attempts.
Jared Samuelson #11 Guard 6’3”, 185 lb, Junior, Averaged 5.4 ppg on 42% from beyond the arc last year, zero points in 15 minutes in the opener. He did not score against UCSB last year
Sam Griesel #5 Wing, Freshman, 6’6”, 210 lb 3 points and 4 boards in 24 minutes in his first college game.
Tyson Ward #24 Wing, Junior, 6’6” 190 lbs 11.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 2.6 apg. Preseason 3rd team All Summit pick. Statistical leader in points, rebounds and assists from 2017-8. Most of his fg attempts are inside the arc. He scored 8 points against UCSB in 2017 on 2-3 from three. 6 points on 3-9 shooting in the opener.
Rocky Kreuser #34 Forward/Center 6’10”, 245 lb Sophomore 3.8 ppg, 2 rpg. Killed it in the opener, 23 pts, 5 boards & only 1 foul.

Bison Probable Key Reserves:
Cameron Hunter #22 Guard Sophomore, 6’3”, 185 lb The only other returning starter (21 games) for the Bison, he averaged 9.2 ppg, 2.4 apg and 3 boards. A solid 3 point threat, he shot 42% from beyond the arc, with just under half his shots taken from outside. He scored 11 against UCSB in 2017 including 4-5 from the FT line.
Tyree Eady #3 Guard, RS Freshman, 6’5”, 215 lb Came off the bench in the first game but played over 20 minutes and was the second leading scorer.
Deng Geu #23 Forward 6’8”, 215 lb, Junior 6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg.Led team in blocks & fg %. Put up 11 against UCSB last year. Athletic but still plays inexperienced.
Jordan Horn #21 Guard 6’2”, 195 lb, Sophomore Transfer (Siena)

UCSB Probable Starters (assumption of no Max Heidegger)
Devearl Ramsey: #4 PG, RS Sophomore. 6’0”, 185lb
JaQuori McLaughlin: #3 Guard, RS Sophomore 6’4, 190lb
Ar’Mond Davis: #1 Wing, Grad Transfer. 6‘6”, 190lb
Jarriese Blackmon: #2 Forward, Senior, 6’7”, 220lb
Amadou Sow: #12 Forward, Freshman, 6’9”, 235lb

UCSB Probable Key Reserves:
Christian Terrell: #23 Wing, Junior, 6’5”, 200lb UCSB
Ami Lakoju: #14 Center, Senior, 6’9”, 260lb
Jay Nagle: #5 Wing, Freshman. 6’8”, 205lb
Zach Moore: #34 Guard, RS Junior. 6’5”, 210lb
Robinson Idehen: #35 F/C, Sophomore, 6’10”, 230lb

Opening Game Recaps
UCSB: The Gauchos defeated Wyoming in Laramie 76-66. They utilized their depth and applied a good pressure defense all game limiting the Cowboys to 36% shooting and 17% from three. Despite the majority of players playing their first game together the offense executed well and UCSB shot over 50% from the field. The defense was able to harass and chase down open perimeter shooters better than they did last season. JaQuori McLaughlin led the team with 17 points and provided a steadying hand at point when starting PG Devearl Ramsey was on the bench. The speedy Ramsey had 14 points and was 7/8 from the FT line. Freshman Forward Amadou Sow lead the team with 11 boards, helping the Gauchos outrebound Wyoming 40-29. The Gauchos led the game 29 of 40 minutes and held the lead the entire second half.

NDSU: The NMSU Aggies crushed the Bison right out of the gate, jumping to an 18-3 lead and led by double digits the whole way, defeating NDSU 73-56. The one bright spot for the Bison was the emergence of Sophomore Forward Rocky Kreuser who had a career night with 23 points on 5-6 from three, 9-11 overall after averaging less than 4 ppg last season.

Match-up & prediction:
Similar to UCSB, Bison fans are excited about their team despite some key losses from last year, feeling the talent coming in is superior. The Bison have talent & depth at guard & wings but SB has more talent & depth at those positions even without the great Max Heidegger. Despite Kreuser's career night, I see Sow being able to handle him and Ami & Idehen should improve upon Tuesday's lackluster performances. Ramsey's speed will cause the Bison trouble on both ends of the court.

Keys to the game for the Gauchos:
If Kreuser’s performance was not an aberration and is a real threat, then Sow will need to stay out of foul trouble and/or Idehen and Lakoju will need to provide much more than they did against Wyoming. NMSU, like UCSB did vs. Wyoming, went deep into their lineup which bodes well for UCSB in terms of continuous fresh legs applying defensive pressure. Tyson Ward had a poor opener but is still a threat that CT/Davis/JMac will need to shut down. One area that UCSB needs to address is turnovers. I expect game two to be cleaner and UCSB will address that while still having Ramsey be his dynamic self.
Prediction: Gaucho depth & talent prevails, UCSB 74 NDSU 63

Official Site: https://gobison.com/index.aspx?path=mbball
Hey Guys! http://www.bisonville.com/forum/forumdi ... Basketball
How to Watch: https://gobison.com/watch/?Live=2258&type=Live

NDSU Pre-Season Preview Links:
http://hoopshd.com/2018/10/19/conferenc ... -league-5/
https://www.three-man-weave.com/3mw/sum ... eview-2019

Fun facts about NDSU:
They are the greatest FCS football team in history having won the national championship 14 times including 5 consecutive from 2011-2015 and last year. They are 9-0 this season. QB Carson Wentz led the Super Bowl champ Eagles to an 11-2 record last season before going down to injury. Their rival is South Dakota State, one of the top mid-majors in the country this year. Average November high temperature in Fargo, ND is 37 °F and the average low is 22°F. Average November high temperature in Santa Barbara is 70°F and the low is 49°F. Ole.

Just for kicks, my preview of the matchup from last year:
ucsb-north-dakota-state-university-preview-t21531.html

Meet the Gauchos

Year two of the Joe Pasternack era at UCSB will have a very different flavor than the first. It was a record setting beginning for the coach as he took a 6 win team all the way to a 23 win season, tying the school record for victories and the Big West Conference record for turnaround. Helping the new coach achieve this success was a very experienced roster with three returning starters and two grad transfers that became starters. Unfortunately, the bulk of that roster has graduated and to repeat the success, he will have to do it with mostly new players. Good thing for UCSB, Pasternack and his staff have worked extremely hard to bring in a very talented mix of freshmen and transfers. And the one returning starter he does have is a great one, leading scorer and First Team All Big West guard Max Heidegger.
Preaseaon prognosticators have not been sure what to make of the Gauchos, they lost so much but the talent coming in is the best in the conference. They have been picked to finish anywhere from 6th to first. With a 10 point victory on the road against Wyoming, it appears that a finish near the top of the conference is the better bet. Expect the pace of play to rise and the defensive pressure to extend with the greater depth & athleticism and this was the case against Wyoming. A fairly soft out of conference schedule this year may translate into some ugly wins as opposed to losses piling up while the new pieces work to come together.

Probable Starters (season)
Devearl Ramsey: #4 PG, RS Sophomore. 6’0”, 185lb A very athletic and exciting point guard, 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 was fantastic against the Cowboys and helps UCSB shore up it’s Achilles heel from last year, guarding quick point guards. A vocal leader, he has been named team captain. On the downside, his aggressive play did lead to a high number of turnovers against the Cowboys. An acceptable trade-off but the TOs will probably go down after first game jitters.

Max Heidegger: #21 Guard, Junior. 6‘3”, 180lb The most familiar face on the roster, Max had one of the biggest leaps in improvement in Gaucho hoops history from his freshman year to his sophomore. 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. Don’t be surprised if his production decreases slightly this season due to the depth of backcourt talent UCSB has this season versus last. He has dealt with a concussion and did not travel to Wyoming. If he does play, he may be a bit rusty and play limited minutes.

JaQuori McLaughlin: , #3 Guard, RS Sophomore 6’4, 190lb Another transfer, McLaughlin comes to UCSB from Oregon State where he set the freshman record for three pointers made. He can play either guard position but may start out on the wing given the depth at guard. He led the team in scoring vs. the Cowboys with 17.

Ar’Mond Davis: #1 Wing, Grad Transfer. 6‘6”, 190lb A third transfer that will likely start for the Gauchos, 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. He is athletic and loves to score. The Gauchos will need him to crash the boards and defend bigger players too given the smaller line up. He shot poorly against Wyoming but Coach Pasternack is very high on him and expects Davis to lead the team in scoring this season.

Amadou Sow: #12 Forward, Freshman, 6’9”, 235lb 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 has range to outside the arc but will need to be a force in the paint too as the Gauchos will likely go small with him as the sole big in the starting lineup. He had a terrific first game, leading the team in rebounding with 11 and scoring 8 points.

Top Reserves
Jarriese Blackmon: #2 Forward, Senior, 6’7”, 220lb Blackmon’s high energy and athleticism have been what has earned him minutes on the floor. With Heidegger out against Wyoming, Blackmon started and flourished in that role, with 8 points and 8 boards. Always athletic, the first game indicated his touch on offense has improved from last year.

Christian Terrell: #23 Wing, Junior, 6’5”, 200lb “CT” is one of the best athletes on the team with great hops and is considered the best defender. He has supposedly improved his shooting which was the weakest part of his game his first two seasons. If he in fact now has a reliable shot, he’ll play significant minutes for the Gauchos, even with the greater depth at the guard/wing positions.

Battling for Roles (Not necessarily in order)
Jay Nagle: #5 Wing, Freshman. 6’8”, 205lb The son of basketball coach, Nagle was the first HS recruit signed by Pasternack and has grown 2 inches since he signed. A terrific outside shooter, he performed surprisingly well over the summer practices and had a perfect start against Wyoming, going 3-3 from three. Once thought a possible redshirt candidate, it appears that he’ll have role on this year’s team.

Zach Moore: #34 Guard, RS Junior. 6’5”, 210lb A starter at Seattle before transferring to UCSB, Moore averaged about 11ppg and made 74 threes his sophomore year. Provides another outside threat, went a perfect 2-2 from three against Wyoming.

Ami Lakoju: #14 Center, Senior, 6’9”, 260lb Ami dealt with a foot fracture over the summer but should be recovered and ready for the season, if not a bit rusty. A physical presence, Ami has been prone to foul trouble over his career and had two quick silly fouls against Wyoming. When he stays out of foul trouble, he has been able to make some contributions on offense and can clear the paint for boards with his big body. Someone I’ve always hoped could do more, we’ll see if can elevate in his last season as a Gaucho.

Robinson Idehen: #35 F/C, Sophomore, 6’10”, 230lb A JC transfer, Idehen is expected to be a rebounding and defensive force in the paint. He played only three minutes against Wyoming.

Sekou Toure: #0 Guard, Freshman, 6’5”, 185lb Lightly recruited, Toure made great strides his senior year at Prolific Prep where Sow also attended, averaging 16ppg and 8 boards and UCSB may have got a steal in Toure. What impresses most though is his defense which alone may earn him PT right off the bat. Played limited minutes in his first game, it may take some time for him to get accustomed to D1 play.


Limited Roles
Senior Forward Maxwell Kupchak and walk-ons Andrew Pickles & Mobeen Hirbod will not likely see meaningful minutes.


About UCSB
Hoops history. UCSB has been an above-average mid-major the past 25 years but has not been able to break through with a type of season that would garner national attention. Its hey-day was in the late 80s/early 90s when the Big West conference rivaled the then Pac 10 for hoops superiority in the West. At that time, UNLV was a power and UCSB had a couple major upsets of the Rebels when they were ranked in the top 5 of the country. The Gauchos were the last team to beat UNLV before the Rebels went on to win the National Championship in 1990. Those Rebels would not lose again until to Duke in the Final Four the following year. Also in 1990, the Gauchos won their only NCAA tournament game ever, defeating Houston in the first found before losing to top seed Michigan State by 3. During this time the crowds were among the best in the country and the Campus Events Center earned the nick-name of “The Thunderdome.” Sadly, present-day crowds make a mockery of that name. Under previous coach Bob Williams, who led the program for 19 years, the Gauchos got to the NCAA tournament three times and the NIT twice, never winning a game. Our most famous basketball alum is Brian Shaw who won three NBA championships with the Lakers in the early 2000s and is back with the Lakers as Associate HC.

Gauchos in the NBA
James Nunnally, 2012, a reserve forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves
Alan Williams, 2015, school’s all-time rebounding leader, under the new 40-10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets and formerly with the Phoenix Suns.

The School: Once more known as a party school (and it certainly was when I was there way back when!), it has grown to become one of the best universities in the country, consistently in the top 40 of the school ratings. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful campus location, surrounded on two sides by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains behind. It is more sedate now but still has the surf and bikinis in January. Although in a bit of a lull right now, the soccer team has had a lot of success, winning the National Championship in 2006 and created a fantastic following as the school led the country in attendance for more than 10 consecutive years. The school responded by investing into their stadium and UCSB will be hosting the College Cup (Final 4) for the second time this December.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gauchofreg

Fun facts about NDSU:
They are the greatest FCS football team in history having won the national championship 14 times including 5 consecutive from 2011-2015.

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FYP

10char

I had copied & pasted from my preview last year, should have checked last year's results given the Bison's track record.
Fixed.

NDSu has a lot of work to do and come together as a Team, I suspect they will but don't look for it to be this game, NMSU game was embarrassing

Thanks Gauchofreg for the preview!

G mentioned a couple interesting names.
Maxwell Kupchak - a 6’ 7” reserve who did not play in the 1st game, is indeed the son of Mitch Kupchak.

Head Coach Joe Pasternack has been around good recruiting, with his previous job before UCSB being Associate Head Coach at Arizona (under Sean Miller). Pasternack was previously also head coach at New Orleans.