The UCSB men’s basketball team will host former Big West Conference member Boise State at the Thunderdome on Saturday, Feb. 19, as part of the ninth annual ESPNU BracketBusters.
The tip-off time has yet to be determined.
The Broncos and Gauchos competed against each other as Big West opponents from 1996-2001. The teams split six conference games. Overall, the teams have met nine times in a series that began in 1975 and UCSB has won five of the games.
Boise State is currently 12-9 overall and 5-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Broncos are coached by Leon Rice who is in his first season and they are led by seniior guard La’Shard Anderson (15.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.0 apg)and senior forwards Robert Arnold (14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 37 three-point baskets), Paul Noonan (10.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 34 three-point baskets) and Daequon Montreal (10.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Boise State has played two Big West Conference teams thus far in 2010-11, winning at UC Davis on Nov. 19 (67-47) and losing at home to Long Beach State (69-66). The Broncos and Gauchos have three other common opponents. Each team has played Denver (both posting wins), Portland (both posting losses) and UNLV (UCSB won, Boise State lost).
With the Broncos traveling to Santa Barbara for the 2011 BracketBuster game, it means that the Gauchos will return the trip in 2011-12.
UCSB hosts Pacific on Thursday, Feb. 3 in a Big West Conference game that will tip-off at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
