UCSB's James Nunnally is averaging over 16 points a game and almost six rebounds this season.
Presidio Sports spoke with UCSB forward James Nunnally on Wednesday night, just as the Gaucho men’s basketball team was about to sit down for dinner with family and boosters the night before UCSB faces Florida in the NCAA Tournament.
Tipoff is at 3:50 p.m. on Thursday for the West Coast.
Nunnally and the Gauchos – in Tampa, Florida since Tuesday as part of the Southeast Regional – are experiencing the first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
“Last year we were kind of in awe, and, like ‘we’re here, oh, we finally got here’,” Nunnally said. “Not really knowing what it felt like to play in the game.”
Even still, against second-seeded Ohio State last year the Gauchos did not go quietly, staying with the Buckeyes in the first half and limiting first-team All-American Evan Turner in a 68-51 loss.
“This year, actually, I think we’re really just more focused. We’re not worried about where we’re at, we’re not worried about the arena’s size, or where we’re staying, or how many people are going to be there, or whatever people think of the game. We’re just worried about the game and winning.”
Nunnally said he likes their chances, as the Gauchos are coming into the tournament on their only four-game win streak of the season with a general feeling that they are playing the best basketball of the year. Even better than in December when they defeated LMU and Santa Clara, then traveled to Las Vegas and beat a ranked UNLV on the road.
“Coach got into our heads the last two months of the season that we want to play our best basketball in March and we are,” Nunnally said. “I think we’re in stride right now. We’re trying to find our peak and keep extending the season.
“We want to keep playing.”
The fact that the Gauchos (18-13) are the No. 15 seed and Florida (26-7) is a No. 2 seed doesn’t bother Nunnally.
“We have good players too, you know,” Nunnally said. “Coach (Williams) has put together a good scouting report. We’re really prepared.”
To boot, the game is at the St. Pete Times Forum, which is about two hours from the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.
But Nunnally has noticed plenty of Gaucho fans around the hotel and expects a dedicated cheering section to stand up to what will surely be a Florida-friendly arena. Rebounding well and sticking to their offensive game-plan are keys, he said.
Another key for UCSB is for Nunnally to have a good game. The junior forward is the team’s second-leading scorer with an average of 16.4 points per game. Nunnally also contributes almost six rebounds a game and has good shooting percentages in the three categories.
“We just have to stay solid on defense, you know, and execute our game plan on offense, and we’ll be good.”
