UCSB’s Alan Williams is leading the Gauchos with averages of 25.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game so far this season.
UCSB hosts The Master’s in the Gauchos’ home opener on Saturday before the team travels to the Great Alaska Shootout next week.
Saturday’s game in Santa Barbara is scheduled for a 4 p.m. tipoff at the Thunderdome. UCSB has won nine straight home openers dating back to the 2005-06 season. UCSB has only faced The Master’s, an NAIA program, twice, including an 81-52 win at the Thunderdomoe last season.
Alan Williams, Zalmico Harmon, Michael Bryson, Mitch Brewe and true-freshman Gabe Vincent are expected to start on Saturday for the Gauchos.
Following the game against the Mustangs, UCSB plays in Alaska on Thanksgiving night against Washington State in the first round of the eight-team tournament. UCSB’s second round opponent will be either Mercer or Rice and in the third round it will be either Colorado State, Missouri State, Pacific or Alaska-Anchorage.
UCSB has played better than its 0-2 record would indicate in the early going. The Gauchos lost their regular season opener on Nov. 14 at No. 5 Kansas, 69-59, and three days later, they fell to Florida-Gulf Coast in a thrilling 81-75 overtime game. Florida-Gulf Coast is picked to win the Atlantic Sun Conference this season.
Alan Williams is averaging 25.5 points, 14.5 reounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks in two games this season. Williams had 22 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in UCSB’s 69-59 loss at Kansas On Nov. 14 and for his efforts against the No. 5 Jayhawks, he was named the year’s first Big West Player of the Week. For Williams, it was the ninth time he has been named Player of the Week, a new league record.
After The Master’s, UCSB will travel north for the Great Alaska Shootout. The last time UCSB traveled to Alaska for a tournament was in November of 2002. The Gauchos took part in the eight-team Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks where they lost games to Weber State and Jacksonville State before defeating Centenary in their final game.
The Gauchos are 1-1 lifetime against Washington State, their first round opponent at the Great Alaska Shootout. The teams have not played in almost three decades. The last time UCSB played the Cougars was on Dec. 6, 1985 at the Thunderdome. That game was won by the Gauchos, 73-70.
