Big West weekly review-preview
For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the first place team in the Big West Conference is not UC Irvine.
UC Santa Barbara ran its win streak to 10 with two wins at Hawai’i last week, and moved into sole possession of first place in the Big West with just three weeks remaining in the regular season. The Gauchos are 8-2 in conference games (14-3 overall).
UC Irvine went 1-1 against UC Riverside to drop to second place at 7-3.
Interestingly enough, UCI and UCSB will not play the same amount of games this season.
UCI only has four more counting games remaining on its schedule – hosting Cal State Fullerton for two games this weekend, then at Long Beach State on March 5 and 6. The Anteaters will host UC San Diego on February 26 and 27, but those games will not count in the standings.
UCSB, on the other hand, has six more counting games on its schedule, including four upcoming games against fellow contenders. The Gauchos will host CSU Bakersfield twice this weekend, then travel to UC Riverside for two games on February 26 and 27. Bakersfield is currently in third place at 8-4; UCR Riverside is in fourth at 5-3.
UCSB will then close the regular season by hosting last place Cal Poly. Winning percentages will be used to determine the final standings due to the teams playing an unequal amount of games.
This season, there is also significance at the bottom of the standings. The teams that finish in the seventh through 10th positions will play “first round” games at the Big West Conference Championship Tournament. The top six teams will be seeded into the quarterfinals.
Player of the Week
UC Davis sophomore Elijah Pepper was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week after leading the Aggies to a two-game sweep of Long Beach State last week.
Pepper, a 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game in the two wins. He scored a career-high 32 points, including six 3-pointers, in a 78-76 overtime win over the 49ers on Saturday.
Best Game of Last Week
UC Santa Barbara 81, Hawai’i 74 (OT). The Warriors nearly ended the Gauchos’ winning streak with a valiant second-half rally. Hawai’i erased a 15-point deficit in the second half and had a shot to win the game in regulation, but missed a 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining. The Gauchos were clutch at the free throw line, converting 20 of 23 for the game and 12 for 12 in overtime. Senior guard Devearl Ramsey led the way by going 10 for 10 on free throws.
Games to Watch This Week
CSU Bakersfield at UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos’ newfound perch atop the Big West standings will be put to the test immediately. The Roadrunners, who are in their first season in the Big West, are 14-7 overall and 8-4 in conference action. UCSB is currently on a 10-game winning streak, and is 7-0 at home this season. Friday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Friday’s Games
Hawai’i at CSUN, 4:00 p.m. PT
Cal Poly at Long Beach State, 4:00 p.m. PT
UC Riverside at UC San Diego, 5:00 p.m. PT
UC Irvine at Cal State Fullerton, 5:00 p.m. PT
CSU Bakersfield at UC Santa Barbara, 8:00 p.m. PT
Saturday’s Games
Hawai’i at CSUN, 4:00 p.m. PT
Cal Poly at Long Beach State, 4:00 p.m. PT
UC Riverside at UC San Diego, 5:00 p.m. PT
UC Irvine at Cal State Fullerton, 5:00 p.m. PT
CSU Bakersfield at UC Santa Barbara, 7:00 p.m. PT
