Follow or fade me on this side play at your own peril. @)
I believe the UC Irvine Anteaters will win and cover the -7 points over the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
The game is being played at the Anteaters home court (Donald Bren Events Center or "The Bren") in Irvine, California tonight at 10PM EST.
Both of these teams are members of the Big West Conference.
UC Irvine is 17-5 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play (tied for 1st place with Hawaii Rainbow Warriors who are 5-0). They are a perfect 8-0 SU this year at home.
UC Santa Barbara is 8-11 overall and 2-4 in conference play (tied for 5th place with Cal Poly Mustangs who are also 2-4). They are 5-6 SU this year on the road.
In another matchup between California schools in the Big West Conference, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will lock up with the UC Irvine Anteaters Saturday night. UC Santa Barbara has dropped three of four after losing 80-70 in overtime to Long Beach State on the road Thursday. UC Irvine ran their winning streak to seven games with a 73-63 road defeat of Cal State Northridge Wednesday. The Anteaters have won four of the last five meetings over the Gauchos, including a 61-52 win on the road on January 16 in the first meeting this season.
According to the most current up to date (Friday 29th) KENPOM 2016 overall ratings, UC Irvine is ranked #69 and UC Santa Barbara is ranked #136.
UC Irvine's offense is ranked #208, while their defense is ranked #10.
UC Santa Barbara's offense is ranked #209, while their defense is ranked #74.
OK, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's look at this game more closely!
!/UC Santa Barbara Being Held Back By Sputtering Offense
UC Santa Barbara has struggled lately and stands 2-4 in Big West play. One of the big issues for the Gauchos is the lack of offense. UC Santa Barbara enters this contest 259th in the nation in scoring offense with 69.7 points per game. The Gauchos hit 43.6 percent from the field on the year. UC Santa Barbara is drilling 7.1 three point field goals a night while shooting 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Gauchos are only averaging 14.5 free throw attempts per contest. UC Santa Barbara is sinking 71.3 percent of their chances at the stripe. Michael Bryson leads the Gauchos in scoring with 19.3 points plus 6.1 boards and 2.6 assists per game. Gabe Vincent (13.2 points) and John Green (11.8 points, 5.8 boards) both are scoring in double figures. Sam Beeler, Eric Childress, Mitch Brewe and Maxwell Kupchak are each putting up at least 4.3 points a night.
The Gauchos are a middle of the road team on the defensive end of the floor. UC Santa Barbara is tied for 151st in the nation by allowing 70.2 points a night. Opposing teams are shooting 42 percent from the floor against the Gauchos. UC Santa Barbara has seen their opponents knock down seven threes a night. The opposition is draining just 30.7 percent from downtown. The Gauchos are giving up an average of 25.6 free throw attempts on the year. UC Santa Barbara has seen their opponents knock down 69.3 percent of their chances.
UC Irvine Tries To Remain Undefeated in Big West
Right now, it seems like the Big West could be a two team race as UC Irvine and Hawaii are both undefeated at this point. The Anteaters will try to go to 7-0 in conference play and maintain their spot at the top. The Anteaters are not an offensive oriented team as they are 279th in the nation scoring 68.7 points a game. UC Irvine shoots 44.7 percent from the floor as a team. The Anteaters average 5.8 three pointers a game but shoot just 33.9 percent from beyond the arc. UC Irvine shoots 21 free throws per contest. The Anteaters are hitting 68.1 percent at the stripe. Big (7’6, 300 pounds) man Mamadou Ndiaye is one of two Anteaters scoring in double figures as he averages 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest. Luke Nelson is the only other Anteaters player scoring in double figures with a team leading 12.5 points plus 3.8 assists per game. Mike Best, Alex Young and Jaron Martin all put up at least 8.6 points per game for the Anteaters. Ioannis Dimakopoulos is putting up 5.5 points a night.
The Anteaters are 17th in the nation in scoring defense as they allow 63 points per game this season. UC Irvine limits their opponents to 37.7 percent shooting from the field. The Anteaters allow six three pointers per game as opposing teams shoot 31 percent from beyond the arc. UC Irvine allows 19.4 free throws. Their opposition shoots 72.6 percent at the line.
ATS Trends
UC Santa Barbara
- 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. teams with a winning percentage above .600
- 5-12 ATS in their last 17 after a straight up loss
UC Irvine
- 5-0 ATS in their last five vs. teams with a losing record
- 5-1 ATS in their last six after a straight up win
- 5-1 ATS in their last six overall
KEY TECHNICAL STAT: UC Irvine has covered ATS the last 5 head to head match-ups vs. UC Santa Barbara!
UC Irvine is playing lights out basketball right now as they have reeled off seven straight wins.
UC Santa Barbara is struggling and hasn’t had much luck lately.
The Anteaters are 8-0 at home on the year and unbeaten in conference play.
UC Irvine already beat UC Santa Barbara on the road this year.
Expect more of the same as the Anteaters get the win and ATS cover at home and sweep the season series.
UC IRVINE -7 is the play!
Good luck to anyone who tails me on this play.
