Besides Irvine and, to a lesser extent, UCSB, we’ve been a bit above the average in the BWC over time. The UCR and CSUN hires have turned things around there, and Poly had a big jump (albeit only to the 7th spot) with a grad transfer/senior heavy team. The first two seem to be in good position to sustain it; jury is out on Poly.

Can we get back to a near 20-win, top 4 BWC level consistently?

Remember, we were about 3 minutes from another NCAA appearance last season so things aren’t desperate.

We don’t seem to be able to get quality players from SoCal; maybe that changes when we get out of a SOCal-centric league? We haven’t had a quality foreign player which seem so common in our league (Anyone see Caleb Fuller representing on Senior night). That seems to be the Irvine model for consistent high level play.

Les finds diamonds in the rough but we don’t seem to get guys on those ‘top 40 recruits’ list (Stokes is a top 5 NorCal but not on a state wide list). I think there were hopes that Roberson was a plug in impact player - that remains to be seen.

I don’t think so; from what I’ve heard, if we get a special admit they go to football. Some of our UC competitors (SB) can get guys in with help.

That’s just based on conservations where I’d asked ‘how’d the gauchos seem to be able to get so many P5 Transfers compared to us?’

I headed home today

15-0 Tritons run. Up 46-32

very surprised at the low score!

UCSD IS 10-17 from the line. That’s crazy.

Whew!

I think we could use a fresh face on the staff somewhere to help with recruiting. Young assistant who can work SOCal and find some long, athletic wings!

I can’t root for poly in anything but this group is very cocky. And the abundance of man buns is hard to handle.

Cmon Russ ‘Serenity Now’ Turner - stop the Mustang scoring machine!

that’s part of it. They can also use their special admits on basketball where we use our very limited amount on football.

I left after the UCSB game. I really dislike Poly.

CSUN had chances but allowed a couple offensive rebounds after good stops (sound familiar) and (I thought) got screwed on a moving screen call on a potential tying 3 with about 30 seconds remaining.

Let’s hope UCR regroups and pulls this off.

CSUN just got screwed on a ‘moving screen’ foul on potential tying 3. Ref that called it is not a favorite of mine. Seems to take things a bit too personal.

USCB moves on

CSUN just can t close the gap. Got two stops….and gave up the offensive rebound! 74-67 with 2:20. Decent crowd. Loud. That’s one nice thing about this arena. It’s 5500 capacity and small - sounds loud.

I can’t stand UCSB. If they and Poly win, I’ll be depressed.

Much more respect for CSUN and UCR

the UCSB number is an eye-opener. Our is split football/basketball with football getting a bigger share. From what I hear, UCSD is poised to increase their spending ALOT

Poly changed coaches and improved to 7th in the league (a big jump from their past). Bust that was helped considerably by 4 transfers from Colorado Mesa who followed the coach. Can they continue their upward swing after the lose a bunch after this season?

We have to make a big investment in basketball so we can get foreign players, transfers and get players out of SOCal. Can we get a collective to help with that or is our donor based stretched thin with football.

Les seems to get more out of his players than the competition. When we’ve had talent and depth (but usually less than opponents), we’re at the top of the league. Beside Fullerton, our talent was never obviously better than our league competition.

We were just offered 2 for 1 tickets to Carrot Top. I told the guy ‘we’ve suffered enough this trip!’

it wouldn’t cost the department anything; just not sure what NIL support we have from donors (we did keep TY with some cash)

That was painful to watch in person. We were down low so could hear and see a lot. When we had that streach of something like 5 turnovers in a row, you could feel Poly feeding off it and desperation setting in on our bench. Poly made some kind of defensive adjustment that took the passes to Tomba out of the game - that led to some sloppy, forced passes and scores off at the other end. I didn’t see the point off turnovers but I’d imagine is was key to their run.

One negative about our ‘switch everything’ smaller lineup us that we lose Rocak’s smarts and leadership on the court. He’s like a coach out there. I think some of the others’ attempts to fire guys up actually does the opposite.

Sorry to see the seniors go out like that.

Waking up in Henderson to rain, wind and a COLD 47 (‘feels like 30’ according to app) is icing on the cake.

It’s crazy. It’s a $500 increase from Tuesday and Thursday. Jumps up for St Paddy’s

We’re at M resort about 5 miles away. Really nice place. Raiders HQ hotel.

they tied New Mexico State for conference regular season championship. NMSU went to NCAA that year also.

not sure they are favored; they are scoring in bunches lately. Granted, it’s been mostly against the bottom part of the conference. We’ve defended them well twice….need another one tonight.

Surprisingly, the Big West tournament is NOT the talk of the hotel here in Henderson. I think teams are at the Green Valley Inn, next to the arena. Convenient and the room price for tonight was $750! Drops $500 after 4 teams go home after tonight.