UC Santa Barbara played in the NCAA Tournament twice in the last five seasons but had a step down from previous seasons in 2023-24.
This season, the team will try to regain its form as Joe Pasternack enters his eighth season at the helm.
Mid-Major Basketball is previewing all Big West teams for the 2024-25 season. Up next is the Gauchos.
Last season
During Pasternack’s time at Santa Barbara, the team hadn’t finished in the conference’s bottom half until this past season. Last year was the exception, however.
UC Santa Barbara finished the season as the seventh seed in the Big West with a 16-15 record, with the team going 9-11 in conference play.
The Gauchos entered the postseason as the sixth seed thanks to UC San Diego’s transition to Division I. The team lost in the first round to Cal State Northridge, 84-87.
Players
Guard Cole Anderson returns for his senior year with the UC Santa Barbara basketball team.
With a roster that lost three scoring leaders, Anderson steps into a key role for Santa Barbara this season. The guard averaged 10.3 points per game last season, finishing as the team’s fourth-leading scorer.
The Gauchos added 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament winner Stephan Swenson from Stetson University. The guard averaged 13.9 points, 5.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game last season.
Joining the Gauchos from the WCC, Deuce Turner will play his senior with UC Santa Barbara. Turner averaged 15.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game at the University of San Diego last season.
Schedule
Pasternack’s team will host 2023-24 Big Sky regular-season champions Eastern Washington on Nov. 26.
UCSB will travel to Los Angeles to face Loyola Marymount on Dec. 18, then to Missouri State four days later.
UC Santa Barbara will host CSUN on Jan. 30 in a rematch of the first round of the 2024 Big West Tournament.
The Gauchos close out the season on March 8 against the 2023-24 Big West regular-season winner UC Irvine.
The Big West Tournament will take place March 12-15 for an opportunity to play in March Madness.
Prediction
The UC Santa Barbara men’s basketball team was selected as the second seed in the preseason coaches poll heading into the season.
The Gauchos are on track to finish in the top half of the Big West once again with the additions to the roster. If the team returns to their old form, Pasternack may see a third NCAA Tournament with the program.
