Big West Preview — UC Santa Barbara
For the first time in what seems like decades, UCSB women’s basketball is a bit of a mystery. After all, it is not every year that a team has to replace a legendary head coach who won 11 of 12 conference regular season titles (and made 10 NCAA appearances in that span to boot). But that is the predicament the Gauchos find themselves in after the departure of Mark French — and it has given the defending Big West champions an air of uncertainty. Think Lindsay Gottlieb is feeling the pressure?
Big West Preview — UC Davis
A year ago, the Aggies (4-7) were the figurative new kids on the block, playing in their first season as official members of the Big West. Using a lineup stacked with veteran players itching to play with a championship on the line, UC Davis ran through conference play amassing a 12-4 record on the way to the Big West finals.
Veggies Stunt Cancer Growth
A study helmed by UCSB researchers has determined that certain vegetables have the potential to help shield humans from cancer.
Big West Preview — Pacific
With a 14-16 overall record last year, including 9-7 in the ultra-competitive Big West, the Pacific Tigers women’s team was good enough for fourth place in the conference. But for third-year Coach Lynne Roberts and Chico State transfer Amber Simmons, that won’t be enough.
Holiday DUIs Exceed 200
Over 200 people were apprehended for drunk driving during the course of a three-week DUI crackdown this holiday season.
Board Fully Funds Laughs, Art
In the first meeting of winter quarter, the Associated Students Finance Board distributed $10,806 to two student organizations.
Big West Preview — Cal Poly
Despite being picked to finish fifth in the conference in preseason polls, the Cal Poly women’s basketball team shot out to the best preseason record in the Big West. Things changed a bit for their conference opener, when they had a 48-66 smackdown handed to them by conference juggernaut UC Riverside. However, the Mustangs bounced back to trounce Long Beach State and currently sit their predicted fifth in the league. Still, their preseason prowess can’t be ignored, and the Cal Poly squad expects to do big things this season.
Big West Preview — UC Irvine
Last season, the UC Irvine women’s basketball team finished with a 7-24 record overall and a 3-13 record in conference. This year, they have a new coach, but things are not shaping up much better than they did last season. With one more game left before conference play begins, the Anteaters sit at 3-9 and are living up to their preseason ranking of 8th in the conference.
Big West Preview — Cal State Fullerton
Picked to finish sixth in the Big West, a battle-tested Cal State Fullerton squad looks to prove the doubters wrong come league play, even if their guard-heavy roster, rebounding woes and abysmal non-conference record say otherwise.
Big West Preview — Cal State Northridge
Preseason discussions about Big West women’s basketball all revolved around how evenly matched all nine squads in the conference are. With quality matchups across the board, teams will have to come out firing on all cylinders every night if they want to be successful in the Big West. This truth is perhaps most important to Cal State Northridge, who thus far have ridden a bumpy road.