Following three weeks of Big West action, UC Santa Barbara has maintained its unblemished conference mark with a 5-0 record to open league play. Preseason favorite UC Riverside and Pacific are tied for second in the conference with a 4-1 record, followed by Cal State Fullerton and UC Davis who sit fourth at 3-2.
The Gauchos entertain UC Davis and Pacific this week as they try to keep their perfect Big West record intact. UC Santa Barbara, who enters the week riding a seven-game win streak, has proven successful at home this season with a 8-1 mark when playing at The Thunderdome. On the flip side, the Pacific Tigers have only posted one victory away from their home court. The two teams square off Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Prior to the showdown between the first and one of the second place teams in the conference standings, UC Santa Barbara battles UC Davis. The Aggies have suffered a few injuries to their lineup but have managed to tally a 3-2 mark in league play. If last year is any indication, we are in store for a great matchup. Both regular season meetings went into overtime with the Gauchos picking up the first win, 62-53, and the Aggies grabbing the second game, 59-56. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22.
During their central coast visit, Pacific and UC Davis also takes on Cal Poly. The Tigers get first crack at the Mustangs Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Two days later the Aggies and Mustangs square off at Mott Gym at 4:00 p.m. Last season Cal poly dropped two overtime contests to Pacific and split its series with UC Davis.
Sitting in a tie for second place in the league, UC Riverside has a light week with just one game on its lineup - Long Beach State. The Highlanders welcome the 49ers to the Student Recreation Center, where they are a perfect 4-0, Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:00 p.m. The 49ers, owning a current seven-game losing streak, are still in search of their first Big West win of the 2008-09 season.
Cal State Fullerton opens a three-game homestand Wednesday evening when it hosts Cal State Northridge. The Matadors are coming off their first conference win since March 1, 2007, while the Titans split a pair of conference contests last week. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Later in the week, the Titans take a break from conference play to entertain Cal State Bakersfield. The two teams tangle at Titan Gym Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:00 p.m.
Along with the matchup with Cal State Northridge, the Matadors visit the Bren Center to face the UC Irvine Anteaters. UC Irvine is hoping to not only win its first conference game of the season, but its first victory in the Bren Center. The Anteaters, riding a 13-game skid, are 0-6 at the Bren Center this season and the Matadors are winless on the road this year. Saturday's showdown, slated with a 4:00 p.m. start, guarantees one of the two teams will break their winless streak.