The Gauchos might have a big home court advantage but they still have a ways to go before they become serious contenders in the Big West.  Most prognosticators have the team from the ‘American Riviera’ winning less than half of their games in this much tougher conference that it is given credit for.  The Big West is top heavy with newcomers UNLV and New Mexico State ruling the roost but the rest of the conference is up in the air and these Gauchos want the world to know they too can play basketball.  UCSB sure is good at other things especially in the entertainment world, duh!   Michael Douglas, Gwynneth Paltrow, Benjarmin Bratt, Jim Rome, Morgan Freeman and Steve Aoki all are Gauchos.  That has not carried over to the basketball court as of yet but there is always hope in this city with so much drama they set a soap opera there.   Pimm hopes they can build off a solid nucleus of upperclassmen but realizes the talent has to get much better if the Gauchos are to compete with those elite programs.  Pimm has brought in a huge group of recruits especially on the perimeter as he realizes that is the future of the game.  If these kids adjust quickly and he can find a few who can play at this level then the sky is the limit in beautiful Santa Barbara.  The aforementioned building blocks might not have the kind of talent most teams at this level have but they have the kind of character any program would love to have. 

Not so long ago the Gauchos were a NAIA school on their way to Missouri to compete for a national title after winning three regional games. Unfortunately, Missouri was a state that had Jim Crowe laws that did not allow blacks to play in their backasswards state.  Lowell Steward was and is an integral part of the Gauchos team as an inside presence and the first black athlete to compete in the California Collegiate Athletic Conference.  He was not allowed to play in this semifinals and the Gauchos lost a two point game to Murray State.  That’s right the Gauchos lost their best chance at a national title due to racism.  Steward was, of course, not alone on this great team.  A starting five that featured Steward, Harvey Hubler, Tom Guerrero, Robert McCutcheon and Tommy Williams not only was the best group this program ever had but were at a time of the greatest generation.  These guys were good basketball players but they were better men.  Many of these guys have left and come back doing more important things than playing basketball.  Steward actually left right after that game he didn’t get to play in and joined the Tuskegee Airmen and was a fighter pilot during WW2.  He is the definition of a hero!  Maybe these guys have been passed up by others as this program grows and the game evolves into more athletic players but this group will be back battling for playing time and setting the tone for the way Gaucho basketball should be played. 

Leading the way once again will be the King.  King Rex that is!  Junior Doug Rex is the dominant low post force for the Gauchos.  Rex is big enough (six eight 215) to be a dominant power forward but has played far too many minutes on this undersized team.  D Rex does fine when he is at the four but banging gongs with Sam Lacey or Sidney Green lets him know that 215 is not quite big enough against those 20th Century boys.  He has the motor down low and produces points and boards in bundles but is not a rim protector so Pimm better find someone who can play the 5.  Still, Rex has been the main man since he stepped on the court from San Fernando and will continue to be the go to guy on the blocks this year. 

Sophomore Richard Anderson will either man the power forward or center position for the Gauchos.  Anderson has the size to defend but is limited offensively except for a three point shot he is developing in this changing basketball landscape.  At six ten 240 Anderson is the biggest Gaucho on the returning roster and can play both the center and the four and can guard quite effectively though he is not really a rim protector.  He started last year on the JV but quickly moved up to varsity as they needed his size.  He loves the perimeter game on offense but is better suited using his size to his advantage and grabbing boards which is the best part of his game.  He did not quite average 15 minutes a game but he was about as consistent as any player on the team.  He was utilized coming off the bench but this Garden Grove kid has a good shot at starting this year unless one of the ‘big’ recruits can actually play. 

Junior John Tschogl is solid if unspectacular at the 3 spot.  Tschogl is a workman like player who gets by on smarts and instincts.  Tschogl can also hang underneath and saw some time at the four as the Gauchos went to a three guard set often.  But, Tschogl loves the outside jumper instead of banging underneath and is way better suited for the three.  Another California kid from Chula Vista (most of the Gaucho roster is from the Golden State unsurprisingly) Tschogl at 6’6 206 will start this year and unless one of the kids is all-world that is coming in he should get good minutes and once again be productive.   

Pimm went with sophomore Eric MacArthur often at the center position the second half of the year though he is vastly undersized there at 6’7.  A true intimidator, MacArthur banged with the big boys from the Big West like he was born to do this.  Not a great scorer, MacArthur will be in the lineup for defense and rebounding which he is absolutely terrific at.  His ability to block shots at his size is remarkable as he has great timing and quick leaping ability and most importantly the desire to block every shot.  He has been dubbed the ‘Freeze’ by Thunderdome fans but he should be called ‘Arms’ as his friends know him because he has a 7’3 ¼ inch reach which enables him to grab boards and block all of them shots.  If he improves just a little on offense he will start at center this year. 

Sophomore Scott Fisher also got some minutes and played well.  At 6’7 235 from Fremont California, Fisher is a power player.  He gets inside and dominates with a lethal drop step but can also take you to 15 with a nice touch.  He can also board and played mainly on the JV last year but after a coming out party on a trip to Australia where he dominated down under (Man, he was meant to play in the Thunderdome) he will be given every chance to play this year.   Senior Dick Kohlberg goes 6’8 and is tough inside especially on the boards and juniors Ricky ‘Tex’ Walker and Dave Brown give the front line solid depth.  Walker goes 6’7 and is consistent inside and out and Brown at 6’6 can score and board.  Still, Pimm needs to start recruiting some guys over six foot seven and bring in some size to this team.  AS Clarence might say “Wings are great to have but now and then you need to bring in some Goliaths.” 

The front court might not be big but it is in good shape for the most part but the back court needs to improve dramatically.  He only has four returning players on the perimeter but he has recruited more wings than Memphis has in barbecue restaurants.  As for the returning guys Bob Schachter is the only true point guard though Brian Shaw will almost undoubtedly be the starter transferring in from St. Mary’s.  Sophomore Conner Henry is a solid player at both guard positions who can shoot as well as pass.  Fellow sophomores Carrick Dehart and York Gross will battle for the starting two spot with different strengths.  Dehart from Inglewood is a 6’4 shooter who loves to launch from anywhere.  Gross is a 6’5 215 physical beast from Lompoc who uses his size to his advantage.  Gross is better on the blocks as he a terrific rebounder but he needs to be on the wing for this team and due to his lack of height.  The transition he is making from a dominant high school career has been difficult to say the least though this military kid showed some tremendous upside last year.  These guys are good but Pimm (and his new guru of recruiting, Bob Williams) has brought in at least four other wings to compete as he knows the future of the game is athletic guys on the perimeter who can shoot and defend the three.  These ‘clones’ may not be the best there is on the left coast but will most assuredly bring up the overall talent in the Santa Barbara world.  If this Soap opera of a town can continue to support thier Guachos the way they have, the future is bright for this program. 

The Cal State-Santa Barbara Gauchos have not distinguished themselves on the basketball court.  Lack of true D-1 talent have kept them in the second tier of the Big West since they were a founding member a few years back.  Coach Jerry Pimm intends on changing that and has brought in one of the best recruiting classes on the West Coast emphasizing wings and even went against the Gaucho way to bring in a transfer from up the coast in St. Mary’s.  Will this work?  Well, they have a little home court advantage that has become quite infamous throughout the basketball world as a place you do not want to visit.  And going the four year route instead of JC or portal is the right choice long term.  But short term it is hard seeing them competing with the UNLV and New Mexico States who have taken over this conference.   At least they know they will be in half of the games. With the clones invading the Thunderdome on a regular basis things will not be fun for the opposing team when they come to beautiful Santa Barbara.