Maybe it was just enough to creep us back to an 8-9 overall record with a 2-3 mark in the Big West, but any win against an arch rival from a college where they drive tractors to class is a big deal around Goleta, CA. The Mighty Gauchos did all of us USCB alums proud with an impressive 72-62 win over the Mustangs of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the road, and may have finally made their first major statement of the year. They certainly faired better than my boys from Notre Dame.
The 'Chos took a big hit with the news of Paul Roemer's injured shoulder, but the bench cats filled in large about 90 minutes north on highway 101. Hazel Crest, IL native and Senior D.J. Posely busted his 6.6 points per game average with a giant 17 spot on the 'Stangs en route to a 33-27 first half lead and the 72-62 overall win. UCSB led by as many as 14 points in the second half with an impressive 55-41 lead. The sophomore sensation Jordan "Encino Man" Weiner (a much better nickname than that given by the SLO crowd) put up his career high 14, as he got to step up and play a larger role with the injury depleted squad. The Gauchos also proved solid from beyond the arch with 17 three pointers, and on defense as they held the Mustangs to just a 38.2 percent margin from the field. However, the absolute highlight of the night has to be handed to true freshman and Budapest, Hungary native Greg Somogyi. The 7'2 230 pound giant who played on the Hungarian Under-20 National Team brought it hard with a huge dunk with about 9:36 to play. Hats off to the Gaucho recruiters. Now pulling up to the #7 spot in the Conference (out of 9) and only 3 games back of the conference leading Dirt Bags, UCSB eyes a Thursday night match against UC Davis (8-10, 3-2) on the road to try and keep the winning alive. As long as they continue getting ready to make a surprise run in the Big West tourney, we can all be happy.
Not so for the highly ranked Fighting Irish. My other hardwood love affair got jacked by #8 Syracuse last night, and I got to watch the highlights in tears at Yard House with a Smithwick's in my hand. Down by just 7 at the end of the first half, my favorite 13th ranked team in the Nation got bombed 39-51 in the second 20 minutes to drop yet another game in a seemingly long line of defeats. Dare I say that my Catholic brethren are overrated? While you may think that 'Cuse gave Harangody to much of a run for his money, you wouldn't really be that correct. The Jedi Knight finished with 25 points and 16 boards in the match for his seventh consecutive double-double (animal style). Still the only good thing to come out of Staten Island, Kyle McAlarney nailed down 7 trees for a large 24 point evening, and Ryan "Blue Balls" Ayers impressed as well with his 11 points. The big guy took all the blame, however, as a super star should. LH scored just once in the final 6 minutes against the Orange, and he knew it was a rough effort toward the end, "This one's on me. I've reached the time in my career where I need to step up and 9 for 28 from the field is unacceptable. I can't lay a goose egg like that, especially on the road." Way to take it like a man, Jedi. With their 12-5 record (3-3 in the Big East), the Irish hope to turn things around against #4 UConn on Saturday night. Can I play like the SEC and say that the record doesn't matter because they're playing against the amazing Big East every single night? Hm. Just a little over a month until we see if they really have what it takes against Los Friars.
I'm watching the DVR recording of the Chivas/Cruz Azul match from yesterday, and Carlos Ochoa just scored an amazing goal after a corner. It is one of his two goals in the 3-3 season opening draw against the boys from the Blue Cross, and I'm so pumped after watching it that I'm planning on DVR'ing every Chivas Guada game from here on out. Meanwhile, the USA branch of the Goats picked up Wake Forest graduate Michael Lahoud in the draft (which is super, for some odd reason), and thanks to Andrew for enlightening me to this little tid bit of information.
I don't know if you'll find this funny, but I really did.
Ochoa just scored his second goal.
0 comments:
Post a Comment