Ask any UCSB student, current or former, what school they hate the most, and you'll mostly get the answer: Cal Poly SLO. The rivalry between these schools, about 90 minutes apart and only separated by the tunnel in the mountain used in a scene from Wayne's World 2, is most apparent on the hardwood. Last night's 71-70 UCSB victory is only going to make the hatred that much more intense.
SLO drilled 13 of 26 three pointers in the game, keeping themselves right in the thick of things with the Gauchos, who shot 50% from the floor. And it was a huge three with 5.6 seconds on the clock that gave the 'Stangs the 70-69 lead, and feelings of an impending victory at home. But, they didn't count on James Nunnally's answer. Nunnally took the ball coast to coast in the remaining time and hit a running bank shot as the buzzer went off, just inside tha arc, to win the game. The fans that made the trip from IV to the Cow Palace went nuts, as chants of "Start the tractor" filled the Cal Poly arena. Orlando Johnson led the 'Chos with 24 points, Nunn had 13, and Justin Joyner (who seems like he's a 6th year player at this point) added 12. It was another big game in a big rivalry, and it helped us to look pretty darn good.
The win helped UCSB (11-7, 4-3) jump into the #2 spot in the Big West, trailing only the red hot Dirt Bags from LBSU (12-10, 7-2). Next up for the Gauchos is a battle with the team hot on our heels, my father's alma matter and cousin's current school, Cal State Northridge. The Matadores/Gauchos rivalry is always an exciting family affair, but it surely doesn't compare to the bitterness of the 'Cho/SLO rivalry.
Known as "The Blue-Green Rivalry," or "The Clash of the Coast," the hatred between UCSB and CP-SLO goes all the way back to 1937, with the teams meeting 96 times in basketball, and the Gauchos now leading the series 64-31. Total domination. However, in all that time, last night's tilt was the first time that the battle had been locally televised. Good thing we put our stamp on things with the impressive late winm inspiring all the local high school kids to become hardcore Gaucho-holics.
The rivalry has recently turned into a battle across all sports, with the overall winner taking home the title. Last season, the first time they did this, the Gauchos won 12-10. So far, this season, this is how it's going:
Women's Volleyball: UCSB wins 3-2.
Men's Soccer: UCSB wins 2-1.
Men's Soccer: SLO wins 2-1 (OT).
Women's Soccer: SLO wins 1-0.
Men's CC: UCSB wins 90-70.
Women's CC: UCSB wins 37-35.
Women's Volleyball: SLO wins 3-2.
Men's Basketball: UCSB wins 71-70.
Women's BBall: SLO wins 54-51.
That leaves UCSB leading this year's Blue-Green Rivalry 5-4, but there are still 11 competitions remaining. More basketball, swimming, baseball, softball, tennis, and track and field are all still on the table. Hopefully my boys are up to the challenge.
Phear the Phantom. Olé.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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