Gameday: UC Santa Barbara

Start out extremely fast or remarkably slow? It’s been one or the other of late for Hawaii.

Against UC Riverside on Wednesday, it was the latter in what became a 70-64 loss to the shorthanded Highlanders. It marked the first time in five Big West seasons UH lost consecutive conference games at home. UH (8-11 overall) also dropped to 2-4 in BWC for the first time.

Tonight against a hobbled UC Santa Barbara squad, the Rainbow Warriors attempt to revert to a burst out of the gate. The Gauchos are the third-worst shooting team in Division I at 36 percent. They are heavily perimeter-oriented and known to run some weave action interspersed between ball screens.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. although things could get pushed back depending on how fast the Rainbow Wahine game (tipoff 5 pm) against Cal Poly moves.

You’d expect UCSB’s backcourt of Gabe Vincent and Eric Childress to play, although they were described as “day to day” after a loss to Cal State Northridge on Wednesday.

UCSB (3-15, 1-5), typically a contender in the Big West, is bereft this year. Four frontcourt players are out, including would-be starters Jalen Canty and Ami Lakoju because of academic ineligibility.

There’s still a couple of bigs left, including Maxwell Kupchak, the son of Lakers general manager Mitch, and 6-foot-10 Alex Hart.

UH is favored by 6.5 points.