Gameday: Big West semifinals
It’s been all chalk so far in the Big West men’s tournament.
For the first time since 2013, and the second time in the six years of the BWT at the Honda Center in Anaheim, all four top seeds advanced to the men’s semifinals.
UH (25-5) hopes the trend holds in the first semi against red-hot UC Santa Barbara (18-12).
The Rainbow Warriors are just 3.5-point favorites, underscoring the way the Gauchos have played over the last few weeks. UCSB got swept home-and-home by UH in the regular season but has beaten foes by 15.6 points per game over its nine-game winning streak, the second-longest streak ever for the Gauchos.
UCSB last lost on Feb. 4 … against Hawaii in the Thunderdome, 76-64.
The Gauchos are operating on all cylinders now that forward John Green is back from injury in the rotation as a top reserve. Michael Bryson and Gabe Vincent remain UCSB’s two primary offensive threats.
Stefan Jankovic led the way in the last meeting with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. UH will need him to stay out of foul trouble today.
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On the UH women’s side, the second-seeded Rainbow Wahine are brimming with confidence heading into their semifinal against No. 3 Long Beach State.
They should be, given their season success against the 49ers — six straight wins, including two dominant efforts in the 2015-16 regular season.
Meanwhile, No. 1 UC Riverside — it of the 16-0 BWC regular season — just lost in stunning fashion to No. 4 UC Davis, 81-72. The Aggies were shooting unconscious in the fourth quarter, and the Highlanders had no answers down the stretch.
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You can catch both the men’s and women’s games on livestream on ESPN3.
Here’s the link for the women.
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