The state of UC Santa Barbara hoops

Can a college team miss one player all that much? In this case, we're focusing on UC Santa Barbara and Michael (Foothill High) Bryson. At 6-foot-4, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.4 rebounds plus 2.4 assists an outing when the Gauchos finished 19-14. The graduation of John (Castlemont High) Green with his 10.8 plus 5.1 rebounds has also certainly hurt to a degree but the primary focus here is on Bryson, the team catalyst.

Minus him in this, the 2016-17 season, UC Santa Barbara sports a 2-11 overall record with the victories being both at home and versus Sonoma State and then Cal State Bakersfield respectively. The other Gaucho numbers are just as ominous: 36.7 overall shooting, 27.8 three-point accuracy, 61% on free throws with just 16.9 a game. Opponents are shooting 46.1%.

This from a team the 23-member Big West Conference media panel predicted as the fourth-place finisher in the pre-season poll.

Here's the (northern California) reality in the equation:

Junior Gabe (St. Mary's Stockton) Vincent is the leading scorer for the Gauchos at 15.8 points per game but he is shooting at a 34.9 clip.

Transfer Jalen (St. Patrick-St. Vincent/City College of San Francisco) Canty is scoring 10.2 points per game while shooting 55% as well as grabbing 7.0 rebounds a contest but an academic eligibility question has recently indefinitely sidelined him.

Froshman Christian (Sacramento High) Terrell is gathering in 3.3 boards a night but struggling with his shooting accuracy.

This is relatively young and this inexperienced squad but with that label also comes no guarantee that the youngsters will develop quality D1 production. It's anyone's guess at this point. Coach Bob Williams does have a senior at the point this season and Vincent in the two-spot, a pairing that should usually bode well for any program but Bryson was someone who could create when needed during or near the end of a game and that quality seems to be missing at the moment. Another issue is that UC Santa Barbara is also currently minus players who can 'win' their positions on a nightly basis at the three, four and five positions. Maybe Terrell can develop into that role at the three.

A pair of 6-foot-1 prep guards have signed on for next season and both look like they will help sooner rather than or later but the missing piece remains a difference-maker upfront. A trio of 'bigs' are redshirting but all seem to be more of the project-type rather than instant contributor. Getting Canty back will help but another frontcourter who can consistently contribute is a must.

Can the Gauchos put an end to the Thunderdome blues? It's unlikely this season.