Tony Williams is at UC Santa Barbara

Capping our run on UC Santa Barbara hoops, we noticed that former Rocklin High backcourter Tony Williams is on the Gaucho roster. Due to the large number of players listed, our guess is that he is a walk-on at this point.

A great Orlando Johnson read

Orlando Johnson is the best of the Big West
Sophomore forward leads UC Santa Barbara into the NCAA tournament, but it wasn't an easy journey
Chris Foster
Los Angeles Times
March 18, 2010

This was an impromptu family reunion for Orlando Johnson.

UC Santa Barbara had just outlasted Long Beach State to win the Big West Conference championship and qualify for the NCAA tournament and the celebration grew considerably as Johnson's family joined in.

"It was just my brothers and sister and her mom and stepdad," said Johnson, a sophomore forward. "And all my nieces and nephews, my uncle and his wife and her mom and her kids … oh, and my cousins."

An entire family helping to raise the roof...

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Checking in on The Brew-ery

Hey, The Brew-ery -- Will and Chris Brew -- is enjoying this season down at UC Santa Barbara.

Will has started all five games for the Gauchos and owns an 18-6 assist-to-turnover ratio along with eight steals. In the latest game, versus Santa Clara, Will played 19 minutes and garnered five points, four assists (no turnovers), three rebounds and a pair of steals.

Chris has seen action in two games, is shooting 5-5 on the season and averaging 6.0 points per game. Against the Broncos, he made those five shots, managing 12 points in 10 minutes of action.

Article on UC Santa Barbara with a ton of norcal ballers mentioned

The Gauchos are loaded with players from northern California so read on about Justin Joyner, Will Brew, Chris Brew, James Nunnally, Lucas Devenny, Orlando Johnson, Jesse Byrd, Greg Somogyi, et al.

Double Trouble : Joyner still has the right - and left - stuff
Joyner enjoying a newfound skill: driving left.
Mark Patton
Santa Barbara News-Press
Aug. 31, 2009

The basketball sprang loose - and far downcourt, Justin Joyner's head shot up, like a predator sensing new prey.

Paul Roemer lunged over the end-line to save the ball under his own basket, then twisted it midair to find a teammate.

And there was Joyner, that familiar bounce to his step, dashing straight for him. Roemer's old De La Salle High School running mate. His old UCSB running mate.

After a year lost to a broken right wrist, J.J. was back at the Thunderdome, as though he'd never been gone.

"It's amazing," Joyner would say only a few moments later, still panting from the play that ended Thursday's pickup session. "It's amazing that it doesn't feel like it's been so long.

"I mean, it's just good to be back and competing at full speed again."

Go here for the remainder.