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News from 2001 - 2002 Season
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3/3/02 The 2001-2002 season was one of new beginnings for UCSC’s Men’s Basketball Team. First year Head Coach Bernard Thompson took over a program returning only three players and boasting nine talented freshmen. This was also UCSC’s first year competing in the Cal Pac Conference of the NAIA. The team struggled at times, finishing 7-17 overall with a 4-10 record in Conference play. The team began its league schedule with eight straight losses before rallying to win four of their next five, including a memorable 80-71 win against cross-county rival Bethany College on Seniors’ night. The team’s record also includes a narrow 64-71 loss to Division I UC Riverside. Forward Nick Echevestre, a Junior transfer, lit up the Cal Pac, averaging 17.1 points a game in conference play. Echevestre shot 50% from the field and 36% from beyond the three-point arc. Center Jesse Senestrano, a Senior transfer, gave the Slugs an immediate dominating presence on the inside. Senestrano averaged 15.1 points a game in conference play, and also averaged a team leading 6.4 rebounds. Perhaps his most impressive performance was against Division I St. Mary's on December 9. While most of the Slugs seemed completely overmatched against a larger, more-talented Division I St. Mary's team, Senestrano stepped up, scoring 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Senestrano established himself as the team's starting center after that, and earned an honorable mention for the all-conference team averaging 15.1 ppg in Cal Pac Conference play. Senior Guard Jimmy Darr provided both excellent shooting and leadership in his final season, averaging 10.1 points and hitting on more than 33% of his three-pointers. Darr was also second on the team in assists with 2.0 a game. Freshman Point Guard Matt Robles earned freshman all-conference team honors with his playmaking ability. Robles’ 4.3 assists ranked him fourth in the conference. He also made 41% of his three pointers on the season. Despite their rough moments, with their talented crop of young players starting to come into their own, the future of the program looks bright.
2/15/02 SANTA CRUZ-- The Men's Basketball team made the most of its Seniors' night on Friday, defeating local rival Bethany College, 80-71. Junior Forward Nic Echevestre continued his stellar play of late, scoring 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting and collecting 6 rebounds. Senior Guard Jimmy Darr, playing the final home game of his career, scored 20 points with 5 assists. Junior Guard Don "Dap" Peoples would lead the Bethany Bruins, scoring 31 points with 7 rebounds. The win avenges an earlier season loss at Bethany College on January 5th. On that night UCSC squandered a major lead, eventually losing 86-90. This time UCSC would hold on. Darr would hit six free throws in the final minutes as UCSC held off a late Bethany run. As the buzzer sounded, Darr was embraced by his coach and teammates. Before the game, Seniors Darr and Center Jesse Senestrano were honored by their teammates in a packed West Field House. Darr has played at UCSC for four seasons, establishing himself as one of the teams best shooters. This year, he lead the team in three-pointers with 34 and was the team's third-leading scorer with 9.3 ppg. Darr was also second on the team in assists with 42. A transfer from Redwoods College, Center Jesse Senestrano may only have played one season for the Banana Slugs, but he definately made an impact. Senestrano was UCSC's second leading scorer this season at 14.0 points a game. He led the team in rebounds at 6.0. Perhaps his most impressive performance was against Division I St. Mary's on December 9. While most of the Slugs seemed completely overmatched against a more-talented Division I program, Senestrano stepped up, scoring 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Senestrano established himself as the team's starting center after that, averaging 15.1 ppg in Cal Pac Conference play. After struggling at the start of their conference schedule, the Slugs have turned it up at the end of their season, winning four of their last five games. The team has one final game remaining in the regular season as they travel to CSU Monterey Bay Saturday night. Game time is 7:30 pm. Congratulations to Jimmy and Jesse for all the great moments they've given Slug Basketball fans. Good luck to both of them! Men’s basketball: Peoples’ 31 not enough for Bethany in loss - Santa Cruz Sentinel 2/10/02 ATHERTON, CA -- Junior Forward Nick Echevestre powered the Banana Slugs to their third Cal Pac win, scoring a career-high 31 points, as UCSC defeated Menlo College, 77-73 Friday night in Atherton. Echevestre took over in the absence of Senior Center Jesse Senestrano, the team's leading scorer. Echevestre shot 10-of-18 from the field, including 2-of-4 from three point range. He would also hit on 9-of-13 free-throw attempts. Junior Guard Jimmy Darr would snap out of his shooting funk, scoring 19 points on just 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Nathan Pratt would lead a balanced Menlo attack with 10 points. Echevestre is now ranked seventh in scoring in the Cal Pac, averaging 17.4 points a game on 51% shooting from the field. Men's Basketball is now 3-9 in Cal Pac play, and 6-16 overall. Their final home game is this Friday at the West Field against Bethany College. Game time is at 7:30 pm. 2/4/02 The Men's Basketball team picked up back-to-back Cal Pac wins this past weekend, bringing their conference record to 2-8. At home on Saturday night, UCSC would fight past the Vanguards of Simpson College, winning by a score of 90 to 78. Senior Center Jesse Senestrano would dominate the inside, scoring 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, and also collecting 9 rebounds. Junior Forward Nick Echevestre would come off the bench to score 16 points. Troy Fast, the league's player of the week, led Simpson with 31 points. Echevestre and Senestrano would again lead the Slugs the next night against Pacific Union. Echevestre would erupt for 34 points, shooting 12 of 16 and going 4 of 5 from three-point range. He would also record 3 steals. Senestrano had 16 points and 7 rebounds, going 7 of 10 from the field. Aaron Waters would lead the Pioneers with 20 points. This week's Cal Pac statistics show Echevestre at 7th in the conference in scoring at 16.8, and Senestrano at 10th with 16.2. Both players also rank 9th and 10th in field goal percentage. Freshman Guard Matt Robles is 3rd in the conference in assists with 4.9. UCSC plays its next game this Tuesday in Belmont. Game time is at 7:30 pm.
1/28/02 SANTA CRUZ -- The Men's Basketball team came up short against CSU Maritime Saturday night, losing 59-66 at the West Field. Brian Schafer lead the Keelhaulers with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Senior Center Jesse Senestrano would lead UCSC with 13 points, going 6 of 9 from the field. After being down the entire second half, the Slugs would rally, cutting the lead to 50-52 with Jesse Senestrano's tip-in with 5:15 left in the game. But the Keelhaulers would go on a run, eventually sealing the game on two free throws by Damon Gomes with 1:13 left. The UCSC Men had also lost the previous night at CSU Hayward, 80-92. Junior Forward Nic Echevestre led the Slugs with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Senestrano would add 18 and 10. The Men's record now stands at 3-15, and 0-8 in Cal Pac play. The Women's Basketball team won their game at Hayward Friday night, defeating the Pioneers, 44-41. Senior Guard Brianne Faria led the Slugs with 10 points and 6 rebounds. UCSC held Hayward to 23.6% shooting, one of their best defensive performances of the season. The team's record now stands at 4-14 overall, and 3-4 in Cal Pac play. Both teams play their next games this Saturday night against Simpson College. Start times are 5:30 pm for Women's and 7:30 pm for Men's. 1/20/02 SANTA CRUZ -- Both the Men's and Women's Basketball teams lost to their Menlo College counterparts Friday night at the West Field House. Lindsay Green scored 20 points and collected 7 rebounds for the Lady Oaks, defeating UCSC 60-70. UCSC took only 13 free-throw attempts in the game versus 30 for Menlo. Sophomore Guard Rachel Baudler led the Slugs with 14 points. Senior Guard Brianne Faria would have 8 points and 7 rebounds. The Men's Basketball team came out with a lot of intensity against Menlo College, who entered the game undefeated in Cal Pac Conference play. Sophomore Center Paul Williams would score a season-high 20 points and collect 10 rebounds, shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range. But after going into halftime with a 38-37 lead, UCSC would see it slip away in the second half as turnovers plagued the Slugs. The Oaks' Trevor Mates would score 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting in leading his team to the 67-75 win over UC Santa Cruz. On Saturday, the Women's Basketball team would face Holy Names College, 3-0 in conference play. The Lady Slugs shot 48% from the field in the first half, but went into halftime with just a one point lead. In the second half the Hawks of Holy Names would shoot 50% from the floor, led by Mya Paul who finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Freshman Forward Amanda Brecht would come off the bench to score 13 points. The Men's team suffered one of their worst losses of the season against Holy Names, finally losing by a score of 33-62. The Slugs shot only 29% from the field and 40% from the free-throw line. Eddie Frazier led Holy Names with 19 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds. Junior Forward Nic Echevestre would lead UCSC with 9 points and 4 rebounds. The Women's Basketball team record is now 3-13 and 2-3 in Cal Pac play. The Men's record currently stands at 0-5 in Conference play and 3-12 overall. Both teams play their next game this Tuesday at Dominican College in San Rafael. UCSC men fall big to Holy Names College - Santa Cruz Sentinel 1/14/02
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12/1/01 |
12/6/01
Men's Basketball falls short at UCSC Invitational; now 1-4
SANTA CRUZ-- The Men's Basketball team lost to longtime Division II rival UC San Diego, 54-76 Saturday night at the West Field, in the final game of the UCSC Men's Basketball Invitational.
Junior Guard Jimmy Darr would lead the team with 16 points and 3 assists.
Ryan Swed would lead UCSD with 18 points and 9 rebounds.
UCSC is now 1-4 on the season, having lost to Willamette on Friday night. The Slugs play their next game at Division I St. Mary's College December 9.
- Former S.C. star helps San Diego rout UCSC - Santa Cruz Sentinel
- Willamette defeats UCSC, 66-59 - Santa Cruz Sentinel
11/26/01
Men's basketball drops two games at Southern Oregon Tournament
ASHLAND, CA-- The Men's Basketball team lost two games at the Southern Oregon Invitational this past weekend, losing to host Southern Oregon 69-75 and to NAIA powerhouse Oregon Tech, 58-101.
Junior Guard Jimmy Darr would lead the Slugs against Southern Oregon, scoring 20 points on 5-for-8 shooting before fouling out. Junior Forward Nicolas Echevestre would add 14 points and 5 rebounds in the losing effort.
Senior Center Jesse Senestrano would lead the Slugs against Oregon Tech, scoring 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting with 3 rebounds in only 10 minutes of playing time. Junior Forward Patrick McCarthy would have an excellent overall game, add 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for the night.
With the two losses, the team's record stands at 1-2. The Slugs host their own Tournament this weekend at the West Field House.
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| 11/17/01 UCSC's Chris Brazelton had 9 points and 5 rebounds in the win |
Men's Basketball opens new Era with dominating win
SANTA CRUZ-- The Men's Basketball team opened its 2001-2002 season with a dominating 113-37 win against Golden State Baptist College on Saturday night at the West Field House.
The team, under first year head coach Bernard Thompson, led throughout, dominating Golden State in every facet of their game. As a team, UC Santa Cruz shot 52.6% from the field, also connecting on 50% of their 3-point attempts. They out-rebounded the Golden Bears 60-29. They team was even more impressive on defense, allowing only eight total field goals for Golden State. No opposing player scored more than 9 points.
With their reserve players seeing a great deal of playing time, the Slugs were led by Junior Guard Jimmy Darr, who had 12 points, 3 assists and 5 steals in 18 minutes of action. Senior Center Jesse Senestrano came off the benh to score 11 points with 7 rebounds in only 9 minutes.
The 76-point margin of victory is the largest UCSC has seen in many years. The team expects to face stronger competition at the Southern Oregon Tournament next weekend.
10/4/01
UC Santa Cruz Athletics hires new Basketball Coaches
SANTA CRUZ-- UC Santa Cruz Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Bernard Thompson as Head Coach of Men's Basketball and Laura Mitchell as Head Coach of Women's Basketball.
Coach Thompson is a former NBA first-round draft pick of the Portland Trailblazers, and has spent 17 years as a professional player, both in the U.S. and overseas. A graduate of Fresno State with a degree in Criminology, Thompson hopes to take UC Santa Cruz to its first postseason in school history.
"My philosophy has always been defense first, because that's how I was taught", Thompson says. "[I] know that if you're successful defensively, you'll put yourself in a position to win."
"We'll be a lot of fun to watch." he adds.
Coach Mitchell begins her second stint as head coach of UCSC's Women's Basketball team, having coached the team from 1996 to 1999. A graduate of the University of Dallas with a degree in English and a focus in Journalism, Mitchell has also worked as a sports broadcaster for KNTU in Northern Texas. She's less than a year from completing her MBA in Sports Management from the University of Dallas. Mitchell will also serve as the Senior Women's Administrator.
"I'm extremely excited to be coming back [to the UCSC] community." Mitchell says. "I want to make being part of the team a great experience for the student-athletes who come here."
UCSC hires basketball coaches - Santa Cruz Sentinel
7/23/01
Men's Basketball Coach Accepts Puget Sound Position
Coach Eric Bridgeland has accepted the Men's Basketball position at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Bridgeland, who compiled a 23-26 record in two seasons as the head coach at UCSC, will be leaving UCSC July 31st.
The Athletic Department will soon begin a comprehensive search to fill the vacancy. Interested parties should contact Athletic Director Greg Harshaw at (831) 459-4524 or by email at harshaw@cats.ucsc.edu.