SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Phoenix is set to soar west as the Green Bay men's basketball team travels for a Saturday matchup with UC Santa Barbara. It's the first time GB has ever taken on the Gauchos.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Green Bay (2-9) vs. UC Santa Barbara (6-3)
Saturday, December 14
6:00 PM CST | Game Notes
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (Mixlr) | Live Stats
ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
UC Santa Barbara hit the ground running with a 6-1 start before dropping their last two at UC Davis last Saturday, and UC San Diego last Thursday. The Gauchos average 78.3 points per game and allow just 64.2 points per game. UCSB is 4-2 when playing at home this season.
UC Santa Barbara and Green Bay are both teams that rely largely on the three-ball for offense. UCSB makes 10.6 threes per game, the 20th-most in the country. The Gauchos have four double-digit averaging scorers and are led by Jason Fontenet II who averages 13.6 points per game to complement his 6.6 rebounds per game. Another key piece for UCSB is Stephan Swenson who leads the team with 3.7 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, a 46.2 three-point field goal percentage, a free throw percentage of 86.7 percent and ranks second on the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game.
LAST TIME OUT
In the latest edition of the Battle of I-43, the Green Bay men's basketball team fell to Milwaukee 88-67. The Panther's Jamichael Stillwell was the difference Wednesday night, scoring a game-high 24 points to go with 19 rebounds. Anthony Roy led the way for Green Bay, finishing with 20 points. Marcus Hall wasn't far behind him, finishing with 18 of his own to go with six rebounds and three assists. Isaiah Miranda also had some success off the bench, scoring a career-high 10 points in 21 minutes. Milwaukee's rebounding and second-chance opportunities were key, with the Panthers outrebounding the Phoenix 46-22. The Panther's Jamichael Stillwell was also the difference Wednesday night, scoring a game-high 24 points to go with 19 rebounds.
ROY RETURNS
After a stint at NAIA Langston University, where he was named an NAIA All-American First Teamer, Anthony Roy has returned to the Division I floor with Green Bay. After eight games back in Division I, Roy has averaged 27.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He also shoots 51.2 percent from the floor and 44.8 percent from three. Roy is sending waves throughout the country, simultaneously leading all NCAA DI players in points per game and in three-pointers made per game with 4.7, while leading the nation in three-point attempts per game with 10.5. Roy has scored 30+ points in five out of 10 games, and 20+ points in nine of his 10 starts this season. Roy is set to have the highest-scoring season in Phoenix history.
ISAIAH'S ARRIVAL
Green Bay's tallest player in ten years saw his most action with the Phoenix on Wednesday and made his mark in 21 minutes on the floor. The 7-foot-1 Sophomore Isaiah Miranda set a new career collegiate high with his ten-point outing on 4-of-7 shooting against Milwaukee while securing two blocks, the second GB player to have multiple blocks in a game this season.
MONEY MARCUS
After a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection a season ago, Phoenix forward Marcus Hall has been outstanding to start the 2024-25 Season. Hall is currently averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from three-point range.
LET IT FLY
The Phoenix offense is predicated in large part on the three-ball. Green Bay is 42nd in the country in three-point attempts with 28.4, and 59th in the country in three-point makes per game with 9.5.
FREE POINTS
Green Bay had made their chances at the free throw line count. GB is knocking down 80.4 percent from the line, which ranks 14th best in the NCAA.
INTERNATIONAL TALENT
The 2024-25 Phoenix roster features players from three foreign countries and eight different U.S. states. Ben Tweedy is from Australia, Roee Oselka is from Israel, and Mouhamadou Cissé is from Senegal.
TOP 10 TURNAROUND
After a program-low 3-29 season in 2022-23, Green Bay bounced back with a resilient 18-14 record a season ago in head coach Sundance Wicks' lone season with the Phoenix, jumping from last in the Horizon League to third. That 15.0 game turnaround is tied for the 10th-best turnaround in NCAA Division I history.
NEW LOOK ROSTER
The Phoenix underwent a roster transformation this past off-season. Of GB's rostered players, five are returners, five are transfers, and eight are incoming freshmen.
FAMILIAR FACES
Multiple returners will play large roles in the upcoming 2024-25 season, including Foster Wonders, Preston Ruedinger, and Marcus Hall. Last season, Ruedinger averaged 8.4, Wonders averaged 7.8, and Hall averaged 6.4 points per game. Mac Wrecke and Ryan Wade are the other two returners and will be featured in Coach Gottlieb's rotation.
OFFSEASON RECAP
A lot happened during the 2024 offseason. Let's get you caught up:
May 12 – Sundance Wicks named Wyoming head men's basketball coach
May 14 - Doug Gottlieb is named the 10th head coach in Green Bay men's basketball history.
June 6 – The rest of the coaching staff is announced, consisting of Aerick Sanders, Damon Archibald, Dennis Harrington, and Kaden LeCapitaine, joining Jordan McCabe.
Over the summer - The Phoenix brings in eight freshmen for the 2024-25 season: Ayden Goll, Jeremiah Johnson, Ben Tweedy, Bennett Basich, C.J. O'Hara, Brady Fitzgerald, Caden Wilkens, and Roee Oselka. Five transfers make their way to Green Bay this season including, Donovan Santoro, Anthony Roy, Muodubem Muoneke, Isaiah Miranda, and Mouhamadou Cissé.
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
PL. TEAM (1st PLACE VOTES) – PTS.
T1. Milwaukee (15) – 421
T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (14) – 421
3. Northern Kentucky (4) – 389
4. Oakland (5) – 345
5. Wright State (4) – 315
6. Youngstown State (1) – 272
7. Cleveland State – 252
8. Green Bay – 171
9. Robert Morris – 148
10. IU Indianapolis (1) – 91
11. Detroit Mercy – 79
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