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Big West 2019-20 season preview: another new champion?

By David Yapkowitz

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Faith Mimnaugh of the Cal Poly Mustangs eyes the play from the bench against the Loyola Marymount Lions in the first half of the home opening game at Gersten Pavilion on November 21, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Cal Poly won 87-79. (Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Faith Mimnaugh of the Cal Poly Mustangs eyes the play from the bench against the Loyola Marymount Lions in the first half of the home opening game at Gersten Pavilion on November 21, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Cal Poly won 87-79. (Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images) /
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Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson coaches during the women’s NIT championship game against South Florida at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The Bulls defeated the Jayhawks 75-71. (Photo by Allison Long/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson coaches during the women’s NIT championship game against South Florida at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The Bulls defeated the Jayhawks 75-71. (Photo by Allison Long/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) /

UC Santa Barbara:

2018-19 record: 8-22, 5-11 Conference

Key Losses:

None

Key Additions:

-RyAnne Walters

-Ila Lane

UCSB is an interesting team. They didn’t fare so well a season ago, but with their returning talent, they certainly look capable of turning things around and finishing as a top 4 team in the conference. They don’t really have any notable losses in terms of players, and they’re adding some talented freshmen.

Leading the way will be senior point guard Coco Miller. Miller was named to the All-Big West second team last season, and she was picked as part of the preseason All-Big West team. She’s a guard who knows how to find her balance between being a scorer and a facilitator. She missed the 2017-18 season due to injury, but bounced back last year with a strong showing.

Joining Miller will be all the rest of last season’s starting lineup in Lauren Lee, Bri Anugwom, Danae Miller, and Natalia Bruening. Key reserves Tal Sahar, Celeste Salazar, and Kiana Vierra will also be back. In addition, the Gaucho’s might look to get some solid production off the bench from sophomore forward Megan Ormiston. She’s a post presence who is strong on the glass as well as defensively.

The Gauchos return a deep lineup, so it’s hard to envision any of the incoming freshmen to have a major impact right away, but they do have some solid players arriving. RyAnne Walters was nationally ranked recruit who is able to play multiple positions. She can score, she can defend, and she can be a facilitator.

UCSB is the one team that has the majority of last season’s roster intact and that could be key for how well the Gauchos do this season.

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