Dec. 27, 2014 Game 11
UC Davis Aggies (9-1)
at
Washington State Cougars (5-5)
Sunday, Dec. 28 - 3 p.m.
Beasley Coliseum (11, 671) - Pullman, Wash.
Radio: KSAC (105.5 FM) - Scott Marsh (PBP)
Game 12
UC Davis Aggies
at
Seattle Redhawks (6-6)
Tuesday, Dec. 30 - 7 p.m.
Key Arena (17,000) - Seattle
Radio: KSAC (105.5 FM) - Scott Marsh (PBP)
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis men's basketball will make the first of its three (as of 12/27 with the potential for three more) scheduled nationally televised appearances of the season when the Pac-12 Networks airs Saturday's game at Washington State. Thad Anderson and Dan Dickau are your play-by-play broadcaster and color analyst, their broadcast will begin at 3 p.m.
As the only school on UC Davis' 2014-15 schedule, Sunday's game against the Cougars is the lone opportunity of the year for the Aggies to record their first victory against a Pac-12 school since their 64-58 triumph over Stanford (in Davis) on Dec. 4, 2005.
Another Aggie victory will give the team its 10th win of the season with one more home game remaining before the start of league play; last season, five of UC Davis' nine wins took place before Big West action commenced.
Series Record: First Meeting
For the fifth consecutive season, UC Davis will visit Key Arena to face Seattle. After dropping its inaugural contest at Seattle during the 2010 season, the Aggies rebounded the following year to pick up its first victory inside Key Arena - the former home of the Seattle Supersonics and the Redhawks' current home arena.
By downing Seattle on Tuesday, the Aggies will end its two-game slide in Seattle, inch one step closer towards setting a new all-time Division I wins record and push head coach Jim Les that much closer to earning his 200th career victory.
Men's basketball collected a Div. I program-record 14 overall and nine Big West throughout the 2012-13 season; Coach Les enters this weekend's Washington road swing with 191 career victories.
Series Record: Seattle leads, 4-3
Last UC Davis Win: 88-78; 2/15/11 in Seattle
Last Seattle Win: 77-53; 12/2/13 in Seattle
Series Streak: Seattle +2
WELCOME BACK TO THE PAVILION
For the third straight season, ESPN and its family of networks will televise a UC Davis men's basketball game from the Pavilion. ESPNU will carry the team's Jan. 10 Big West contest vs. Long Beach State and begin its broadcast at 8 p.m.
UC Davis' inaugural appearance on national television also took place inside the Pavilion, against Long Beach State, when ESPN2 visited campus during the 2012-13 season. Due to the energy and enthusiasm displayed by that night's sellout crowd, ESPN2 returned to campus last year to televise men's basketball's home finale against UC Santa Barbara.
CLIMBING THE MID-MAJOR LADDER
On Nov. 24, UC Davis made its inaugural Division I appearance on CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Top 25 poll when the Aggies received one vote.
Five weeks later, UC Davis earned its first-ever, D-I national ranking when the media outlet listed the Aggies as the No. 25 mid-major team in the nation - and the only Big West team - in its Dec. 22 poll.
JOINING AN ELITE LIST
Only one team in the 104-year history of UC Davis men's basketball has started its season with a 9-1 record - the 1997-98 Division II national champions. By capturing another victory Monday night at Northern Colorado, this year's roster is off to the best start in the program's Division I history and shares the best 10-game start with the most successful UC Davis men's basketball team of all time.
LISTEN LIVE TO UC DAVIS MEN'S BASKETBALL
For the fourth season, UC Davis men's basketball games will air on KSAC (105.5 FM) and online at ucdavisaggies.com. Scott Marsh (@ScottMarsh1140) will provide the play-by-play and begin his broadcast 30 minutes before tip-off with his pregame show.
CRUNCH NUMBERS HERE
Find out what is happening during every UC Davis men's basketball game via live stats. Links for every men's basketball home game are available by visiting UCDavisLiveStats.com. When the Aggies are on the road, check the men's basketball homepage at ucdavisaggies.com to find appropriate live stats links.
IT'S OK TO BE A FOLLOWER
Hoops fans can follow their favorite team, and all other Aggie intercollegiate athletics programs on Twitter at the handle@UCDavisAggies. In-game updates are also available on the department's secondary Twitter handle, @UCDavisInGame.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT THERE, CLICK HERE
By accessing the link entitled "Live Stream Provided by BigWest.TV" on the sidebar of the men's basketball homepage on ucdavisaggies.com, fans can access a free video stream of every Big West Conference game involving UC Davis men's basketball this season.
LET'S PLAY TWO!
This catchphrase applies to UC Davis basketball this season as the men and women will team up for three home doubleheaders this year.
When the men hosted Utah State (11/26) and Utah Valley (11/29), women's basketball faced Utah Valley and Pacific in respective matinée matchups. On both occasions, the Aggies recorded a doubleheader sweep.
The final doubleheader will take place on Jan. 3, 2015, when the women host Menlo College at 2 p.m. before the men tip that evening against Cal Maritime.
DREAM BIG, WIN BIG ON THE BIG WEST TOUR
The Big West Tour, sponsored by ampm and Fox PrimeTicket, returns for 2015, running January 8 through February 26th. Over the course of the tour, Big West representatives will make stops at the eight Big West campuses in California, giving fans opportunities to win prize packs from the Big West spin wheel, receive ampm scratcher cards and enter for a chance to win an iPad air at EACH campus courtesy of ampm.
The Tour will visit UC Davis' Memorial Union on Jan. 29, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. before relocating to the Pavilion for that night's UC Santa Barbara at UC Davis 7 p.m. league contest.
The Big West Tour will also feature an ampm show us your "too much good stuff" social media contest where fans can pose for photos and tag or share their photos for a chance to win a $250 amazon gift card from ampm!
Returning for the fifth year as a sponsor of The Big West Tour, ampm will provide prizes at each tour stop, and will also distribute scratcher cards available on each of the tour campuses throughout the conference season. Scratcher prizes include free ampm products, Big West Tournament tickets, bookstore gift cards, high definition action camera and a grand prize of a $1,000 electronics shopping spree. ampm has been a proud partner of the Big West Tour since 2010. For official rules regarding the ampm scratchers and drawing visit www.ampm.com/bigwest.
50/50? I LIKE THOSE ODDS
The Aggies will enter Sunday's game at Washington State with a .500 field goal percentage. If the season ended today, that would stand as a Division I-era record.
During the school's D-II days, the 1980-81 roster was responsible for setting the school record with its .518 percentage (726-1401).
GIVE HIM AN INCH, YOU'RE GIVING HIS TEAM THREE POINTS
Even with opposing teams designing game plans to contain him, Corey Hawkins still finds ways to create solid looks from three. The senior guard has connected on 31 of 62 shots from distance (.500) this year.
A FIVE-TOOL PLAYER IN BASKETBALL?
As the numbers indicate, that's the best way to describe Corey Hawkins since the senior guard can defend, score, protect the ball, create open looks for teammates and force turnovers. Hawkins' NCAA and Big West rankings include (NCAA through games played on Dec. 22, Big West through Dec. 21):
NCAA
Three-point percentage: 11th/.500
Points per game: 18th/20.1
Three-point field goals per game: 28th/3.10
Total three-point FGM: 43rd/31
Total points: 56th/201
Field goal percentage: 89th/.516
Big West Conference
Points per game: 1st/20.3
Three-point percentage: 1st/.528
Steals: 2nd/1.89 per gm.
Free throw percentage: 6th/.822
Field goal percentage: 7th/.527
Assists: 7th/3.33 per gm.
Assist to turnover ratio: T-5th/2.0
THIS TOOK PLACE BEFORE TWO WORLD WARS, THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT AND THE INVENTION OF TELEVISION
With its win against San José State on Dec. 3, UC Davis sported its first 6-0 start in 102 years and the first time as a NCAA-recognized athletics program.
During the 1912-13 season, the last time the Aggies enjoyed this successful a start to their season, the school was known a University Farm and competed against local high school and club teams.
THAT'S TOUGH TO TOP
By winning its first six games, UC Davis posted its strongest start in 102 seasons. However, that win streak fell short of the Big West record 34-game winning streak set by UNLV during the 1990-91 season. That year, the Runnin' Rebels won every contest but one - the national championship game against Duke.
SNEAK PEEK
The way UC Davis started its season, it's fair to take a look at a few Division I records and milestones that may disappear in the upcoming weeks.
During the 2012-13 season, the Aggies recorded a record 14 D-I overall, nine Big West and six road wins (not including another two that were earned on a neutral court).
WHILE WE ARE AT IT...
Since joining the Big West in 2007, the Aggies have never posted 10 victories before their league opener.
The 1997-98 Division II championship team was the last to secure 10 non-conference victories before facing its first conference opponent. That year, the Aggies were 10-2 before facing its inaugural California Collegiate Athletic Association foe.
WHY STOP NOW?
The 1999-2000 season marked the last time UC Davis won 20 or more games in a season when that roster collected 22 victories. That was the last of a six-season stretch that saw the Aggies win 20 or more games each year.
MODELS OF DISCIPLINE
UC Davis has only committed 173 fouls this year - the 47th-lowest total in the nation.
PROTECT THE ROCK
Among all 344 Division I teams, the Aggies rank among the top teams in the category of fewest turnovers committed. UC Davis' 124 turnovers is the 55th-lowest total among all 345 Division I teams.
MOVING THEIR FEET, NOT THEIR HANDS
Among all Big West Conference teams, UC Davis enters the week with the stingiest defense in the league. The Aggies are allowing opponents to score a league-low 61.2 points per game.
THE AGGIES' RULE OF THREE
UC Davis leads all Big West teams by averaging 8.0 three-point field goals made per game, holds the highest success rate from distance with its .400 three-point percentage, and three of the top shooters from behind the arc in seniors Corey Hawkins, Tyler Les and Josh Ritchart.
Hawkins leads all league players with his .528 three-point percentage; Les is ranked No. 4 with his .455 clip; Ritchart narrowly missed the conference's top 10 list but is tied for No. 12 with his .353 mark.
YOU KNOW WHAT IS COMING AND YOU STILL CANNOT STOP HIM
Among all active Big West players, senior guard Tyler Les is ranked No. 2 with 162 three-point field goals. Even more remarkable is that 86 percent of his 189 baskets were made from distance.
Only one person stands between Les and the No. 1 position among all active league players - teammate Josh Ritchart and his 190 three-point baskets.
TOP THIS
By sinking a season-high six treys at Idaho (12/6) Corey Hawkins finished with 33 points. Both his three-point field goal, and scoring totals, are the highest recorded in a single game by any Big West player this year.
CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS
For the second time this year, UC Davis recorded 40 or more rebounds in a single game after finishing with 41 at Northern Colorado (12/22). The previous season high of 40 was recorded on Nov. 26's all-Aggie matchup vs. Utah State.
AGGIES EARN MOUNTAIN WEST HAT TRICK
For the second time in as many seasons, UC Davis defeated Air Force when the Aggies departed Colorado Springs, Colo., on Dec. 20 with a win. That victory is the third earned by the Aggies this season against an opponent from the Mountain West Conference.
Earlier this season, men's basketball earned positive results against Utah State (11/26) and San José State (12/3).
BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE
With its 25-for-28 shooting at the free throw line at Air Force, UC Davis set a new season high with a .893 percentage. That afternoon, the Aggies recorded 20 of their 46 second-half points at the stripe.
I DARE YOU TO STEP IN FRONT OF THIS #ENERGYBUS
What started with back-to-back free throws from Georgi Funtarov continued with seven straight points from Josh Fox, and ultimately ended with a 16-2 scoring run that helped the Aggies cement an 81-75 victory.
In addition to Fox's seven points, Josh Ritchart canned a three which forced Air Force to call a timeout in an attempt to stave off a brutally efficient Aggie run. Darius Graham and Corey Hawkins also added baskets of their own to build a late double-digit lead.
NO REST FOR THE WEARY, THAT'S LIFE AT UC DAVIS
As most people across the country, and everyone in the Big West Conference can attest, UC Davis is an academically rigorous university that expects it student-athletes to succeed as a similar level as the school's student body.
That is what made the Aggies' win at Air Force even sweeter because it marked the first time that men's basketball won its first post-finals game since the 2008-09 season when the team defeated The Citadel, 79-61.
