JaQuori McLaughlin was named Big West Player of the Year, Joe Pasternack was selected as the league’s Coach of the Year, and UC Santa Barbara claimed a bevy of league honors, it was announced Monday.
McLaughlin was joined on the First Team All-Big West by junior forward Amadou Sow, who had previously earned a pair of Second Team All-Big West recognitions. Additionally, Ajare Sanni, a sophomore, was selected the league’s Sixth Player of the Year. Senior guard Devearl Ramsey and junior forward Miles Norris were Honorable Mention All-Big West selections.
McLaughlin, a transfer from Oregon State who played his final three seasons in Santa Barbara, has been outstanding. Through the regular-season he has averaged 15.6 points, 3. 4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 5.4 assists per game, the highest average among players with at least 20 games played. He was a three-time Big West Player of the Week and was a key factor as the Gauchos overcame an 0-2 start to the Big West season. Following a pair of December losses at UC Irvine, McLaughlin scored 11 or more points in 11 consecutive games and guided the program to a school-record 13 straight wins. Ultimately, the team won 15 of its last 16 regular season games, and McLaughlin was at the heart of everything.
McLaughlin is the seventh UCSB player to earn Big West Conference Player of the Year Honors. He joins Brian Shaw (1988), Lucius Davis (1992), Branduinn Fullove (2003), Alex Harris (2008), Orlando Johnson (2010) and Alan Williams (2014).
Pasternack is completing his fourth season at UCSB. This year’s 19-4 record represents a winning percentage of .836, the highest in school history. The Gauchos’ 13-3 league record is also the best ever. Pasternack guided the program to a school-record 13-game winning streak, as well as a school-record 17-game home winning streak, a school-record 11-game Big West Conference winning streak and a school record seven-game true road game winning streak. In 2017-18, Pasternack led UCSB to a 23-9 record one year removed from the program going 6-22. Also, if the Gauchos can win one game in the Big West Tournament, they would move to 20-4 and it would be the fourth straight season of 20-plus wins, a program first. Finally, Pasternack’s .720 winning percentage is the best in school history.
https://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2020-21/releases/20210308jy4i5g
