Big West Banter Interview with UCSB Coach Joe Pasternack

Interview conducted Monday, October 28

Note from the Big West Banter:  The transcript of this conversation was lost so Coach Pasternack’s answers are from memory and a few notes jotted down.  Coach has reviewed this to make sure I captured his intended communication accurately even if the wording is not exact.

Big West Banter (BWB): Thanks for agreeing to speak with me Coach.  Despite losing great players like Ajay Mitchell, Josh Pierre Louis and Yohan Traore, and finishing 7th last year, UCSB was picked 2nd this year by your fellow Big West Coaches.  It is where I have picked you as well. You have a well-earned reputation as a great recruiter, this year may be your best yet and its apparent that your peers recognize that.   You’ve added proven, experienced production across the positions.  How are you so successful in this area?

Coach Joe Pasternack: We recruit the person, not just the player.  We talk about the school, our system.  We build relationships with the player, his family and those relationships extend well beyond their time at UCSB. Our program’s success is a huge factor; we’ve made the tournament twice in the past four years, have had guys like Gabe Vincent, Ajay Mitchell, Miles Norris and Max Heidegger all have successful professional careers, including in the NBA.  Recruits know they know they can be successful here, as a team and as an individual.  When recruits visit, they see how we practice, they talk to the players and learn about the way we do things.  We do have a great class this year, we have two fantastic freshmen in Zion Sensely and ZZ Clark plus a ton of experience in guys like Stephan Swenson, Deuce Turner, Kenny Pohto, Colin Smith and Max Murrell.   Last year, yes, we struggled with injuries, especially early on.   Ajay was never 100 percent and never practiced, Shtolzberg and Brockhoff both missed tons of time.  But we also had 8 guys who had played little or no D1 basketball before and our inexperience showed.  We made it a priority to get old and stay old this year.  We also made sure we got better shooting the three.  Last year we weren’t very good at that (UCSB had the 2^nd fewest three point attempts in the BWC last season) and the defenses could key in on Cole.  Now we have Turner, Swenson, Murrell, Smith and even Pohto, all who can hit from deep.

BWB: Of your new guys, who is standing out and living up to his reputation the most?    

Joe Pasternack: I have to say Stephan Swenson, our Graduate Transfer out of Stetson.  He is a natural born leader and has the respect of the team.  He’s led a team to the tournament before and the guys listen to him.  Deuce Turner is also a huge get for the program.  He is a multi-level scorer, a go-to guy if we need a bucket.

BWB: Is this your deepest roster at UCSB?  In past years, you’ve typically had about an 8 man rotation, will that change this year?  

Joe Pasternack: Our 2021 tournament team was also really deep.  Off the bench we had great players like Ajare Sanni (BW  6^th Man of the Year), Robinson Idehen and Destin Barnes…..but yes, this is a deep team.  If you look at most successful programs, they mostly stick to a 7 or 8 man rotation.   Earlier in my career I was told by a coach that the goal is to figure out how to keep your best players on the floor the maximum amount of time and that is the way we operate.    Yes, this is roster that could play 10 deep but I don’t know what the exact rotation looks like yet. Right now we are committed to the process and the rotation will become clear in time. 

BWB: Of your returning players, who is poised for a big step up from last year?  Koat Keat Tong became a fan favorite, combination of his effort and rapid improvement over the 20 or so games he played. 

Joe Pasternack: Jason Fontenet is doing a really great job defensively and rebounding the basketball, and he can really shoot the ball. KK has had two surgeries, he’s got bigger and stronger but its going to take some time for him to work through the rust.  But he is a good player for us and we really missed having him last year. 

BWB: How’s the current health of the roster?  Smith had the major injury at Vanderbilt, Sensely got dinged up a bit earlier this year, KKT working through some rust.  Any other issues?

Joe Pasternack: We’re good, all our guys are healthy now, Smith played in the UNLV scrimmage

BWB: Let’s shift away from the players a bit.  You bring back a Gaucho favorite in Brandon Cyrus to your staff.  What is his role in the program? 

Joe Pasternack: I can’t say enough how valuable it is to have a former player, one that knows the system and what we’re trying to do, on the staff.  He is a fantastic example of putting the team first and setting an example for our players, first as a player and now as a coach. Before our first tournament year, his senior year, he came to me and told me “Coach, whatever role you need me in, I’ll do it.  All I want is a championship.”   While he started for us, he played only about 13 minutes per game with Ajare Sanni playing the bulk of the minutes at that spot.  Now as an assistant coach he is the lead for rebounding and is recruiting for us too.  But who he is, his unselfishness, and his experience with what we are trying to accomplish from a player’s perspective, are so important.  

BWB: From last year's disappointment two data points stand out; KenPom defensive rating dropped 100 points from previous year and,  from the fewest turnovers in the league, the Gauchos dropped to 9th most.  Talk about what happened and what you learned from it.  UCSB scrimmaged UNLV on Saturday and the number that jumps out to me is that you held the Rebels to 55 points.  The Gauchos have nearly always had strong offense under your direction but in the championship years, the defense has rated high as well.  How is this year’s team looking on that end of the court?  Any changes/tweaks to your approach in this area for the upcoming year?  

Joe Pasternack: Well, it was a closed scrimmage so not sure I should really be talking about any specifics regarding that game.  But I think we will be better defensively because of our depth and experience.  Where the depth really makes such a difference from last year to this year is in the practices.  Defense is a major point of emphasis, our guys know that and that if they don’t bring it on that end they aren’t going to play.  But getting good at this is a process and we have to keep working at it.

BWB: Your favorite subject, the schedule.  It has become extremely difficult for good mid-majors to build out their schedules.  UCSB has five D1 home games, seven overall which is highly unusual for a mid-major. Not counting Hawaii which is in a unique situation, no other Big West school has more than 3.  Which non-conference team will be the biggest challenge?    

Joe Pasternack: I believe this schedule will be much tougher than it is being perceived before the season.  LMU was picked 5^th in the WCC which is very strong this year.   Fresno St has some excellent new players and beat LMU in their preseason scrimmage.  Wisconsin Green Bay had a guy score 46 points in an exhibition. UTEP (picked 5^th in the Conference USA coach’s poll) will be tough, Portland has some really good big men and will be tough on the road. 

BWB: This is the last year for Hawaii in the Big West, are you going to miss that annual trip to the island? 

Joe Pasternack: Yes, I do plan to go to the islands still but only on vacation (laughter).  Traveling there for games was long and stressful and I won’t miss that. 

BWB: What does the team need to do for you to call the season a success?

Joe Pasternack: We never put a number of wins or a title out there as a goal.  We just honor the process. Every day, every practice, every game, every play.  We do that successfully and results will follow.   One of the challenges we face in this portal era, is that several players have played for multiple coaches and have habits from different systems they’ve been in.  Every coach does things differently and every system is different so there are some old habits to unlearn and new habits to learn.  That just takes time.  Our goal is to be at our best in March in Henderson.

BWB: What are your thoughts on the Big West Tournament location?  Many fans grumble about it being too far and the attendance is low.   What is your preference?

Joe Pasternack: I love it.  The arena is perfect.  Vegas is where all the major western conference tournaments are at.  Maybe more fans could go to Anaheim but those were Fullerton, Irvine and Long Beach fans.   Henderson gives us an even playing field, UCSB fans should make the trip.

BWB:  What’s the word up in Santa Barbara?  Any buzz around the upcoming season?

Joe Pasternack: We have been marketing the program and people are talking about the season and are excited.  We’ve been reaching out to the students, meeting with the fraternities and sororities and they are excited

BWB: Thanks for this coach, I don’t have any other questions but is there anything you want to say to UCSB/Big West fans? 

Yes, well, to the UCSB fans. Message is simple, come to the games, come support the team.