Lauren RabainoRivalries never die. They may lose their luster some years, but the bad blood never quite goes away.
When the Cal Poly (3-11, 0-4 Big West Conference) men’s basketball team and UC Santa Barbara (7-9, 1-3) meet at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Mott Gym, the bad blood will be rekindled.
Cal Poly head coach Kevin Bromley stressed the importance of a win more so than a win over the rival Gauchos.
“I don’t think it’s any more important than any other one, but it’s obviously sweeter when we beat Santa Barbara,” Bromley said. “It’s one of those things that if you beat them, it takes the sting of being 3-11.”
The Mustangs have lost six consecutive games. Their last victory was against Portland State on Dec. 17 in Mott Gym.
“Losing is the hardest thing,” Bromley said of the slide. “There is nothing more euphoric than winning and winning in life regardless of what you do. And it crushes you when you lose.”
The Mustangs have struggled in large part due to injuries and other issues keeping key players off the court.
Senior guard and co-captain Trae Clark was ruled academically ineligible and hasn’t played since Dec. 23. Cal Poly has not won without him this season.
Senior forward John Manley has been sidelined for the entire season after a nagging back injury flared up just before the season began.
Ironically, the injury first occurred against the Gauchos when then-freshman Manley was going up for a layup and was fouled hard from behind by UC Santa Barbara then-senior guard Branduinn Fullove.
“I wasn’t trying to take him out. I just wanted to make sure he didn’t score,” Fullove told the San Luis Obispo Tribune after the 2004 game. “I really didn’t mean to hurt him but, I mean, if you want to whine like a baby maybe you should stay on the sidelines.”
The play prompted a warning to both teams from the commissioner of the Big West.
Bromley said there is a “good chance” that Manley will see his first action of the season Saturday.
“He loves to compete, loves to sacrifice his body,” Bromley said of Manley. “He’s always looking for someone to hit. He probably should have played some football. It brings the physical part into practice.”
With two of the three co-captains out, players have had to step up for Cal Poly. Senior guard Chaz Thomas has stepped into the role of starting point guard and has improved his game Bromley said.
“Now that Trae’s not here, (Chaz) and I have more communication,” he said. “We have to be on the same page even more. I think he’s really taken to that. He’s really trying to do what is best for the basketball team on the floor.”