The 2021–22 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's basketball team represented the University of California, Santa Barbara in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.

The Gauchos, led by fifth-year head coach Joe Pasternack, played their home games at The Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, California as members of the Big West Conference.

They defeated UC Irvine in the quarterfinals of the Big West tournament before losing to Long Beach State in the semifinals.

They defeated Long Beach State, UC Davis, and UC Irvine to win the Big West tournament.

As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No.