‘Eaters open Big West with visit to Cal Poly

Barry Faulkner

UC Irvine Coach Pat Douglass acknowledged that rebuilding was an

applicable term for his men’s basketball program this season, after

it lost 10 of its final 12 Big West Conference games last season to

miss the eight-team conference tournament.

But with the overhauled Anteaters (5-2) set to tip off conference

play tonight at 7:05 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2-5), there are

those who believe a run at a third conference crown in five seasons

is not out of the question.

Douglass himself could be counted among the optimists, though his

team’s four-game winning streak has not been enough to chip away some

lingering questions.

Foremost among the unknowns is the Anteaters’ lack of experience.

They have just one senior -- 6-foot-8 center Greg Ethington -- have

three first-year starters, including one true freshman, and boast

only three players with substantial time in the frequently surprising

Big West spin cycle.

“My guys haven’t been through the wars, but they are warriors,”

Douglass said after a 75-62 nonconference home win over New Mexico

State Dec. 21.

“I think we’re going to make our presence known as we get into

league.”

Defending conference champion University of the Pacific and

perennial contender Utah State remain the consensus title favorites.

UOP (5-2), Utah State (7-2) and Cal State Fullerton (4-3) are the

only conference schools to join UCI with a winning record at this

point.

But Utah State was stunned by Idaho (2-8) in the two schools’ Big

West opener Wednesday in Idaho, so a true read on the conference

power structure may be tenuous for at least a couple more weeks.

That’s fine with Douglass, who believes his players’ willingness

to learn and improve may be their strongest attribute.

Somewhat more tangible are the contributions of junior point guard

Aaron Fitzgerald, a vagabond transfer averaging 15.6 points and 5.3

assists per game.

Ethington is producing 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest,

while junior guard Ross Schraeder leads the team in scoring at 16

ppg.

Schraeder has netted 12 of 18 three-point attempts his last two

games, including 4 of 5 against New Mexico State.

Darren Fells, a 6-7 freshman, and 6-6 sophomore Nic Campbell round

out the starting lineup, while former starter Jeff Gloger leads a

six-player bench.

Fells is averaging 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds, while Campbell is

chipping in 5.1 ppg. Gloger averages 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Cal Poly, which defeated UCI in the Anteaters’ season finale last

year in San Luis Obispo, features a pair of talented freshmen

starters.

Dawin Whiten, a 6-3 guard, is leading the team at 13 ppg, while

6-5 Andrew Haskins is averaging 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds.

The Mustangs and Anteaters have played two common opponents this

season.

Both teams defeated Santa Clara, the Mustangs at home and UCI on

the road. UCI won, 76-55, at San Jose State (Dec. 17), where Cal Poly

was thumped, 69-50, on Dec. 4.

The Anteaters will continue the road trip Thursday, when they

visit UC Santa Barbara.