Schedule hampers Anteaters

There were two schools of speculation as to how the unique scheduling challenge facing the UC Irvine men’s basketball team would affect its regular-season-ending Big West Conference game with Long Beach State Saturday.

Some believed that not having played since a Feb. 23 road win against UC Davis, which was its only contest in since a Feb. 18 nonconference clash with Drake, would render the Anteaters rusty.

Others believed that with so much time to rest and polish its deficiencies, Coach Pat Douglass’ squad would be primed to complete a season sweep of the 49ers, who came in on four-game winning streak.

Turns out, there was some truth to both theories. UCI bolted to a 31-10 lead, only to shrivel against he quickness, aggressiveness and athleticism of their “Black and Blue Series” combatants.

But sustaining a 93-73 loss, especially after leading by 21, sent an overwhelming distress signal.

Douglass would not use the lack of game competition ? which is both unheard of and unconscionable ? for his team’s frustrating fizzle against Long Beach State.

But 49ers Coach Larry Reynolds was empathetic regarding UCI’s unprecedented dearth of games down the stretch.

“It’s incredible,” Reynolds said of UCI’s schedule dilemma. “I don’t envy that at all. I think we have the same kind of schedule next year and it’s just a very tough thing to deal with and still try to continue your rhythm, while not playing two games a week. And, it’s at the end of the season. Hopefully, we can do something about that as a conference, because that’s not right. [UCI] is a very good team and it probably deserves to have its rhythm as much as any other team, especially in this conference.”

The Anteaters’ own success ? having finished second, which assures them byes into the Big West Tournament semifinals ? will extend another layoff, before they return to action Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Further bad news, if seedings hold ? hardly a given in the parity party that figures to be this year’s tournament ? UCI will get a rematch with No. 3-seeded Long Beach State. The 49ers, arguably the conference’s most athletic team, have all the ingredients that typically give the Anteaters fits. Reynolds’ team is also playing well enough to prompt some to consider it the best bet to knock off top-seeded Pacific and claim what will likely be the conference’s lone NCAA Tournament bid.