UCI Folds, but Rallies Around Baker

IRVINE —  UC Irvine Coach Rod Baker talked with optimism Thursday afternoon, experienced some harsh reality later in the evening, then got a big pick-me-up to end his day.

It all comes with running the Irvine program these days.

His team blew a 12-point second half lead, losing to UC Santa Barbara, 79-71, in overtime in front of 1,293 at the Bren Center. The Anteaters demonstrated some unity, dabbled with some internal combustion, then talked of banding together for their coach.

It all comes with playing in the Irvine program these days.

Things will begin to work themselves out today, when several players will meet with Athletic Director Dan Guerrero at 2 p.m. to make a pitch for Baker to retain his job. Baker is in the last year of his contract and those who coach 1-24 teams don’t often get re-upped.

Still, Baker remains positive.

“I don’t think I’m being Pollyanna on this either,” Baker said Thursday afternoon. “I’m approaching this with the idea that we’ve done what we’re supposed to do with the group we have. Yeah, I would have loved to win some games, everybody else would have too, but it just didn’t happen.”

It didn’t Thursday.

Anthony Delacruz’s jump shot gave the Anteaters (1-14 in the Big West) a 43-33 lead, their first double-digit lead of the season, with 12 minutes 40 seconds left. A moment later, Lamarr Parker’s steal and layup made it, 45-33. All it meant was the Anteaters got to blow their largest lead of the season.

Raymond Tutt scored 19 points in the second half and 10 more in overtime to give the Gauchos (12-13, 7-8) the victory. Tutt, the fifth-leading scorer in the nation, made 14 of 14 free throws and finished with 37 points.

The effect on Baker was devastating.

He secluded himself in the equipment room. Assistant coach Joe Cravens told the team to go get him and, as a group, they went in, and came out with forward Brian Johnson cradling Baker in his arms.

“I was in their feeling a little sorry for myself,” Baker said. “They weren’t going to allow me to be alone and they weren’t going to allow me to feel sorry for myself.”

That unity lasted only so long. Moments later a shouting match between players could be heard through the walls.

“There is some frustration about the season coming out,” said guard Lamarr Parker, who had a team-high 20 points.

Much of it seems to concern Baker and whether he will be back next season.

Baker, himself, remains sure. He said he has plans through this week and beyond. The speculation, however, is that his contract, which runs through April, will not be renewed. That word could come as soon as next week.

“Right now my focus is on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo [Irvine’s opponent Saturday],” Baker said. “After that, my focus will be on recruiting.

“After Saturday, we’ll take a few weeks off, to just miss basketball again. From early April to next October, you just push them and make them push themselves to erase all this.”

Thursday was just another thing to blot out.

“I don’t think he should be judged on the way we play,” said Johnson, Baker’s most vocal supporter. “He should get two more years. He brought us all here. I don’t think some other coach should get the credit when we start having success in the next couple years.”

Parker, also a Baker supporter, was more realistic. He wants Baker back, but seemed to understand a change could be coming.

“I’ll be happy to have Coach Baker back,” Parker said. “He’s been my mentor. But all of us are going to have to come back and start from scratch next season, no matter who is the coach.”