Midnight madness on the horizon

There will be something significantly different when the UC Irvine

men’s basketball team opens its season with its annual Midnight Magic

Oct. 11. For the first time in four years, the season-opening

extravaganza will be without Jerry Green.

However, if you look closely and notice the high energy for

Anteater basketball on the UCI campus, and notice the excitement for

the season among the players, you will see that Jerry Green never

left Irvine. It seems Green, who was the Big West Conference Player

of the Year the past two seasons, will always be a part of the UCI

basketball program.

“Jerry has been very much the key in the program evolving into one

of the better programs in the nation,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said of

Green, who is playing basketball overseas. “His presence did a lot

for the program, for the support and the players. Maybe now we’re in

the position for players to take the next step. Maybe Jerry can be

instrumental again for the players who played with him; for them to

continue the success. There are a few questions to be answered.”

One of the question marks for the Anteaters is Jordan Harris, who

injured his knee this past summer. He tore his PCL (post cruciate

ligament in the knee) and has been rehabilitating the past three

months.

“I thought he would be a premier player in the conference,”

Douglass said of Harris.

The Anteaters will learn of Harris’ status in the weeks to come.

Until then, the UCI men’s basketball team, and Coach Mark Adams’

women’s squad, will enjoy the festivities next week.

“It’s just a lot of the kids having fun and they get to see both

teams, and they become familiar with the players,” Douglass said.

“Around the (Big West Conference) people are aware of the CIA

(Completely Insane Anteaters). They’ll be there jumping up and down.

With the support and the spirit, (Midnight Magic has) been really

successful the last few years.”

* Doors open at the Bren Events Center at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 11 for

Midnight Magic. There will be a pre-party at the Berry Terrace and

free food will be given to the first 500.

At 11:30 p.m., doors to the arena open. Free T-shirts will be

given to the first 1,000. The opening portion will also include a

cheerleading dance routine and a Las Vegas trip promotion giveaway.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining before midnight, the CIA will present

a movie skit, which will feature a surprise theme that will also be

the theme for the night.

At midnight, players will be introduced. Douglass and Adams will

also deliver short speeches. There will also be layup and shooting

contests between the players.

* Why do the UCI basketball teams have Midnight Magic? The NCAA

does not allow official practices until Oct. 12.

* It’s too early to determine what this year’s edition of the

Anteaters will be all about, Douglass said. But, UCI will receive its

first test Nov. 9, when the ‘Eaters open their season at Cal State

Bakersfield. Douglass coached at Bakersfield and led the Roadrunners

to three NCAA Division II titles in five years (1993, ’94 and ‘97).

The UCI women’s basketball team opens its season at home against

Vanguard University in an exhibition game Nov. 5.

* UCI Coach Ted Newland’s men’s water polo team retained its No.

2 ranking in the latest American Water Polo Coaches Association

national poll. In their only action last week, the Anteaters defeated

Pepperdine, 9-7, last week on the strength of four goals by Dreason

Barry.

Stanford, coached by former Corona del Mar High head man John

Vargas, remained in the top spot, despite a 10-7 loss to Pepperdine

Saturday.

The Anteaters (6-2) will face 20th-ranked Air Force in the opening

game of the 16-team NorCal Tournament Saturday at 8 a.m. at Diablo

Valley College.